Waterways

Our National Waterways Museum, in Ellesmere Port, will celebrate its 50th anniversary weekend on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 June by offering visitors entry to the historic boat museum at 1976 prices. Volunteer at the National Waterways Museum in Ellesmere Port For one weekend only, an adult day ticket will cost a mere £1.95 and…

We’re highlighting the growing importance of water conservation. Keeping routes navigable We’re today urging boaters to be mindful of water use when travelling on the canal network this summer, as the UK marks the 50th anniversary of the notorious 1976 heatwave. With canals relying on a finite and carefully managed water supply, we’re reminding boaters…

We’re looking to recruit more volunteers to take on the iconic role of lock keeper in Yorkshire, as it prepares for a busy summer on the region’s waterways. Volunteer lock keeper With fuel prices soaring and ongoing uncertainty around international flights, UK holidaymakers are being encouraged to rediscover one of Britain’s most charming travel experiences…

We’re celebrating a successful weekend of wildlife surveying at Hatton Locks in Warwickshire. Ecologists and local volunteers worked together to record the rich biodiversity of this historic canal site. Hatton Locks, often called the “Stairway to Heaven”, was completed in the early 19th century and today is part of the Grand Union Canal connecting Birmingham…

On 19 May, MJT Cranes craned 10 canal boats, weighing up to 35 tonnes each, into Crick Marina, near Daventry, as part of preparations for the 26th Crick Boat Show. Around 40 canal boats will be on display at the show, and 10 of them (with a combined weight of over 225 tonnes) will be…

We’ve begun work to restore the north portal wall of the historic Harecastle Tunnel in Kidsgrove, Staffordshire, helping to spruce up the area ahead of the 250th anniversary of the Trent & Mersey Canal. Work at Harecastle Tunnel History of Harecastle Tunnel Constructed under the direction of pioneering canal engineer James Brindley, the tunnel was…

We’re responsible for caring for Hill Top Reservoir (Slaithwaite Reservoir), and have reached a major milestone in our multi‑million‑pound upgrade of the site. Slaithwaite Reservoir To mark this milestone we’re releasing new ‘behind‑the‑scenes’ images to show the scale and complexity of the engineering works. Building climate resilience The spillway functions as the reservoir’s overflow channel,…

We’ve been working with its local volunteers along the Oxford Canal at Hillmorton Locks in Warwickshire to carry out a seasonal tidy‑up of the much‑loved lock flight ahead of the busy summer season. Volunteers at Hillmorton Locks The work was carried out by our dedicated team of volunteer lock keepers based at Hillmorton Locks. Home…

We’re carrying out major repair works on two sections of the Oxford Canal to protect the historic waterway, prevent water loss and ensure the canal and towpath remain safe for everyone. Canal bank works near Napton Locks The works In Warwickshire, near Napton Locks, we’re strengthening a stretch of canal bank where sheet piling installed…

We’ve expanded our volunteering with over three quarter of a million hours donated in 2025/26. We’re today celebrating a record 12 months for volunteering across its 2,000-mile network of waterways in England and Wales. In the year up to the end of April, 8,043 volunteers supported us, up from almost 5,500 volunteers the year before. …