Our Conservation Policy
The Waterways Trust will strive to conserve and enhance the heritage of Britain's inland waterways to achieve sustainable quality of life improvements for people and communities. We will base all our work on sound conservation principles drawing on the expertise and experience of partners and benchmarking our approach against best practice nationally and internationally. We will ensure change to the waterway environment to meet the needs of the 21st century always enhances and reflects the richness and diversity of the historic and natural environment, provides for access, interpretation, and educational opportunity, and the involves the community at every stage.
Conservation Policy Themes
We will work in partnership to implement this policy, to influence the behaviour of others, and to ensure that the regenerative potential of the waterways is unlocked for the benefit of all.
1. The natural environment, biodiversity and resources
We will ensure that the waterway network has a central role in conserving and enhancing wildlife in urban and rural landscapes. Wherever possible we will extend the benefits of our actions by working with landowners and managers to rebuild and sustain wildlife on a wider scale.' - We will work with others to ensure waterway regeneration sustains and enhances the long term richness, diversity and viability of waterway habitats and species. Working within the framework of the UK Biodiversity Action Plan we will seek opportunities to conserve, extend and create habitat and balance this with the benefits of maintaining and extending navigation. We will work to ensure that demands for limited water resources are likewise balanced with other needs and are sustainable. We shall also ensure the procurement of goods and services is from sustainable sources.
2. The historic fabric and distinctiveness
With our partners we will work to conserve, enhance and interpret the richly textured fabric embodied by the waterway network, their landscapes, buildings structures, personal memories, folk art, crafts and skills, artefacts, boats, documents and records. We will retain where practical artefacts in situ and in working order. We recognise the value of excellent design and innovation in creating heritage for the 21st century. A key part of our work will be to provide leadership in the assessment and conservation of the national fleet of historic inland waterway craft.' - The waterways tell the story of the industrial revolution and the subsequent social and economic development of the UK from the 18th to the 21st century. Each part of it reflects local distinctiveness and culture.
3. Raising the quality of life
The inland waterways bring value to the quality of life of millions of people. Their diversity, beauty, history and natural environment contribute to the health and wellbeing of individuals and society. We will work to conserve and enhance this built, natural and cultural heritage for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations, and ensure change to meet modern needs complements the historic environment. Where appropriate, we will participate in and influence the planning process to help secure present and future quality of life enhancements' - In cities and countryside alike, places where people have settled or work are important to them. The surroundings with which they interact daily - buildings, open spaces and the wider environment, a totality of which the waterways are an important component, - are part of their own heritage, contributing to their individual and collective quality of life.
4. Involving people and being inclusive
Waterways capture the imagination and interest of all, irrespective of their background, ability or involvement in society. We will work to promote the widest appreciation of the value of waterways in all sections of the community. We will work to ensure that those who value Britain's inland waterways today and the many that continue to discover their worth, have an opportunity to contribute to their future' - We aim to engage the community in understanding, valuing, conserving and enjoying their local waterway environments. This will be a pillar of our work, including within the Museums. Sustaining the waterways into the future will depend on their being relevant to people, ensuring public enjoyment and their sense of ownership and involvement.
5. Building Partnerships
Waterway conservation, enhancement and the delivery of regeneration benefits are tasks that must engage the expertise, energy and commitment of organisations drawn from the public private and voluntary sectors. We will seek and foster productive working partnerships to help conserve and enhance the waterway environment and to realise these wider benefits.' - Conservation of the built and natural environment will be given practical effect through our partnerships with the public, private and voluntary sectors. Providing effective leadership, facilitating new resources and building consensus and commitment will be key areas of focus.
6. Regenerating the waterway corridor and sustaining livelihoods
Conservation and enhancement is a means of achieving regeneration benefits. This includes opportunities within the waterway corridor for sustaining livelihoods, bringing land back into productive use, diversifying the local economy and creating favourable conditions to encourage business to play an active role and flourish.' - Waterways are dynamic. Regeneration in the 21st century will require change, which reflects the past but meets modern needs. We will aim for excellence in design in conserving places of special or unique character, as places people want to live or work in, or visit. This is key to sustaining the economies of waterway communities in both urban and rural situations, with benefits evident on a regional and national basis.
7. EDUCATION AND ACCESS
We will conserve the historic and natural environment to ensure that present and future generations are able to understand history and experience the environment first hand. We aim to maximise public access to sites, artefacts and documents, balancing our responsibility to conserve them. We will work to facilitate improved access for lifelong learning, embracing new technologies.' - The historic waterway environment is a uniquely accessible and vital asset in understanding our history, whose richness is displayed and available for exploration throughout the waterway network.
Part 3: Conservation Policy in Practice (Appendix)
1. The Natural Environment, Biodiversity and Resources
The centrepiece of or work in the natural environment is the Rochdale Canal, home to extensive colonies of the rare floating water plantain. This project demonstrates the expectations we have for biodiversity, environmental assessment, sensitive management, innovative design, and balance between navigation and conservation, working in partnership with English Nature.
2. The Historic Fabric and Distinctiveness
Our involvement in the Anderton Boat Lift restored to world class standards, our stewardship of the nationally designated Museums collections including the policy for conservation of the fleet of historic craft, and the Waterway Archives demonstrate our commitment to the historic fabric of the waterways. In each case our work highlights our knowledge based approach to conservation, the social and economic importance of the waterways in the 18th and 21st centuries, and the application of the best of modern design and technology to achieve conservation objectives.
3. Raising the Quality of Life
In every area of activity the Trust is delivering quality of life improvements for people and communities. There are countless examples ranging from the major waterway regeneration schemes such as the Rochdale, Ribble and Anderton, and the nine next generation schemes, through to modest environmental improvements enabled by the small grants scheme, where we are improving peoples lives, providing places of choice for living, working and relaxing. Our three museums and the Waterway Archives provide important opportunities for lifelong learning, and each of the three sites are attractions in their own right providing employment and regenerative benefits for their communities on a local regional and national scale. Throughout waterways are uniquely inclusive, open to all sectors of society whatever their gender, race, religious or economic status.
4. Involving People and Being Inclusive
The Waterways Trust is the key link with the voluntary sector and in broadening the appeal of the waterways to new audiences - the young, women, ethnic minorities and other groups that are currently under-represented. We have been the interface with groups like the Friends of Anderton Boat Lift and enabled a Community Art project to engage local people along the Millennium Ribble Link. With the recent establishment of a pilot accredited volunteer programme, we will be working to secure opportunities for all to take part in the future maintenance, operation and enhancement of the waterway fabric.
5. Building Partnerships
Maximising our status as an independent charity, and the ability to work flexibly to meet diverse challenges, The Waterways Trust has played a key role in facilitating major partnerships. As grant recipient and owner, The Waterways Trust has provided the vehicle to release major funding from the Millennium Commission, Heritage Lottery Fund and elsewhere for the Rochdale Canal, the Millennium Ribble Link and the Anderton Boat Lift. In the first three years The Waterways Trust has facilitated over £45million worth of new investment into the waterway network.
6. Regenerating the Waterway Corridor and Sustaining Livelihoods
The Waterways Trust is breathing new life into Britains Waterways, creating new jobs, sustaining livelihoods, and regenerating communities in urban and rural areas. There are many examples including fundraising for the Anderton Boat Lift and next generation projects such as the Northern Reaches of the Lancaster Canal and the Droitwich Canals. Our regeneration work encompasses our facilitation role in the Millennium Ribble Link and Rochdale Canal, partnership development for example on the Cotswold Canals and developing the museums and archives as centres for all to experience the waterways.
7. Education and Access
Our approach is demonstrated by the designated collections of national importance held by the three Waterways Museums, the waterways archive now being catalogued to transform public access and associated educational outreach programmes developed to improve opportunities for learning on the waterways. We have a wealth of artefacts, exhibits records and research material held in the museums and archives which are centres of excellence for understanding the waterway environment in all its manifestations.
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