of the stewards, is responsible for all planning

Canal Camps 2022 – book your place on a volunteer holiday

SPEND a week outside helping to bring a derelict waterway back to life and book a week-long working holiday in 2022.

You will have the opportunity to learn new skills while getting involved in worthwhile projects such as building new bridges, restoring lock chambers and vegetation clearance.

IWA’s Waterway Recovery Group is planning an exciting summer programme of Canal Camps across eight sites across England and Wales. Activities are set to include: • Bywash repairs on the Ty Coch Flight on the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canals in Wales; • Helping the IWA Essex Waterways team to repair Stonham’s weir on the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation in Essex; • Building a new slipway for small craft launches on the Maidenhead Waterways; • Supporting work to restore the Herefordshire & Gloucestershire Canal at Malswick, reinstating around 600m of filled-in canal.

This year also sees the return of WRG’s Family Canal Camps. Over the October half term, there will be a Family Weekend in partnership with the Wendover Canal Trust open to young people aged 6-14 and their families.

Wat e rw ay R ec ov er y Group Canal Camp working holidays attract a wide range of people, from young volunteers taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme to waterway enthusiasts who want to help restore and preserve the waterway network.

They also appeal to people who have skills such as engineering or bricklaying and want to do something worthwhile and satisfying with their leisure time.

Waterway Recovery Group has been supporting canal restoration across Britain for more than 50 years, so you’re in safe hands.

Learn new skills while helping to

preserve the waterway network. Young volunteers enjoying a working holiday. PHOTOS: IWA

IWA Canalway Cavalcade returns to London in 2022

THE IWA Canalway Cavalcade will return to London’s Little Venice from Saturday, April 30 to Monday, May 2 for the full bank holiday weekend.

Celebrating the best of life on the waterways in London and its community, there’s something for everyone at this popular event.

Whether visiting by boat or on foot, it’s a splendid day out for you and your family. Soak up the atmosphere surrounded by colourful boats, alongside a multitude of unique stalls, a real ale bar and delicious foods for all appetites.

With eclectic live music around the site, there are special boating activities like the legendary illuminated procession and kids’ entertainment for all ages. You’ll also find amazing art from local schools on display and plenty of opportunities to get involved at IWA Canalway Cavalcade.

Moorings are available for boaters to book for all or part of the weekend. Go to waterways.org.uk/cavalcade to find out more and book your place.

The Canalway Cavalcade returns to Little Venice over the early May

Bank Holiday weekend. PHOTO: IWA

Get involved – join us on a work party

IWA branches are getting back to work to improve waterways across the country. Work parties have been risk assessed and mitigating measures are in place. Please contact the branch to register an interest if you would like to attend one of these work parties. It is advisable to wear stout shoes, old clothing and bring a waterproof. You may also want to bring a packed lunch and any refreshments.

North

Saturday February 12

IWA Manchester Branch: Work party on the Ashton Canal. 10.30am. Contact Barry McGuinness: barry. mcguinness@waterways.org.uk or phone 07875 999825.

Thursday February 17

IWA North Staffordshire & South Cheshire Branch and Trent & Mersey

Canal Society: Work party on the Cheshire Locks, Trent & Mersey Canal. 10am-3pm. Contact John Lawson: John.lawson@waterways. org.uk or phone 07940 878923.

IWA Northampton Branch: Work party on the Northampton Arm as part of the Branch’s adoption of the navigation. 10am-2pm. Work usually includes a variety of tasks such as painting, vegetation clearance and litter picking. Contact Geoff Wood: geoff.wood@waterways.org.uk or phone 01604 453932.

Tuesdays

IWA Milton Keynes Branch: Regular work party at Fenny Lock on the Grand Union Canal. 9.30am-1.30pm. Work can include vegetation clearance, gardening, litter picking and painting. Work parties are dependent on weather. Contact Pat Durham: pat.durham@waterways. org.uk or phone 07510 195918.

West

Tuesdays and Saturdays

IWA West Country Branch (Taunton

& Bridgwater): Work parties in the Somerset area. 10am-1pm. Contact Mike Slade: mike.slade@waterways. org.uk on 07977 263840.

Branch talks and socials

In addition to work parties, IWA branches host local waterway talks, walks and socials to share the wonder of the waterways. Many of these are open to anyone who wants to come along. Find something that’s on near you at waterways.org.uk/events

Get involved in projects such as vegetation clearance.

The £70 cost for a week’s holiday includes:

All meals – including a cooked breakfast, lunch on site and a substantial home-cooked evening meal… along with plenty of tea breaks.

Accommodation – volunteers sleep in a large communal space, usually in a village hall or scout hut.

Transport – We can pick you up from the nearest station. We also provide travel between the accommodation and site.

Bookings will open at the beginning of February. Visit waterways. org.uk/canalcamps to find out more.

Volunteer and make a real difference to Britain’s living waterways heritage

THE Inland Waterways Association is seeking volunteers to help improve the protection of heritage assets along the UK’s rivers and canals through the extension of existing conservation areas, listing status and campaigning to save historic water ways features that may be at risk from insensitive development.

As a heritage volunteer, you will help Save Waterways Heritage. You will join an enthusiastic and motivated team of volunteers and staff. In addition, you will learn new skills, gain new experiences and receive training.

There are several ways to get involved in IWA’s Save Waterways H er it ag e c am pa ig n f r o m photographing heritage as you walk, run, bike or boat along the canal to becoming one of our national heritage advisors.

Look out for hidden heritage

Uncover historical artefacts along the waterways near you. These are the details that help tell a story about the waterways they served. Hidden heritage can be things like the rope marks on a bridge, mason’s marks on a lock wall, canal company signage or mile posts along the towpath. You don’t need to know what these things are as IWA has experts on hand to advise. You just need enthusiasm and a camera.

Identifying heritage at risk

Be a part of the team! Work with IWA’s Heritage Advisory Group and local branches to identify heritage buildings, structures and artefacts which are at risk of being lost. This information will feed into IWA’s Waterways Heritage at Risk Register and local campaigns.

Map conservation areas

IWA is looking to create a small project team to spend the next 4-6 months researching the waterways network and mapping conservation areas to create a central database. IWA will then be able to lobby local authorities to designate more waterways and their corridors as conservation areas where it’s appropriate.

Share your heritage expertise

Join IWA’s panel of expert advisors. Ideally you will have a background or academic interest in conservation, archaeology or management of historic structures and provide advice and guidance on heritage matters to our volunteer community and staff team to ensure the waterways heritage is understood and appreciated by government, stakeholders and developers.