Waterways

We’ve announced the appointment of Ben Cottam as the director for our historic canals spanning Wales & South West of England. Ben will be joining us on 11 August. About Ben Ben joins us from the Federation of Small Businesses where he is currently head of Wales. As Wales largest business membership body, Ben has…

Pirates are poised to jump aboard two Cheshire waterway attractions in June for wild weekends of high seas shenanigans. The events are to take place at Ellesmere Port’s National Waterways Museum (7/8 June) and Anderton Boat Lift, near Northwich (21/22 June). What to expect The Conwy Pirates will swing into action for two thrilling events…

It was full steam ahead for a Victorian extravaganza at Cheshire’s cathedral of the canals in Northwich, which attracted around 3,000 visitors. Steam at the Lift Steam at the Lift 2025, hosted at Anderton Boat Lift & Visitor Centre, saw steam-powered engines, lorries and steam rollers on show, as well as an exhibition of working…

The Canal & River Trust is today (15 May 2025) announcing the appointment of Campbell Robb as its new chief executive. Campbell will be joining the charity on 6 October, after six years leading the social justice charity Nacro as its chief executive. Canal & River Trust is the UK’s largest canal charity, caring for…

Britain’s inland waterways are under threat. Adequate investment is needed for failing infrastructure and to safeguard the future of the 5,000-mile network. A wake-up call Government received a wake-up call today from waterways campaigning group, Fund Britain’s Waterways, as it takes its message to Westminster. A flotilla of boats today stopped by the Palace of…

We’ve commenced a heritage survey of the nation’s canal network, starting in the North West with the 127-mile-long Leeds & Liverpool Canal. The project will chart how our canals, and the wider canal corridor, have changed over the past 30 years by updating and augmenting a joint British Waterways and Historic England survey of canals…

After due deliberation by its international panel of judges, we have decided to present the polyboatglobal.com Challenge Trophy for 2024/2025 to Mr Ataluya Bajaj and his worthy team at Dolphin Eco Recreation in Pratapnagar, Udaipur, north-west India. Throughout the year, Dolphin Recreation, makers of “The most colourful electric boats in the world!” have used their…

All the exhibitors for Electrika 2025 are now signed up and it is all set to be a great show. With everyone from Electrika 2024 returning and a whopping 14 new exhibitors and 10 showboats, the show has really stepped up a gear. The event should provide attendees with a comprehensive selection of boatbuilders, engines…

We’re carrying out dredging on the Ashby Canal as part of vital works to help ensure boaters can continue to use the centuries-old waterway. The dredging, which is due to continue until 20 May, will see the charity remove around 7,000 tons of sediment at various locations on the canal between Sutton Cheney and Market Bosworth,…

We’ve completed a five-month programme of works to refurbish Royal Oak Swing Bridge, which carries Woodhouse End Road over the Macclesfield Canal in Oakgrove. Royal Oak Swing Bridge reinstalled With the repairs requiring a road closure, the bridge reopened on 25 April. Time taking its toll The increased weight in vehicles over the years had…