A barge moored in Brindley Place Birmingham

All Press Releases

Statement re Caen Hill lock gates emergency repairs

29 June 2010
Last Tuesday morning, 22 June, a private boat travelling through lock 24 on the Caen Hill Flight alongside a hire boat, struck the lock gate. Unfortunately the damage caused by the impact of the boat caused irreparable damage to the gate. The boats did not suffer any substantial damage, and all crew were safe.

Stay safe by the water

25 June 2010
The nation’s canals, rivers, reservoirs and docks are enduringly popular, with around 300 million visits made to British Waterways’ 2,200 mile network each year. With the weather heating up and many people planning to holiday in the UK, British Waterways is urging visitors to enjoy the waterways safely.

Crews battle alien invasion near national space centre

25 June 2010
A team of intrepid volunteers is set to tackle the alien plants living in the shadow of the National Space Centre in Leicester on the Grand Union Canal.

Montgomery towpath upgrade links into strategic leisure vision

25 June 2010
An upgraded section of the Montgomery Canal opens today linking Powys with the shores of Cardigan Bay at Aberystwyth.

Group will safeguard legacy of aqueduct world heritage project

18 June 2010
Plans are underway to safeguard the legacy of a unique project that is reshaping the lives of communities living along the 11-mile Pontcysyllte and Llangollen Canal World Heritage Site corridor.

Time to celebrate

18 June 2010
British Waterways together with Bath and North East Somerset Council, the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust and the Widcombe Association, are delighted to announce the appointment of the Bath artist, Alan Dun, to create a commemorative artwork celebrating the bicentenary of the Kennet & Avon Canal.

Creating vital habitats for threatened birds

16 June 2010
British Waterways has welcomed a share of a £10,000 grant from The Waterway Trust’s Small Grants Scheme to support a number of important wildlife habitat improvements. The annual awards support community-led environmental, access, education and activity projects taking place along the UK's waterways. This year’s grant will help projects focussed on the waterway birds that rely on our network of rivers and canals to live and breed, and will be shared between seven new projects:

Cyclists urged to take it easy on the towpath

15 June 2010
British Waterways is delivering a week long series of events on the capital’s towpaths during National Bike Week, Monday 21 to Sunday 27 June, in a bid to educate speeding cyclists to slow down and share the towpath amicably.

May unearths waterway roots to her family tree

15 June 2010
An innovative educational programme is encouraging young Cheshire people to get in touch with their canal and river roots.