Towpath Talk

Campaign cruise to highlight funding crisis threatening the Great Ouse

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Web Editor

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July 7, 2026

Boaters will travel from St Ives to Bedford this July in a bid to highlight what campaigners describe as a critical lack of investment in the River Great Ouse and Britain’s inland waterways. A FLEET of boats will cruise the River Great Ouse from St Ives to Bedford this month as part of a campaign…
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Tree strike at Wolseley Bridge

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Web Editor

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July 4, 2026

On Saturday 27 June, River Canal Rescue engineer, Jake Mullen, was called to bridge 70 (Wolseley Bridge, near Rugeley, Stafford) on the Trent & Mersey Canal, after an oak tree crashed onto nb Marcellus. The tree had fallen from the opposite side of the towpath, landing on the boat, causing major damage and blocking the…
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Historic Cheshire canal bridge reopens after vehicle strike repair

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Web Editor

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July 2, 2026

Canal & River Trust engineers have completed heritage-sensitive repairs to Grade II Listed Nanney’s Bridge, allowing the B5074 near Worleston to reopen. Waterways charity, Canal & River Trust, has reopened the Grade II Listed Nanney’s Bridge in Cheshire after completing repairs following a vehicle strike. Built between 1827 and 1833, to a Thomas Telford design,…
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Campaigners warn ‘now or never’ for historic canal restoration

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Web Editor

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July 1, 2026

CAMPAIGNERS and supporters of the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust are calling for urgent public backing to ensure the proposed White Horse Reservoir includes the full navigable reinstatement of the historic Wilts & Berks Canal around the reservoir and to the River Thames. The trust is warning that a once-in-a-generation opportunity could be lost unless…
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Boat dwellers ‘denied basic rights’ because law fails to recognise floating homes

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Web Editor

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June 30, 2026

THOUSANDS of people living on Britain’s waterways are being denied basic rights because the law has failed to recognise their homes, said Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville. Writing on The Parliament Politics website, she warned that boat dwellers occupy a “strange limbo”, lacking the protections of conventional housing despite forming a long-established community. She is…
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Lasting tribute to respected canal chairman

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Web Editor

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June 29, 2026

FAMILY, friends and volunteers gathered to honour Norman Cornwell, a canal champion whose legacy continues to shape the Erewash waterways. ABOUT 60 people met at Langley Mill, Derbyshire, for a ceremony commemorating the life of the late chairman of the Erewash Canal Preservation & Development Association. A respected figure in the local waterways community, Mr…
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Houseboat with three acres of private land for sale in Arundel

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Web Editor

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June 27, 2026

Privacy. Prestige. Perfection. This isn’t just a home; it’s a completely unique, secure private home on the water. Forget everything you know about houseboats. This is a private floating estate. The Residence: 2 expansive floors featuring 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. The Space: 2 distinct living areas, perfect for seamless entertaining on one level with…
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Invasive weeds costing canals more than £1m a year as volunteers step in

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Web Editor

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June 26, 2026

This Invasive Species Week (22–28 June), Canal & River Trust is calling on people to help protect their local waterway by joining the volunteers who help keep the nation’s canals clear by removing fast‑growing aquatic weeds. Every year, volunteers join floating pennywort removal parties and “balsam bashing” sessions – removing invasive Himalayan balsam – along the…
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Austen Fen Slipway to mark first anniversary with waterside celebration

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Web Editor

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June 26, 2026

Louth Navigation Trust is inviting visitors to help celebrate the first anniversary of Austen Fen Slipway with a special community event on Saturday, July 4, 2026. The event will run from 10am to 4pm and will offer a relaxed day by the water, with activities including live music, refreshments, ice cream, towpath walks and plenty…
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July 2026

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Alex Bestwick

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June 26, 2026

Towpath Talk features everything you need to know about boats, marinas, wildlife, conservation, heritage and superb days out.
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Captain for a day: Le Boat invites visitors to test drive its river boats at Benson Marina

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Web Editor

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June 25, 2026

Leading inland waterways holiday operator, Le Boat, is offering a unique opportunity to explore its boats and experience river cruising first-hand at its Benson Open Day on Friday 10 July. This exclusive event will allow local residents and visitors to: Le Boat will be providing complimentary pizza from Benson’s Waterfront Café, whilst drinks and light refreshments will…
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Red weather warning across canals

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Web Editor

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June 24, 2026

A message from the Canal & River Trust With temperatures forecast to hit 38-40 degrees across parts of the country on Wednesday and Thursday, the Met Office has issued a rare red weather warning for extreme heat. We’re asking everyone on the water to take extra care and help protect yourselves, others and the canal…
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Canal & River Trust marks six months of progress on Whitchurch breach repairs

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Web Editor

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June 23, 2026

Waterways charity Canal & River Trust is marking six months since the significant breach on the Llangollen Canal near Whitchurch, reflecting on the extensive programme of works already completed and outlining the next steps to repair the damage. Since the incident in December 2025, engineers from the Trust and its infrastructure partner Kier, have developed…
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Canal Museum’s expanded programme for 2026 boat trip season

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Web Editor

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June 22, 2026

The London Canal Museum has opened bookings for its 2026 boat-trip season, with a packed programme of cruises running from now until the end of October. The first public sailings coincided with Mother’s Day and marked what the museum described as its most varied summer schedule yet. Trips will once again take place aboard Long…
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