News

Supporters get inside view of restoration
People from across Worcestershire who have given a donation to the appeal to restore the Droitwich Canals had an inside view of restoration progress at a special event held on Friday 10 October.

Remembering the ‘Idle Women’ – a story of wartime heroism
More than 60 years after the end of World War II, a group of ladies who worked relentlessly transporting cargo along the nation’s waterways in aid of the war effort have been honoured officially for the first time.

Bigman has big plans for the Forth & Clyde
Saturday 4 October marked the first Bigman Canal Festival at Maryhill locks, celebrating Maryhill, its canal and its people.

Fresh air and friends on free guided walks
Waterways and environmental heritage charity, The Waterways Trust Scotland, is launching a new series of six guided walks along the Union and Forth & Clyde Canals in Falkirk starting at 10.30am on Saturday 18 October.

Historic Lock re-opens its gates
On Friday 26th September, the Droitwich Canals Partnership celebrated the restoration of the 155 year old Barge Lock which links the Junction Canal with the Barge Canal in Droitwich.

Waitrose support canal restoration
Staff at the Droitwich Spa branch of Waitrose have raised £4,347 for the restoration of the town’s historic canals. The money, which came from donations from the staff team and the John Spedan Lewis Foundation, will help to restore 50 metres of the canal.

Historic lock to re-open its gates
On Friday 26th September, the Droitwich Canals Partnership will be celebrating the restoration of the 155 year old Barge Lock which links the Junction Canal with the Barge Canal in Droitwich.

Sir Peter Soulsby MP leads panel for national waterway awards
The Waterways Trust and the British Urban Regeneration Assocation(BURA) today announced that Sir Peter Soulsby, Labour MP for Leicester South, will be heading up the Assessment Panel for the 2009 Waterways Renaissance Awards.

Idle Women wanted
The Waterways Trust and British Waterways are appealing for women who worked on the waterways during the Second World War to come forward to receive formal recognition of their efforts more than 60 years after the conflict ended.

Volunteers restore canal heritage
Since receiving official planning permission, the Droitwich Canals Partnership has wasted no time in getting stuck into major restoration work on the town’s canals.

Waitrose staff 'raise for reeds'
Staff at the Droitwich Spa branch of Waitrose supermarket are showing their support for the restoration of the town’s two historic canals by raising money for the new reedbed at Coney Meadows, near Salwarpe.

Many hands make light work at Wester Hailes
A stretch of towpath at Calders Crescent, Wester Hailes has been upgraded and improved thanks to the efforts of 60 willing volunteers from the Royal Bank of Scotland.

Animating the Forth & Clyde Canal
Lord Provost Denis Agnew joined 90 school children and community groups on Wednesday 25 June to celebrate the completion of a £163,000 project to improve 7km of towpath on the Forth & Clyde Canal stretching from Bowling Harbour to Whitecrook.

River Thames benefits from grants
Nineteen community driven projects centred on the River Thames are benefiting from more than £70,000 in grants from the waterways environmental and heritage charity, The Waterways Trust, thanks to the generous monthly donations from its supporters.

Historic bridge re-built
The sympathetic restoration of Oil Mills Bridge in Stroud is now complete thanks to funding from Gloucestershire Environmental Trust (GET), using Landfill tax credits donated by Cory Environmental.

Children help clean up towpath
This month, over 120 school children in North Lanarkshire & Glasgow have helped waterways environmental and heritage charity, The Waterways Trust Scotland, clear litter and debris from the towpath alongside Monklands Canal and around Auchstarry Basin on the Forth & Clyde Canal.

Politicians put their best foot forward
The Lord Provost of Edinburgh, George Grubb, Robin Harper MSP, Sarah Boyack MSP and Cllr Andrew Burns joined members of the public on Saturday 24 May as they put their best foot forward to improve their health and learn more about the city’s new ‘Canal Quarter’ – which stretches from Edinburgh Quay to Harrison Park.

Volunteers create new wildlife wetland
More than 200 pairs of willing hands have helped create a wildife wetland at Coney Meadow, between Salwarpe and the A38.

Young volunteers take action for canal restoration project
Over the past two months nearly 50 volunteers aged 16-25 have been ‘Taking Action for the Stroudwater Canal’ by learning ancient woodland conservation skills.

Opening up the canal
Glasgow residents and visitors now have no excuse for not being able to find their way to the Forth & Clyde Canal.

100 pupils are putting their best foot forward
Nearly 100 pupils from two Edinburgh schools, Canal View Primary School in Wester Hailes and Tollcross in Fountainbridge, are putting their best foot forward as part of a new walking programme, Feet First.

Projects celebrate victory in Waterways Renaissance Awards 2008
Projects from across the U.K. are celebrating after scooping top honours at this year’s Waterways Renaissance Awards, run by The Waterways Trust and BURA (British Urban Regeneration Association).

Volunteers dig deep to create community garden
Over 100 volunteers got their hands well and truly dirty when they helped The Waterways Trust Scotland plant 12,000 trees and shrubs at the sensory garden and nature trail at Auchinstarry Basin, near Croy on Wednesday 12 March.

Carve up at Auchinstarry Basin
Children from Holy Cross Primary and St Mary’s Primary in Croy tried their hand at wood carving last week (Tuesday 11 March) thanks to an initiative led by waterways environmental and heritage charity, The Waterways Trust Scotland.

Finalists Annouced for the 2008 Waterways Renaissance Awards
The redevelopment of Coventry’s first power station to provide new live and work spaces, a boat-based social inclusion project managed by young people in Halton and a 10 hectare brownfield site in Worcester that has been redeveloped into a mixed use scheme, are just a few of the diverse and inspiring schemes to reach the finals of the 2008 Waterways Renaissance Awards.

Waterways archives benefit from new grant
Archives staff at the National Waterways Museum are about to embark on a major cataloguing project thanks to a grant from the National Archives.

New museum director for The Waterways Trust
The Waterways Trust is delighted to announce the appointment of Stuart Gillis as Museum Director.

Volunteers needed to get their hands dirty
Waterways environmental and heritage charity, The Waterways Trust Scotland, is looking for willing volunteers to get their hands dirty in a quest to improve the environment surrounding Auchinstarry Basin near Croy in North Lanarkshire.

Eminent scientist to give talk
People with a passion for conservation and the natural world are in for a rare treat when renowned scientist and conservation expert Professor Aubrey Manning OBE gives a talk on behalf of The Waterways Trust Scotland.

Water lives come alive in Gloucester Docks
The National Waterways Museum has unveiled details of how its refreshed exhibits will look and feel following the major refurbishment of the museum which is currently underway in Gloucester Docks. Water Lives: Living, moving and working on Britain’s changing waterways is the central theme to the new galleries which will open to the public in May 2008.

Explore Britain's Canals with TV expert
People with an interest in history and Britain’s waterways are in for a treat when historical expert and TV contributor, Paul Atterbury visits the National Waterways Museum Ellesmere Port to share his experiences of the nation’s canals at a special talk organised by the museum.

Community groups urged to apply for grants
Community groups situated along the non-tidal stretch of the River Thames have just one month left to apply for grants of up to £5,000 to help finance projects taking place on the river.

Turning waterways green
In a bid to help reduce the nation’s carbon emissions and make the use of our waterways even greener, a new fund was launched yesterday, Wednesday 19th December, by waterways environmental and heritage charity, The Waterways Trust. The Green Fund will be dedicated to supporting projects that help reduce the carbon footprint of the use of the nation’s waterways.

Your chance to restore a piece of history
The Inland Waterways Association is backing an appeal from The Waterways Trust to raise funds to restore a historic lock in Worcestershire.

Votes needed to rebuild history
Gloucestershire residents are being urged to get involved with the restoration of the Cotswold Canals by casting their vote to help rebuild a piece of history at Brimbscome Port in Stroud.

Canal supporters get inside view to restoration
Worcestershire residents who have made a donation to the appeal to restore the Droitwich Canals were treated to a ‘behind the scenes’ look at the restoration on Friday 19th October.

Volunteer raises funds for canal restoration
A volunteer Tree Warden from Droitwich has applied the principle of little acorns growing into big trees to fundraising for the Droitwich Canals Restoration.

Young people raise funds for canal
Pupils from Witton Middle School, Droitwich Spa held a non-uniform day on Friday 8th June 2007 to raise funds for the restoration of the town’s two historic canals.

Don’t miss your chance to Adopt a Duck and raise funds for The Waterways Trust
Don’t miss out on your chance to adopt a duck in the Great British Duck Race to help raise funds for The Waterways Trust and be in with a chance to win one of 30 fantastic prizes, including £10,000 for the first duck to cross the finish line.

The National Waterways Museum, Stoke Bruerne honoured in People’s Choice Awards
The National Waterways Museum, Stoke Bruerne, has been honoured in a prestigious awards scheme. The Museum, which is run by The Waterways Trust, was voted runner up in the People’s Choice Award in the Northamptonshire Renaissance Heritage Awards.

Horsing around in Gloucester Docks
On Saturday 9th June the National Waterways Museum Gloucester Docks will have some unusual visitors when a trio of heavy horses visit the site.

Museum offers advice on tracing your family tree
As part of its month long family history exhibition, ‘People – who are we?’ the National Waterways Museum Gloucester Docks is running special workshops offering advice and information on how to research your family tree and how the waterways archives may be useful in your search for information.

Museum helps soap star trace family history
Emmerdale heartthrob Matthew Bowes discovered details of his grandfather’s life as a canal worker on a recent visit to the National Waterways Museum Ellesmere Port (formerly the Boat Museum).

David Suchet sponsors historic boat
Distinguished actor and Vice-President of The Waterways Trust, David Suchet is helping to keep a piece of waterways history alive by sponsoring a historic narrowboat.

Help needed to restore Droitwich waterways heritage
Worcestershire residents are being urged to be part of a project to reinstate a piece of their county’s heritage by supporting an appeal to restore the Droitwich Canals.

Wych Barge returns to Droitwich
The new seating and recreation area in Vines Park, Droitwich in the shape of a Wych Barge was ‘launched’ at a celebratory event on Saturday 14 April 2007.

Gloucester hosts retrospective of waterways artist
The National Waterways Museum Gloucester Docks is hosting a retrospective of the renowned waterways artist, historian and author Edward Paget-Tomlinson.

Waterways Renaissance Awards 2007 - Winners Announced
The redevelopment of Brierley Hill waterfront in Dudley, the sensitive restoration of two historic Grade II* listed buildings alongside the Rochdale Canal in Manchester and a volunteer-run education programme on the Grand Union Canal are just a few of the diverse projects awarded accolades at the 2007 Waterways Renaissance Awards.

Celebration marks end to hard work on Auchinstarry Basin
The Waterways Trust Scotland and British Waterways Scotland hosted a celebration to mark the opening of a range of new facilities at Auchinstarry mooring basin on Friday 16 March.

Festival fun at Gloucester Docks
The Friends of the National Waterways Museum are hosting their annual boat jumble in Gloucester Docks 10am – 4pm on Sunday 1 April 2007.

Explore Gloucester by boat
From this weekend, Saturday 31st March 2007, visitors enjoying a day out at the historic Gloucester docks will once again be able to complete their docks experience with a boat trip along the Gloucester & Shaprness Canal.

Dance and drama brings museum story to life
90 pupils form four schools in Ellesmere Port brought the story of the National Waterways Museum Ellesmere Port (formerly The Boat Museum) to life through a series of unique dance and drama performances.

£29,000 raised for waterside woodlands
Supporters of The Waterways Trust have helped to raise almost £30,000 to help save waterside woodlands through the Trust’s environmental appeal.

Falkirk residents put their best foot forward
95 Falkirk residents of all ages and abilities have put their best foot forward and started to improve their lifestyle.

Museum engineers a great weekend
The National Waterways Museum at Ellesmere Port (formerly The Boat Museum) engineered a fascinating two-day event for visitors over the weekend (10 & 11 March) as part of Science & Engineering week.

Finalists Annouced for the 2007 Waterways Renaissance Awards
A project to improve and enhance the Bradley Arm Canal in Wolverhampton, the sensitive restoration of two historic Grade II* listed buildings alongside the Rochdale Canal in Manchester and the restoration of polluted sections of the Neath Canal in south Wales are just a few of the diverse and inspiring schemes to reach the finals of the 2007 Waterways Renaissance Awards.

Waterways records help quest for family history
Researching family history has grown in popularity in recent years. During May, as part of Museum & Galleries month, the National Waterways Museum is hosting a series of workshops and exhibitions at its three sites (Gloucester Docks, Ellesmere Port and Stoke Bruerne) to help budding genealogists learn how to use the waterways archives in their quest for family historical information.

The Waterways Trust welcomes aboard John Fletcher as Vice-President
The Waterways Trust is pleased to announce the appointment of John Fletcher as its new Vice-President.

The Waterways Trust welcomes aboard Adeeba Malik MBE as Trustee
The Waterways Trust is pleased to announce the appointment of Adeeba Malik MBE as its new Trustee.

Create colourful canal crafts at Ellesmere Port
Parents and grandparents looking to entertain the children during the half-term break should head to the National Waterways Museum Ellesmere Port (formerly the Boat Museum) for a colourful craft week.

New staff for historic boat collection
The Waterways Trust is delighted to announce the appointment of Celia Webber as Project Development Officer.

Wicked wildlife at the National Waterways Museum Gloucester Docks
Cold-blooded reptiles and giant insects are just a few of the unusual guests coming to the National Waterways Museum Gloucester Docks on Monday 19 February.

Get crafty at Canal Museum
Parents and grandparents looking to entertain the children during the half-term break should head to the Canal Museum at Stoke Bruerne for a colourful canal craft week.

Put your best foot forward
Over the coming five weeks primary schools, community groups and children in Falkirk will be putting their best foot forward when they take part in Feet First, a pilot walking programme to encourage people of all ages to develop a more active lifestyle.

Tales to float your boat
The National Waterways Museum at Gloucester Docks is celebrating National Storytelling Week 2007 with a colourful cargo of stories about water and boats from around the world.

On-line archive keeps on growing
Virtual Waterways, the on-line catalogue of waterway records launched almost a year ago, continues to grow. Details of 5,000 new records covering the British Transport Commission 1948-1962 have just been uploaded onto the easy-to-search web site.

Collections Wanted
The National Waterways Museum in Gloucester Docks is searching for people with interesting personal collections who would like to display part of their collection at the museum.

Making bricks for the Wych Barge
Work on Droitwich’s replica barge is forging ahead following a brick-making day by a local community group.

Bridges benefit from grants
The final stage of restoration work to Castle Bridge in Kendal is now complete, thanks to a grant from the Inland Waterways Association.

Boat museum displays exhibition by Cheshire Youth Federation
A special photography exhibition by young women from Chester and Ellesmere Port is to open at The Boat Museum on Monday 18 December.

Sail with Santa
Each weekend from now until Christmas Eve, children have the chance to see Father Christmas in his grotto aboard the King Arthur as the boat cruises along the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal.

All aboard to see Santa
The Boat Museum at Ellesmere Port is offering children the chance to join Father Christmas on an extra special Santa Cruise along the Shropshire Union Canal during December.

Countdown to Christmas at The Canal Museum
During December, visitors to the beautiful canal-side village of Stoke Bruerne in Northamptonshire are in for an extra special visual treat.

David Suchet launches campaign for free museum entry
David Suchet, one of the country’s most distinguished actors and waterways enthusiast, yesterday (Thursday 23 November 2006) launched a campaign for government to fund free of charge access for all to the National Waterways Museum.

Waterside sensory garden to face public vote
An idea to create a sensory garden at Auchinstarry Basin on the Forth & Clyde Canal, near Kilsyth, has been selected to be featured on ITV’s, People’s Millions programme.

TV expert explored Britain's canals at special talk
Paul Atterbury, historian, writer, Antiques Roadshow expert and Vice-President of The Waterways Trust, led a metaphorical tour along Britain’s canals at a recent talk at the National Waterways Museum, Gloucester.

Waterways museum hosts retrospective of renowned artist
The Canal Museum in Stoke Bruerne, Northamptonshire is hosting an exhibition of watercolours and drawings of historic transport by the renowned artist, historian and author Edward Paget-Tomlinson.

Seal of approval for museum
VisitBritain has given the refurbished and modernised Boat Museum the thumbs up.

Poirot star celebrates museums 30th birthday
David Suchet, the popular Poirot star, waterways enthusiast and Vice-President of The Waterways Trust, demonstrated his green credentials when he arrived at The Boat Museum in Ellesmere Port on horse-drawn narrowboat on Friday 22 September, European car free day.

Haunted Halloween fun at the Boat Museum
With horrible tales, a ghost hunt and an eerie tour...a visit to the Boat Museum this Halloween is set to send shivers down your spine!