Welcome

As I write this, we are on the cusp of a total relaxation of the Covid regulations that have impacted our day-today lives for over a year. This is hopeful news for the waterways sector that has been compromised by the pandemic, and for everyone who enjoys our canals and rivers.

I was fortunate to get away in April for a week-long boat trip along the south Oxford and Grand Union canals with my wife, Amanda. I am forever in awe of the many wonders of the waterways as they wind through rural and urban landscapes. At the same time, I am reminded of how vulnerable a lot of the historic bridges and buildings that make our waterways unique truly are. It was a great holiday, but I also had some valuable conversations along the way. We stopped o at the legendary Tooley’s Boa ard and I had a great catchup with the team there. Tooley’s is featured in part two of our Heritage Report, which looks at examples of waterways history that have been lost or saved. Following that I met up with my local MP – Victoria Prentis. You can read more about the trip on page 31.

In May I had a positive face-to-face meeting at Alrewas with Michael Fabricant MP, chair of the All Par Parliamentary Group for the Waterways. This was followed by a successful APPGW meeting on living afl oat where parliamentarians were urged to support residential boaters.

We are seeing lots of critical work taking place to raise awareness of climate change and the importance of being more sustainable. Our waterways have their part to play, and we have expert volunteers leading the charge on greener boating and making waves across the sector – pioneering research into alternative propulsion methods, infl uencing decision makers and changing hearts and minds.

Our volunteers will be at the Crick Boat Show on 20th-22nd August representing IWA as part of the greener boating sessions. If you’re at the event, please do make sure you pop along to our stand to say hello. IWA Festival of Water takes place the following bank holiday weekend in August along the Worcester & Birmingham Canal at Perdiswell Park. This will be the fi rst time so many of our volunteers and supporters will be together in one place for nearly two years, and I’m very much looking forward to seeing everyone.

In the last issue of Waterways, we put a call out for new trustees to join our board. We had four vacancies and 12 exceptional applications, including two candidates standing for reappointment. I was delighted that there were so many strong candidates, and the selection panel certainly had an unenviable task in proposing who would fi ll the vacancies. I would like to thank members of the panel, Liz Payne, Mike Sumner, Ray Alexander, Helen Gardner, Paul Strudwick and Dave Chapman, who proposed that Hannah Sterri and Rebecca Hughes be appointed as new trustees, and that Sir Robert Atkins and John Butler be reappointed to the role. Their skills and experience will be invaluable to the governance of the Association. Members will be asked to approve the appointments at the AGM in September, and further information on the candidates will be shared on our website as soon as possible.

Stepping down this year are Nicki Schiessel-Harvey, Roger Stocker and Helen Whitehouse. On behalf of the Association, I would like to share my heartfelt thanks for their commitment and contribution to the board.

Volunteers’ week took place in June, and we thanked our volunteers and shared some of their stories on social media. With the easing of restrictions, we have seen the return of more work parties across the country. Whether clearing invasive Himalayan balsam, repainting lock gates or picking up li er, this work is vital and showcases contributions our volunteers make to improve the waterways environment. But there is much that continues behind the scenes to campaign for waterways at a local and national level.

Volunteers are the lifeblood of the Association, whether in leadership and governance roles, or on the ground, and I would like to take the opportuni to say a big thank you again for everything that our volunteers do. In this issue you can see how our expert volunteers infl uence all areas of our chari ’s work.

Alongside this issue, you will fi nd our highlights report for 2020, which illustrates the impact the Association has had and the resilience of our volunteers in a challenging year. I hope you will be energised and inspired by this and perhaps consider taking on a role yourself. Whether you support IWA as a member, donor or a volunteer, thank you.

Paul Rodgers, IWA National Chair

Floating Reed Beds installed on the Hanwell Flight

Volunteers helped to plant floating reed beds for the side ponds of Lock 97 on the Grand Union Canal as part of the Hanwell Locks Partnership task party in June. The Partnership is a joint IWA West London and Canal & River Trust initiative for the care, conservation and restoration of the Hanwell Flight and Norwood Locks.

The new floating ecosystem in the side ponds of Lock 97 follows on from a successful installation of similar floating beds at Lock 96 side ponds in 2020. Natural coir material has been planted with a variety native wetland and marginal vegetation to provide a transitionary habitat important for the newts residing within the ponds. They also provide a great spawning habitat for fish and support a range of insect life such as dragonflies and damselflies.

At the task party the interlocking units were bolted together by IWA volunteers on the lock side before being planted with a variety of sedges, rushes and reeds. Finally, the beds were manoeuvred into the two side pond basins. A cable system will be used to tether the floating ecosystem to the rear wall of the side ponds; this is designed to accommodate variations in water level and future operational use of the side ponds by the volunteer lock-keepers at Hanwell.

The Partnership has regular volunteer task parties on the Hanwell Flight and is an open group that welcomes help from anyone interested in caring for one of the gems of the London canal network. For details of future volunteer activities, visit the IWA West London Branch webpage waterways.org.uk/ westlondon or email ray.gill@waterways.org.uk.

Bringing Waterways Back to Life – Support for the Sector

Annual Waterway Restoration Conference 2021

The Annual Waterway Restoration Conference 2021, hosted jointly with Canal & River Trust, is due to take place online on Saturday 16th October. The focus will be on how heritage can be protected and restored, while being green. The event is targeted at restoration groups, but anyone can join. You can register your interest by emailing jenny.morris@waterways.org.uk.

We have also been running a series of webinars throughout the year on topics to support restoration groups, which are available to watch on our YouTube channel at waterways.org.uk/ restorationvideos.

IWA Hosts New National Restoration Networking Event

In April, IWA hosted the first-ever National Restoration Networking event with support from volunteers from across the sector.

The session titled ‘Beyond the Heritage: New Opportunities’ was attended by over 40 people, representing 19 different waterway restoration groups. Presentations focused on the positive next steps groups can take post-Covid-19, including looking at new funding opportunities and creating eco-highways. This was supported by snapshot case studies from the Derby & Sandiacre Canal, Chesterfield Canal and the North Walsham & Dilham Canal. Other organisations were then given the opportunity to update attendees on their individual projects.

The aim of these events is to recapture the spirit of Northern Canal Association meetings, and allow groups to share information and discuss issues and ideas to help progress canal restoration works across the country.

The next session is for Northern Canals Restoration Projects, and is planned for Sunday 12th September. It is open to lead volunteers from each group and it is hoped that this session will be a face-to-face event. If you would like more details, please contact jenny.morris@waterways.org.uk.

Alternative Awards for an exceptional year

Last year our national award recipients were announced at our virtual AGM and featured in the Winter 2020 issue of Waterways and online. However, due to the pandemic, we have been unable to celebrate our award winners as we normally would. We have had the opportunity to distribute some of the awards throughout the year and are aiming to give out the outstanding trophies at IWA Festival of Water at Perdiswell Park in Worcester over the August bank holiday weekend.

Considering the unusual events of the last 18 months and to enable our worthy award winners to enjoy their trophies for a full year, we will not be taking nominations for our national awards in 2021. We are, however, looking at one-off ways to formally recognise individuals and groups that made special contributions to IWA’s operations during the pandemic and will share details of this in due course.

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IWA Festival of Water 2021

Our volunteer organising team is busy finalising the programme of entertainment and attractions at IWA Festival of Water, taking place in Perdiswell Park alongside the Worcester & Birmingham Canal this summer bank holiday weekend (28th–30th August).

New for this year, an ‘IWA at 75’ marquee will host a series of presentations on topics such as living afloat and greener boating, and performances by Alarum Productions. In addition, the Find it Do it Worcester arena will showcase local youth and sports activities.

A full programme of live music and dance will take place, with local folk groups taking centre stage. There will be craft stalls, food outlets, a real ale bar, plus other attractions.

Details will be added to the website as they are confirmed. Entry to the festival and car parking are free. Book a mooring or campsite pitch for just £35 for the whole weekend, including evening entertainment. More information, including how to book your mooring or pitch, is available online at waterways.org.uk/festivalofwater.

IWA’s Annual General Meeting will be held on Saturday 25th September 2021 at 11.30am.

As we go to print on this issue of Waterways, the format of the AGM is still under review due to the continuing uncertainty around Covid-19.

Further details of the AGM, including the agenda and papers, will be posted on the website and emailed to members. If you don’t have access to the internet, or we do not have your email address, please write to us at Membership, The Inland Waterways Association, Island House, Moor Road, Chesham HP5 1WA, and include your membership number or first name, last name and postcode asking for details of the AGM, and we will make sure you don’t miss out on the updates. You can also email us at membership@ waterways.org.uk.

Go to waterways.org.uk/agm to see the latest AGM information.

Live music will feature at this year’s IWA Festival of Water in Worcester.

Aickman's Seven Wonders stand the test of time

In the Spring 2021 issue of Waterways we asked whether you thought IWA co-founder Robert Aickman’s Seven Wonders of the Waterways should be updated. The original locations chosen in 1955 were: • Pontcysyllte Aqueduct • Bingley Five Rise • Caen Hill Lock Flight • Barton Swing Aqueduct • Burnley Embankment • Anderton Boat Lift • Standedge Tunnel

Despite new feats of engineering changing the landscape of our waterways and hundreds of miles of canals restored in the past 66 years, half of the 400 survey respondents considered that Aickman’s Seven Wonders had stood the test of time.

Of those that did suggest new Wonders for the list, by far the most popular proposition was the impressive Falkirk Wheel in Scotland, the world’s first rotating boat-lift, opened by Her Majesty The Queen in 2002. It was built with funding from a huge Millennium Lottery grant to replace a flight of 11 locks linking the Forth & Clyde Canal to the Union Canal at Port Downie.

Other suggestions with multiple submissions included Sapperton Tunnel on the Thames & Severn Canal, and the ‘Great Wall of Todmorden’ alongside the Rochdale Canal.

There have been several variations to Aickman’s list, suggested since the 1950s, which have substituted one or two structures, but it seems the original Seven Wonders still hold water.

The world’s first rotating boat-lift, the Falkirk Wheel, was the most popular suggestion for the Wonders of the Waterways list.

IWA Annual General Meeting

Chester Achieves First Heritage Inland Port status in the UK

The Heritage Harbours scheme has recognised Chester Port as its first inland Heritage Port. This scheme highlights long-established but often forgotten ports that played an important role in the maritime and industrial history of the country. IWA has been working at a local and national level to safeguard inland ports as part of its wider campaign to protect waterways heritage.

IWA Chester & Merseyside Branch submitted a 21page application alongside partners Chester Civic Trust and Cheshire West & Chester Council to recognise the Roman port as a heritage asset. Criteria laid down in the heritage harbour designation process included: • an outline of its unique historical development • a catalogue of its surviving features • an evaluation of its environmental and historic features.

The Heritage Harbours scheme is organised by Maritime Heritage Trust, National Historic Ships and European Maritime Heritage to recognise the great value in sensitively developing the historic buildings, waste land, mooring, and maintenance facilities in the ports. Other inland sites currently under consideration include Stourport and Warwick Bar.

Right: Northgate Locks were highlighted among the many heritage assets of Chester Port in the application to the heritage harbours scheme. Chester Port was the busiest in North West England from Roman times until the 18th century and the growth of Liverpool’s docks.

Training for the Restoration sector

Volunteers across the restoration sector have taken part in a range of new training activities, from online mental health awareness courses through to practical ‘lifting and slinging beneath the hook’ courses. Over 100 volunteers in total have received some form of training in the last six months – all funded through the National Lottery Heritage Fund Resilient Heritage Fund grant to support our ‘Restoring Confidence’ project.

The project has spent the last 18 months developing specific elements of our Restoration Hub such as upskilling key volunteers and staff, and offering specific heritage training to volunteers, as well as providing guidance and training on strategic issues such as diversity, the environment and governance.

Eleven volunteers are also now undertaking our Waterway Recovery Group Leadership Development Programme, which is part funded by a Historic England National Capacity Building Grant.

youth engagement month

Our Restoration Youth Engagement Month this August, organised with the Canal & River Trust, aims to bring new opportunities for young people to gain life-changing experiences by participating in waterways restoration projects to help bring around 500 miles of waterways back into use.

Throughout the month we will be launching our five-minute litter pick micro-volunteering campaign. This will encourage young people to stop and clear litter from their local stretch of waterway and to then share the experience on social media.

A weekly taster event will be hosted in different locations across a network of canal restorations for young people, aimed at attracting communities. This will include families with primary school-aged children and teenagers who may be interested in longer-term opportunities to develop their skills.

Alongside this we will be working with restoration groups to launch our Youth Engagement Toolkit, which gives restoration groups all the resources to successfully and safely engage with young people. Also planned is a Youth Engagement training workshop through the Young Trustee Movement.

While the engagement month only runs throughout August, IWA’s Restoration Hub is working towards creating a Youth Panel for the sector. This will help develop a range of activities to encourage young people to engage with their local environment, recognise the importance of industrial heritage and gain skills, empowering them to get involved and make a difference.

Back out digging this August

WRG volunteers are heading out on their fi rst Canal Camps since 2019 this summer.

Five Canal Camps, organised by our Waterway Recovery Group, are taking place in July and August. These Camps have been set up to be as Covid-safe as possible, while enabling vital work in the restoration sector to continue, and are part of a phased return to activi om the end of July. Canal Camps will look a li le bit di erent this year (but hopefully as muddy and fun as always). We are working to four key principles: increased personal space; good hygiene facilities; good ventilation of shared indoor spaces; and improved welfare facilities on site.

These principles will be backed up with risk assessments, including Camp-specifi c Covid criteria. Our leadership teams are also undergoing additional training to ensure we can deliver an enjoyable experience and that all volunteers observe safeguarding measures.

We initially have fi ve week-long Canal Camps planned on four sites. Each Camp will be limited to 12 volunteers.

On the Derby & Sandiacre Canal Camp (31st July-7th August) volunteers will return to Borrowash Bo om Lock to continue work started in 2019 to repair the wing walls, rebuild sections of the lock wall, reinstate coping stones and carry out landscaping.

The River Waveney Canal Camps (31st July-7th August and 7th-14th August) will spend two weeks working alongside the River Waveney Trust to restore Geldeston Lock in Su olk. The two-week project aims to take down about 20m of lock wall to complete the restoration of the whole wall on the south side. The brickwork has been severely compromised by erosion over the years due to high tide levels, as well as plants and trees having grown in and through the wall. Plen of work for our bricklayers!

We then have two further Canal Camps on the Shrewsbury & Newport Canal (7th-14th August) and Montgomery Canal (14th-21st August). Shrewsbury & Newport Canal Camp will be repairing two culverts on a new site for WRG at Berwick Wharf, owned by the National Trust. The Montgomery Canal Camp will be working to support a new project – the rebuilding of School House Bridge – by creating the site compound, clearing hedge cu ings om the line of the canal and helping install a soakway for future connection to the canalside co age.

We hope to release more Canal Camp dates for September and October, so keep checking the website for information at waterways.org.uk/wrg.

Stopping the spread of invasives

Two of our northerly Branches were out on the towpaths in June, protecting the waterways om the spread of Himalayan balsam.

This year, IWA North Sta ordshire & South Cheshire Branch resumed its campaign against this invasive plant. Volunteers took part in two work parties in the Churnet Valley – on the Leek Arm of the Caldon Canal around Longsdon and on the U oxeter Canal around Bridge 70 at Crumpwood. Swathes of the plant were removed by hard-working volunteers, who were joined by volunteers om Canal & River Trust and Caldon & U oxeter Canals Trust.

IWA Lancashire & Cumbria Branch held a joint Himalayan balsam clearance work par at Haslam Park with Lancaster Canal Trust and Friends of Haslam Park. Ten volunteers pulled up the plant om along the towpath and near the feeder to the Lancaster Canal. This group has been clearing the plant om the area for several years and has helped to contain its spread.

Himalayan balsam is a non-native, invasive plant that can be found along the banks of the UK’s waterways. It grows quickly and crowds out native wildfl owers. Growing up to 3m in height, it has no root stock and once it dies back in winter the ground becomes susceptible to erosion. The work parties involve pulling the plants up before they go to seed as removing the plants annually eventually stops them growing in that area.

TOP RIGHT: A volunteer from IWA North Staffordshire & South Cheshire Branch tackling Himalayan balsam on the Leek Arm of the Caldon Canal. The Camp on the Montgomery Canal will support work to rebuild School House Bridge.

Volunteers on the Derby & Sandiacre Canal Camp will be rebuilding walls on Borrowash Bottom Lock.