OnTheCut

VITAL CANAL REPAIRS begin in Loughborough

8 March 2025 - Towpath Talk

THE Canal & River Trust has started work to repair a popular stretch of canal running through the heart of ...

I’ll tell you what I want

7 March 2025 - CanalsOnline Magazine

I sometimes think there aren’t many opportunities in our lives when we get to do exactly what we want without having any responsibilities or commitments towards anyone or anything else...

cooking on the cut – spring 25

7 March 2025 - CanalsOnline Magazine

It’s the month of new growth as those fresh young green wild garlic, nettle and dandelion leaves emerge, they are perfect for picking and have lots of uses. Wild garlic shouts out “Pesto” to me but also is a great addition to salads, stir fries and almost any other dish

HAPPY CONFIDENT KIDS partner with CRT for well-being workshop

7 March 2025 - Towpath Talk

Happy Confident Kids, has partnered with the Canal & River Trust to create innovative programs that enhance children’s emotional health through canal-side ...

Water restrictions cast shadow over Mon & Brec’s future

6 March 2025 - Waterways World

The Canal & River Trust has warned that the long-term future of the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal in Wales is at risk. The fears follow CRT losing an appeal …

Montgomery Canal Forum 2025

6 March 2025 - The Montgomery Canal

You are cordially invited to the Montgomery Canal Forum at 2.30pm on Friday 4 April, 2025 at Hafan Yr Afon, Newtown SY16 2NH. Presentations this year will cover developments on the Montgomery Canal in Powys and Shropshire and plans for its future. This year, the Forum will featire a number of presentations looking at current …

rcr 25th anniversary celebration

6 March 2025 - CanalsOnline Magazine

This year, River Canal Rescue (RCR), is celebrating its silver jubilee, and in recognition of its 25 year journey, is inviting everyone to its celebration event on Sunday 8 June at the Stafford Riverway Link site, Baswich Lane, Stafford ST18 0YJ

Lottery grant for Melton

6 March 2025 - Waterways World

An exhibition on the history and heritage of the Melton Mowbray Navigation has opened at the town’s Melton Carnegie Museum. It’s the first fruit of a &…

CRT promises better waste and recycling for boaters

6 March 2025 - Waterways World

The Canal & River Trust continues to promise improvements for boaters, and its Better Boating Plan, announced last year, has now been split into five categories, with a new set …

Last call for living memories of the BCN to be preserved

6 March 2025 - Waterways World

Historians in the Canal & River Trust have launched an appeal for anyone with memories of the restoration of West Midlands canals from the 1950s to the 1990s, to come …

New £500m masterplan for Chesterfield restoration

6 March 2025 - Waterways World

Around 60 dignitaries, locals and canal enthusiasts met at Killamarsh on 28th February, where they saw the launch of two new masterplans for the next stage of the Chesterfield restoration.&…

New afternoon tea cruises at Froghall

6 March 2025 - Waterways World

A trip-boat that regularly operated on the Trent & Mersey Canal for several years has relocated to the Caldon Canal.  Lurcher launched its inaugural service from Froghall …

Boat destruction “never seen before”

6 March 2025 - Waterways World

River Canal Rescue says a narrowboat that was broken into, vandalised and scuppered – for almost a week blocking boats cruising the Hawkesbury Junction area of the Coventry canal – …

VANDALISED BOAT: Update

6 March 2025 - Towpath Talk

River Canal Rescue says the narrowboat that was broken into, vandalised and scuppered – blocking boats cruising the Hawkesbury junction ...

April Issue of Canal Boat!

6 March 2025 - Canal Boat UK

New competition! Win a year’s RCR silver membership

6 March 2025 - Canal Boat UK

RIVERSIDE ENHANCEMENTS: Lincolnshire

5 March 2025 - Towpath Talk

Lucy Wood reports… SPALDING Reconnected, which began in 2022, is nearing completion this month. Coir roll sand floating islands have ...

Vandalised boat buoyant again

4 March 2025 - Canal Boat UK

iffley lock – a strange occurrence

4 March 2025 - CanalsOnline Magazine

I can’t forget the night at Iffley lock, although I try hard to put it out of my mind. I can go days not thinking about it, but suddenly, for no reason, it jumps into my mind and I get a chill run down my spine.

SHEFFIELD CANAL taken to hearts

4 March 2025 - Towpath Talk

LOVE was in the air as Sheffield and Tinsley Canal welcomed visitors over Valentine’s weekend as part of a special ...

SECRETS of the Caen Hill flight unlocked

3 March 2025 - Towpath Talk

THE Canal & River Trust offered the public a unique opportunity to go behind the scenes and descend into one ...

COMMISSION REVIEWING FUTURE FRAMEWORK FOR BOAT LICENSING LAUNCHES PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT

3 March 2025 - Canal Boat UK

Share you story and win a CRT licence

3 March 2025 - Canal Boat UK

Montgomery Canal group invites new volunteers to Open Day

3 March 2025 - The Montgomery Canal

A community group that runs Llanymynech Canal Wharf on the Montgomery Canal straddling the border between England and Wales is inviting people to come along and find out about volunteering opportunities. The group welcomes hundreds of local people and tourists to their visitor centre and trip boat each summer and are interested in meeting people …

freezing on board

3 March 2025 - CanalsOnline Magazine

In Freezing on Board, Simon laments the fact that he has been able to do very little on the boat over the winter, and can't really do anything until the Spring.

egg on your face

2 March 2025 - CanalsOnline Magazine

In her poem 'Egg on your face', Mandy bemoans the plight of many boaters moored up to do a spot of cooking, when a speeding boat goes past and causes mayhem...

almost weired

2 March 2025 - CanalsOnline Magazine

Michael Nye's characters Jim and Mandy nearly face disaster on their boat Mayfly as their mooring ropes are cut and they drift closer to a weir in the darkness.

WATERWAYS PARLIAMENTARY GROUP gets new look

1 March 2025 - Towpath Talk

THE group, which champions the revitalisation and restoration of the UK’s navigable (and previously navigable) waterways, hosted its inaugural meeting ...

RIVERBANK REPAIRS to reduce flood risk

28 February 2025 - Towpath Talk

Lucy Wood reports… THE Environment Agency has given advance notice of work being undertaken to maintain areas of the riverbank ...

A new vision for the Chesterfield Canal  

28 February 2025 - Canal Junction

A new plan has been developed to restore the Chesterfield Canal A new plan has been developed to restore the as part of a larger community development project. The goal is to transform the canal area into a vibrant space where locals can live, work, and enjoy their leisure time. It also aims to attract visitors and support local businesses while helping nature thrive. Chesterfield Canal Around 60 people, including politicians, local government staff, business leaders, canal enthusiasts, and journalists, gathered in Killamarsh to learn about two important reports. One report outlines the broader vision for the canal from Chesterfield to Kiveton Park, while the other focuses on the section in North East Derbyshire. These reports examine various aspects of the restoration, such as its strategic plans, financial implications, and management needs. The primary focus is not just on fixing the canal but on creating a framework for overall community regeneration. The Chesterfield Canal Corridor Project will feature new training opportunities related to the water, activities to bring in tourists, support for paddlesports, and trails for walking and cycling. This will promote physical and mental health and create new business chances along the canal. Additionally, there will be improvements in parking and access, ensuring safety for all users while enhancing local wildlife and habitats. The project is expected to boost the canal area as a desirable place to live, work, and visit, increasing property values and encouraging economic investment. Eighteen potential hubs have been identified along the canal, each one with ideas for projects that align with the community’s needs for living, working, playing, health, heritage, and environment. The potential financial benefits of this project include an estimated £252 million from visitors, £132 million from arts and heritage activities, and £116 million from job creation. The plan was developed by Focus Consultants and Sigma Architects, commissioned by the Chesterfield Canal Partnership. This partnership includes local councils, local organizations, community groups, and private businesses. Councillor Alex Davis speaking at the launch Cllr Alex Dale, Chair of the Partnership, expressed the importance of sharing the potential advantages of a fully restored canal, both to secure funding and to highlight the social, economic, and environmental benefits for the community. Throughout the planning process, many stakeholders were consulted, including local authorities, community groups, and environmental organizations. A survey was also distributed to gather community input along the canal’s route. The project will run parallel to the actual restoration of the canal itself. The Chesterfield Canal, which first opened in 1777, was originally built for transporting goods. However, as railways became more popular, fewer boats travelled the canal. By 1968, only a small portion remained navigable. Since 1989, 12 miles of the canal have been restored, along with numerous locks, bridges, and marinas. Now, there are around 8.5 miles left to restore between Staveley and Kiveton Park to make the canal fully navigable again.