Canal News – Etruria Canals Festival at Trent & Mersey and Caldon Canals

Canal News

Etruria Canals Festival at Trent & Mersey and Caldon Canals

Festival Park Marina Etruria
Festival Park Marina on the Trent & Mersey canal at Etruria Stoke-on-Trent. The China Garden is a popular Toby Inn with outside seating on the marina’s edge.

Just after the marina the Caldon Canal branches off down the Churnet Valley for Froghall.
© Copyright Dennis Thorley and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Address
Trent and Mersey Canals, Etruria
ST1 4RB

31 May – 01 Jun 2014
10:00 am – 5:00 pm
The countdown is on for the 21st Etruria Canals Festival on Trent and Mersey Canals
This year’s festival will continue the traditions of the annual community event which is one of the largest free events in Stoke-on-Trent, regularly attracting thousands of visitors to the junction of the Trent and Mersey and Caldon canals in the middle of Etruria.
Music and dance will complement colourful historic canal boats moored along the towpaths of Etruria. Lots of activities for children and adults will be on site and a good time is guaranteed for all.
For more information call Andrew Watts on 07886578902 or email event@etruriacanalsfestival.org.uk.

 

Canal News – Cycling moves up a gear in Staffordshire

Canal News

Cycling moves up a gear in Staffordshire

Local people are being given the opportunity to view exciting plans to develop new cycle paths linking Staffordshire with the Peak District national park along one of the our historic waterways.Caldon Canal courtesy of Julie Arnold

The project will see the creation of four new cycle ways directly into the national park from the surrounding urban areas and is expected to benefit around 3.5 million people.

The project is being funded through the Government’s National Park Cycle Fund, with the Peak District National Park receiving £5 million. An additional £2.5 million will be provided by local authorities and a range of other organisations.

Historic towpath

One of the key routes will see the historic towpath of the Caldon Canal improved to provide a link connecting the Potteries through the Staffordshire Moorlands to the Peak District. The project will see £2m spent on improving the towpath for both walkers and cyclists. The project is the largest investment in Staffordshire’s canal network in recent years and will provide visitors the opportunity to access this green, wildlife-rich gateway into both the Churnet Valley and Peak District National Park.

Contractors, working in partnership with the Canal & River Trust, will start at Stockton Brook in Stoke-on-Trent and work on sections of the towpath progressing towards Endon and on to Cheddleton and Leek.  From there an on road signed route to the Roaches from Leek and to the Manifold Valley will be provided as part of the project.

Drop-in event

A drop-in event giving local people the opportunity to view the plans and speak to some of the organisations behind the project will take place on Thursday 6 February from 4.30pm to 7.00pm at the Stoke-on-Trent Boat Club, off Park Lane in Endon.

Charlotte Atkins, chair of the Canal & River Trust’s Central Shires Waterway Partnership, adds: “We’re delighted to see works progressing to develop this important route with the County Council. Running through some of Staffordshire’s most spectacular countryside and steeped in history, the Caldon Canal is a very special place for visitors to explore.

“We really hope that walkers and cyclists will take the time to stop off and appreciate what the canal, and the communities it runs through have to offer as they make their way into and out of the beautiful Peak District.”

The work is expected to be completed in June 2015. Small sections of the towpath will be closed at a time to allow the work to be carried out safely and to minimise any inconvenience caused.

For further information on the scheme please feel free to drop into the event at the Stoke-on-Trent Boat or contact the project manager at Staffordshire County Council at stephen.knott@staffordshire.gov.uk

Pic – David Jackson

Canal News £300,000 invested in restoration of Staffordshire’s waterways this winter

Canal News

£300,000 invested in restoration of Staffordshire’s waterways this winter

As part of our annual programme of restoration and repairs to historic waterways across the country, we are undertaking essential maintenance works on Staffordshire’s canal network this winter. Hazelhurst Junction, Caldon Canal

This winter we are spending around £45 million on essential repair and restoration works and routine maintenance to our canals and rivers”

Richard Parry, chief executuve

We will be investing £300,000 in projects to painstakingly repair historic canal walls, locks and bridges as well as installing new lock gates at certain locks.

The works will be taking place between January and March and will see engineers and skilled workmen draining sections of canal, craning out old lock gates, installing new ones and carefully restoring 200 year-old brickwork.

Works in Staffordshire will include:

• Refitting lock gates and repairing 200 year-old brickwork at a number of locks in Stoke-on-Trent
• Re-grouting brickwork to prevent leaks at locks in Trentham, Etruria and Bedford Street in Stoke on Trent.
• Repairing locks in Meaford and refitting oak lock gates
• Repairing lock gates and historic brickwork at Bagnall Lock in Alrewas
• Refitting lock gates and repairing brickwork at Branston Lock near Burton

This winter we are spending a total of £45 million to look after 2,000 miles of canals and rivers across England and Wales.

Darren Green, Canal & River Trust waterways manager, said: “Staffordshire’s waterways are some of the most scenic and popular in the country but people may not realise that there’s quite a lot of work needed to look after them. Our teams are out in all weathers and over the next few months our engineers and heritage experts will be braving the cold to give the canals the care and attention they deserve.

“It’s painstaking, specialised work but the canals are an important part of the region’s heritage so it’s right that we devote some time and craftsmanship to help protect them for future generations.”

Richard Parry, chief executive of the Canal & River Trust, says: “Every day thousands of people visit or cruise on our waterways without ever seeing all the hard work that goes on behind the scenes, and below the waterline, to look after this historic and remarkable infrastructure. This winter we are spending around £45 million on essential repair and restoration works and routine maintenance to our canals and rivers. By showcasing this work to the public we can give them a glimpse of the craftsmanship of the waterways’ original 18^th Century design and the scale of the work we do to care for it. We hope this will inspire more people to get involved to enjoy and help support their local canal or river navigation.

Kier is sponsoring this year’s programme. Eddie Quinn, operations director, Waterways, says: “We are incredibly proud to sponsor the Trust’s essential work to preserve the canals and rivers of England and Wales. Repairing and maintaining the waterways is a huge task requiring traditional materials and methods to be used to maintain this vital part of our heritage. As well as historical importance, the waterways are now widely recognised for being crucial for wildlife and are a well-loved leisure resource for millions of people every year.”

Every year we carry out a year round programme of works to conserve and repair the fragile infrastructure of the canals and rivers in its care. Teams of experts replace lock gates and complete essential maintenance across 2,000 miles of canals and rivers so they can be enjoyed by over 33,000 boats and 10 million towpath visitors each year. We are working on around 100 locks across the country, replacing 141 lock gates this winter.

Canal News – Etruria Canals Festival – June 1st & 2nd

Canal News

Etruria Canals Festival

Bend in The Trent & Mersey Canal

The Trent & Mersey Canal in Etruria Stoke on Trent  © Copyright Glyn Baker and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Etruria Junction  off Etruria Vale Road  Stoke on Trent Staffs.  ST1 7RB

 01 – 02 Jun 2013

Join the celebrations at the Etruria Canals Festival in the heart of the Potteries.

The Trent & Mersey and Caldon Canals will be alight with entertainment at the beginning of June with the annual Etruria Canals Festival.

This year sees Stoke on Trent’s canals overflowing with historic boats, crafts, demonstrations and family fun. For many the highlight of the festival will be the boat parade along the Trent & Mersey Canal.

Stoke-on-Trent

 

The Trent & Mersey Canal and the Caldon Canal run through Stoke-on-Trent. The canals were a key part of the town’s industrial heritage, and they are still at the heart of the community today.

The canal towpaths are popular walking and cycling routes, linking several of the town’s green spaces, including Hanley Park, Forest Park, Festival Park and Westport Lake. Hanley Park is an elegant Victorian Park with a lake, fountains and sports facilities. Westport Lake is a nature reserve, and a great place to spot all kinds of water birds.

Stoke-on-Trent was once the centre of the potteries industry, with manufacturers including the famous Josiah Wedgwood producing delicate and beautiful ceramics. The canals were built to serve the potteries, and there is still plenty of evidence of this history in the Etruria district. The Etruria Industrial Museum is a steam-powered Etruscan bone and flint mill, built in 1857 to grind materials for the agricultural and pottery industries. The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery explores the history of this fascinating industry.

Caldon Canal, Northwood

 Here, approaching bridge 14, the narrow and winding Caldon Canal heads out through Stoke’s eastern suburbs.   Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved] © Copyright Stephen McKay and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Forthcoming Canal Attractions – Canal News 4-12-2012

Canal News 4-12-2012

IWA morning walk near Atherstone

06 Dec 2012

10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Join the IWA Lichfield Branch for a morning walk near Atherstone.

A circular walk of about 5½ miles including Baddesley Common, countryside and the Coventry Canal towpath at Atherstone Locks. Rising to the common, then gradual descent to canal and return uphill. There are 3 stiles en route so this walk may not be suitable for larger dogs.

Meet at 10am for a 10.15am start at St Nicholas Church Hall car park. Turn off A5 at the Black Swan roundabout at Grendon (between Tamworth and Atherstone) and follow road up Boot Hill to the church hall. Free parking.

Optional lunch on return at Rose Inn, Baxterley (a short car journey).

Leader: Ed Rule.

Organised by the Inland Waterways Association, Lichfield Branch; non-members welcome. Further information from Margaret Beardsmore on 07581 794111 or email margaret.beardsmore@waterways.org.uk

 

Christmas concert at the National Waterways Museum

Father Christmas at the National Waterways Museum

07 Dec 2012

19:30 pm – 22:00 pm

Join the Wirral Singers in our lovely waterside café for a traditional choral concert of Christmas favourites.

What better way to celebrate the start of the festive season than with a good old sing song in beautiful surroundings?

Book your ticket for the Chistmas Concert at the National Waterways Museum from mid-November.

Visit Santa in Dudley Caverns

Dudley No.1 Canal Tunnel

Completed in 1792, the Dudley No 1 Canal provided one link between the Stourbridge Canal & the Birmingham Main Line. The tunnel is 2888 metres long, extremely low and narrow, and contains a network of natural caverns, basins and branch lines, serving the old quarries and mines. There are believed to be some 4500 metres of waterways which were at one time connected inside the tunnel, some of which are still accessible. Picture taken from SO 93267 89233.  Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved] © Copyright Martyn B and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

08 – 09 Dec 2012

10:00 am – 17:00 pm

Take a magical illuminated boat trip through Dudley Caverns and meet Santa in his underground grotto.

Carols, mince pies and hot drinks will help everyone get into the Christmas spirit and of course there will be a gift for every child.

Trips depart every half an hour from 10am to 5pm.

Early booking is recommended as places are limited. Contact Dudley Canal Trust for more information. Tel 01384 236 275.

Why take the kids to Lapland to see Santa this Christmas when they can visit him by boat in his underground grotto deep in the Dudley Caverns?

Just imagine your children’s faces as they visit Santa on a magical illuminated journey that truly brings the festive season to life with fun and excitement. It’s a dramatically different way to get into the festive spirit. There’ll be carols, hot drinks, mince pies, seasonal entertainment and, of course………gifts for all the kiddies.

These trips last an hour, and they will run at weekends throughout December.

These events are always very popular and places are limited, so early booking is strongly advised.

8th, 9th, 15th, 16th, 22nd & 23rd December 2012

FROM 10AM UNTIL 5PM EVERY 30 MINUTES

Dudley Canal Tunnel

Run by the Dudley canal trust, there are/were many caverns created when mining limestone. The trust run daily boat tours.  Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved] © Copyright Ashley Dace and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

   Bedford Street Staircase, Caldon Canal, 8 December

Bedford Street Staircase Lock, Caldon Canal

We’re draining three locks on the Bedford Street Staircase on the Caldon Canal and inviting you to take a look around.

We’re draining three of the 17 locks on the Caldon Canal, so that we can carry out a full inspection of the lock chambers and replace the 26 year-old gates at lock 3.

Due to extensive coal mining over the years, the depth of Lock 1 and 2 has increased by a few feet due to mining subsidence, making it essential to keep an eye on the structure of the locks with regular inspections. Engineers will check the brickwork, timber work, lock gates and lock gate furniture such as paddles and gearing.

Once the lock has been drained the team will also be using their heritage skills to carry out other repairs to the brickwork in the lock chamber.

Visit us

On Saturday 8 December we’re inviting you to venture into the deep lock, walk along the lock bottom and ask our experts about their work. You’ll also get the chance to meet the Etruria Boat Group Volunteers, who are bringing along one of their heritage boats.

No pre-booking required.

Location: Bedford Street Staircase Locks 1 & 2, Caldon Canal, Off Lower Bedford Street, Stoke-on-Trent, ST1 4BT

Time: 10am – 4pm, last entrance into the lock at 3:30pm

Parking: Etruria Vale Road at Etruria Locks, ST1 4RB. Follow the signs for the Etruria Industrial Museum (over the white bridge)

Canal News – waterscape.com

Canal News – Events coming soon

Rickmansworth Canal Festival

19 May 2012 – 20 May 2012 Rickmansworth Aquadrome

Frogmoor Lane,  Off Harefield Road,  Rickmansworth,  Hertfordshire.                 WD3 1NB

The trunk route of Britain’s canal network, the picturesque Grand Union links London through the Chilterns with Birmingham via the longest single canal in Britain.

Boating and community festival on the Grand Union Canal at Rickmansworth. With boat gathering, music, entertainment, beer tent, boaters’ tug of war and farm animals.

Volunteers wanted to help organise the festival – for details contact david.montague@btinternet.com. For boat and trader booking forms, visit the Rickmansworth Waterways Trust website.

Crick Boat Show and Waterways Festival

02 June 2012 – 05 June 2012

Crick Marina,  West Haddon Road,  Crick,  Northamptonshire,  NN6 7SQ

The Leicester Line of the Grand Union Canal is a quiet canal through rolling hills and beautiful countryside, including the waterway landmark of Foxton Locks and the highest point on the Grand Union.

 Waterways festival with boat trips, live music, children’s entertainment, food and drink stalls, competitions, food demonstrations, evening ghost tours and seminars.

Waterways businesses exhibiting will include boat builders, waterway accessories and services to arts, crafts, holidays and gourmet food specialists.

Moorings and campsite available. For tickets, call 01283 742972 or visit http://www.crickboatshow.com.

For exhibitor queries, contact Ian Sharpe on 01283 742977 or ian.sharpe@wwonline.co.uk. For other queries, contact Rachael Maher on 01283 742962 or r.maher@wwonline.co.uk.

 

Etruria Jubilee Canals Festival

02 June 2012 – 03 June 2012

Etruria,  Staffordshire,  ST1 4RB

Trent & Mersey Canal –  This cross-country canal through the North Midlands offers excellent views over the Cheshire Plain and impressive engineering feats – including Harecastle Tunnel, the first of its kind.

 The Etruria Jubilee Canals Festival attracts thousands of visitors to the junction of the Trent & Mersey and Caldon Canals on the first weekend of June each year.

This year’s festival will celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee around the waterways at the heart of the Potteries. A Jubilee Flotilla and a giant Jubilee Tea party are among the exciting events planned.

Music and dance will compliment colourful narrowboats moored along the towpaths in Etruria. There will be lots of activities for children and a fantastic day out for all the family is promised.

‘Princess’, the historic beam engine in the Jesse Shirley Bone and Flint Mill will be ‘in steam’. There will be traditional crafts, vintage vehicles, boats galore, entertainments and much more!

Caldon Canal – Could this beautiful canal through Staffordshire be England’s most scenic waterway?

 

Canal News – waterscape.com

Canal News

waterscape.com

Stoppage – Caldon Canal

Caldon Canal south of Milton, Stoke-on-Trent.  Looking north.

 The seventeen mile Caldon Canal was opened from Etruria to Froghall in 1779, and extended to Uttoxeter in 1811, though this extension only operated until the late 1840s. The canal has seventeen locks and the 69 metre long very low Froghall Tunnel, unusable by many narrowboats.

© Copyright Roger Kidd and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Monday 9 January 2012 – Friday 17 February 2012
These works have been planned to coincide with the winter navigation closure for delivering the Ivyhouse Embankment Works between 09/01/12 and 17/02/12.

Towpath & Navigation: 09/01/12 to 10/02/12 – Contractors working for Stoke City Council are to undertake essential works to strengthen the deck of Botteslow Street Bridge.  These works will require access to the underside of the bridge and will involve hot welding works.  It is therefore necessary to close the towpath and navigation.
Towpath: 13/02/12 to 17/02/12 – National Grid is to undertake works to cap off redundant gas mains at this location and towpath closure is necessary.  Pedestrians please follow the diversions posted by the contractor.

Towpath only will be re-opened for the weekend of 11th and 12th February 2012.  At all other times please follow the diversion information posted on site.

British Waterways apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

The towpath is also closed

Enquiries: Telephone 01827 252000 during normal office hours.

IWA walk and work site visit on the Coventry Canal

12 January 2012

Atherstone Locks No 8, Coventry Canal, Warwickshire

This is the eighth lock in the flight of eleven lowering the water level by eighty feet (24.4 metres) over about two miles (three kilometres). Detailed information regarding the flight and this lock in particular can be seen here: SP2998 : Side pond at Atherstone Locks

© Copyright Roger Kidd and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

 Old Coal Yard

Off Coleshill Road

Atherstone

Warwickshire

CV9 2AU

Coventry Canal »

Join the IWA Lichfield branch for a guided walk on the Coventry Canal to see the repair work at Atherstone Locks. British Waterways will be working on the lock flight, and locks 3 and 9 will be dewatered for brickwork repairs and gate relining.

Meet 10.30am by Atherstone Top Lock for 10.45am start. Total walking distance from Lock 1 to Lock 9 and back is about 3 miles. Optional meal afterwards at the Kings Head, Watling Street (near Lock 5). Parking available at the old coal yard.

Places limited, so please book – contact Pat Barton on pat.barton@waterways.org.uk or 01785 824012.

  New boats and a new base for Drifters

5th Jan 2012

Drifters Waterways Holidays has announced that its business will be expanding in 2012 with 30 new narrowboats and a new hire boat base.

The new boats will join the company’s existing fleet of almost 500 narrowboats and will provide holiday makers with even more choice of boat size and location. The boats are fully equipped with all the essential mod cons including central heating, hot water, TV, DVD players, showers and flushing toilets.

Wider choice of boats

Spring will also see the hire boat company open a new base on the Grand Union Canal in Warwickshire. Based at Stockton Top Marina between Warwick and Braunston the base will offer a choice of six boats ranging from two to 10 berths.

The new base is ideally placed for the Warwickshire Ring on a week’s break, travelling through Warwick and Birmingham. Alternatively if you’re planning a short break it’s the perfect launching point for trips to the canal-side village of Stoke Bruerne or historic Warwick with its castle and waxwork museum.

If you’re thinking of taking a boating holiday this year take a look at waterscape’s guide to hiring a boat on Britain’s canals.

Foxton Locks Festival dates announced

Grand Union Canal – Foxton Locks

A view of the 10 locks near the village of Foxton. Now a tourist attraction with a café and two pubs as well as a museum and country park. Link

© Copyright Ashley Dace and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

 4th Jan 2012

The popular canal festival at Foxton Locks in Leicestershire will take place on Saturday 30 June and Sunday 1 July 2012, organisers have confirmed.

Visitors will be able to enjoy the spectacle of Viking re-enactments, admire the historic vehicles and meet the animals in pets’ corner. There will also be live music, craft stalls, a real ale tent and children’s rides. Narrowboats from across the country will gather for the event.

Family day out

This will be the third consecutive year of the festival, which takes place on the Grand Union Canal Leicester Line. It attracted thousands of visitors in 2011, despite the dry summer.

All the money raised from the festival will go to the Foxton Inclined Plane Trust, which works to preserve the historic Victorican Inclined Plane boat lift.

Festival Director Ann Bushby said: “This is a great event that is quickly gaining in popularity. We organise the festival, not just to raise money for the Foxton Inclined Plane Trust, but also to make the public more aware of the glorious canal heritage we have in this country.”

For full details, visit http://www.foxtonlocksfestival.co.uk. For boat bookings, contact Andrew Shephard at andrewshephard@madasafish.com. For stall bookings, contact Ann Bushby on festival@fipt.org.uk.

Staffordshire Police set up local Canal Watch

 

 Staffordshire Police set up local Canal Watch

POSTED BY WATERWAY WATCHER ON SEPTEMBER 10TH, 2011

Staffordhire Police have started a brilliant new initiative on Facebook, a canal watch. Visit and contribute by surfing to http://www.facebook.com/StaffordshireCanalWatch. Perhaps by supporting this service we can encourage other police forces to take boat crime more seriously.

I have suggested to the organisers of Staffordshire Canal Watch that they also start a Twitter page and have asked them to send Waterwaywatch regular bulletins so that we can publish them here too.

They have requested help for the following incidents:

Can you help??
We are appealing for witnesses after a woman had her handbag stolen. This happened yesterday, Tues 23 August, at approximately 6.35pm. The woman got onto the towpath at Cromer Road and was heading towards Abbey Hulton. The offender was a male on a red bike wearing a black hoody, cycling the other way towards Hanley.
Any information please ring us as soon as possible on 0300 123 4455, quoting log number 642,23/8/11.

On Sunday 4 September, there was a report of anti-social behaviour on theTrentandMerseycanal. Groups of youngsters were sitting on benches, nearWyggeston Street,BurtononTrent, clearly under the influence of drink or drugs.

Local officers ask that if anybody witnesses such behaviour, to ring Staffordshire Police on 0300 123 4455.
Any problems relating to litter (especially bottles or glass), fly-tipping or other environmental issues can be reported to British Waterways on 01827 252000.

In early hours of Mon 5 September, damage was caused to 2 boats moored up on theTrentandMerseycanal in Alrewas area. The canvas on one boat was slashed and there was a footprint on the window. Youths were heard and seen walking past, in drink, during the night and the man on the boat heard a bang and discovered the damage in the morning. Anyone with any information about this or who is victim of damage to their boats within Staffordshire, please ring Staffordshire Police on 0300 123 4455.

A boat was reported broken into on Tues 6th Sept. The boat was moored up on theCaldonCanal, 1/2 mile from The Boat Inn and bridge no.45, Cheddleton area. Nothing was stolen however a fire extinguisher was set off inside.

Officers are asking that anyone living near the area or using the canal towpath regularly is extra vigilant and reports any suspicious people around the boats to us on 0300 123 4455. In an emergency always dial 999.

Damage has been caused to the window of a boat on theTrent & Mersey Canal, Trentham area. A small window on the boat was smashed, possibly on the evening of Tues 6th. It is not known how it happened. Can anyone in the area, living near the canal or using the towpath, please be vigilant. Anything or anyone suspicious, please report on 0300 123 4455.

If anyone has any information about this damage or any incidents listed on this page, you can ring Crimestoppers annonymously on 0800 555 111 too.

The organisers tell me that Canal Watch is fully supported by British Waterways and Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service. For fire safety advice onboard your boats and free smoke alarm fittings, please call 0800-0241-999 or go to www.staffordshirefire.gov.uk

They offer the following tips to help keep your property safe:

– Make sure valuables are kept out of sight
– Turn off gas and fuel supply valves when not in use
– Report suspicious behaviour to the police
– Fit good quality locks and alarms to your boat
– Fire can spread quickly, even on water. Alarms and detectors could save your life

Anyone who is an existing member of Canal Watch (and of course, those who want to join in future) can now have one of our information packs. These contain fire and safety information, window stickers, 2-3 suspicious incident report forms, contact details for Staffordshire Police, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service and hints on what details to have handy if you should have to ring the emergency services from your boat, to help those services find you quickly.

 

Canal News – Waterways Trust to Merge with New Waterways Charity

The Caldon Canal – Taken on a visit to the Churnet Valley Railway

Waterways Trust to Merge with New Waterways Charity

Posted by Waterway Watcher on June 25th, 2011

Agreement has been reached in principle for The Waterways Trust to merge its operations with the planned new waterways charity (NWC) when it is established in England & Wales next year.

The merger will enable The Waterways Trust and NWC to pool their strengths and resources in creating a unique new national charity to engage with supporters, partners and funders. By joining forces the organisations will bring together over 2,000 miles of historic canals, rivers and docks, three important waterways museums, the national waterways collection and national waterway archives. The merger will ensure that NWC will be able to draw on an enormous pool of experience and expertise in disciplines ranging from engineering and conservation to marketing, fundraising, volunteering and education.

In Scotland, where the waterways will remain in public ownership, The Waterways Trust will continue to grow its reach and influence focussing on the needs of Scotland’s waterways, working with BW Scotland and its many stakeholders.

Tony Hales, chairman designate of the new waterways charity, said: “This is tremendous news and will ensure that a very large part of the country’s precious waterway heritage will be held in trust for the nation. The joining together of NWC and The Waterways Trust will give the new waterways charity an enormous boost, not just by combining the physical structures and artefacts that make the waterways so unique, but through the collective knowledge and passion that each organisation’s staff and volunteers bring with them.”

Frances Done, chairman of The Waterways Trust, added: “We are delighted to be able support the new waterways charity in this way. Over the last 12 years we have learnt many lessons which will be important for the new charity. We have also seen success in a number of key areas including fundraising, building partnerships and attracting and working with volunteers, and look forward to building on these as part of the new waterways charity. We are delighted also that the work of the Trust will continue in Scotland building on our considerable achievements and focussing on the needs of Scotland’s waterways.”

The full detail of the merger will be developed over the coming months, with The Waterways Trust continuing with its programme of work. The NWC is expected to launch in April 2012, or soon afterwards, and The Waterways Trust’s project-based fundraising and delivery work, and its role in building partnerships in England and Wales, will continue within the new charity.

The Waterways Trust’s three museums, in Gloucester, Ellesmere Port and Stoke Bruerne, will be transferred as a group and continue to be managed together in the new charity building on their current excellent support from a wide range of stakeholders.Another shot on the Caldon Canal.