Cotswold Canals Restoration

The Waterways Trust, as part of the Cotswold Canals Partnership, is working to restore the Stroudwater Navigation Canal and Thames Severn Canal which make up the Cotswold Canals. The restoration of the Stroudwater Navigation (7 miles/ 12 km) and Thames Severn Canal (29 mile/ 46 km) will create a continuous waterway from Saul Junction to Lechlade. The project includes the restoration of the 2 mile (4 km) long Sapperton Tunnel and 57 locks along the route.

Please help us put Britain's waterways back on the map. Click the badge on the left to make a donation now or call our donation hotline on 0845 0700 710 (9am-5pm, Monday-Friday).

The regeneration of the Cotswold Canals would once again link England's two great rivers, the Thames and Severn, and bring two of the country's most historic and picturesque inland waterways back to life.

Recent research predicts the restoration would also act as a catalyst for both urban and rural regeneration, bringing 1.7 million new visitor days to the area each year, generating £6.8 million a year for the local economy and creating 200 permanent new jobs in tourism alone.

For more than 200 years, Britain's unique network of canals were a lifeline. Stretches like the Thames & Severn Canal and the Stroudwater Navigation have provided homes for wildlife, routes for industry and pleasure to boaters, holiday makers and walkers alike. But the Cotswold Canals are in danger of disappearing. Abandoned and neglected, they need your help to restore them to their former glory.

In January 2006 the partnership secured £11.9 million funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and £6 million from the South West of England Regional Development Agency for the first stage of restoration work. This will see the conservation-led restoration of a seven mile stretch of canal from The Ocean at Stonehouse to Briscombe Port, east of Stroud.

In August 2006 an application to the Living Landmarks Fund (part of the Big Lottery) for £16 million to restore the Stroudwater Canal from Stonehouse to Saul Junction on the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal was shortlisted for consideration.

The Partnership has been awarded a £250,000 grant by the fund to develop the application further. The final application to the Big Lottery Fund will be submitted by the end of May 2007 and winners will be announced in late August 2007.

Your help is needed

£2 million still needs to be raised for this first stage of restoration work. Please help us by making a donation today.

Please help us put Britain's waterways back on the map. Click here to make a donation now or call our donation hotline on 0845 0700 710 (9am-5pm, Monday-Friday).

Thank you.

Latest information

For the latest information on the restoration of the Cotswold Canals please click here to download our newsletter (WORD document).