IWA canal and river campaigns > Conservation

Conserving the waterways

What’s at risk?

waterways heritage industrial landscape canal

Campaign

Waterways Heritage at Risk

Campaign

Aston Nature Reserve, Montgomery Canal: Habitats and heritage

Burslem Branch Canal Trent & Mersey Canal Conservation Area

Campaign

Burslem Branch Canal: Conservation areas

Crown Wharf planning protection for heritage

Campaign

Crown Wharf, Stone: Planning Protection

Aberdulais Aqueduct waterways heritage at risk from climate change

Campaign

Aberdulais Aqueduct: Heritage structure at risk

Moored boats at Snarestone Wharf on the Ashby Canal

Campaign

Ashby Canal Trail

Campaign

Protecting the waterways from the worst of HS2

Campaign

HS2: Ashby Canal

Campaign

HS2: Trent & Mersey Canal in Cheshire

Campaign

HS2: Bridgewater Canal

Campaign

HS2: Middlewich Branch of Shropshire Union Canal

What’s at risk?

Heritage

Our waterways heritage is what makes Britain’s canals and rivers special and it must be actively protected for the future.

HS2 waterways

With significant successes so far, we’re still campaigning to protect the waterways from the worst effects of HS2.

Protection

Some canal and river corridors do not have the protection of being designated conservation areas.

LATEST NEWS

See all articles

News

Breaking News: Welsh Government Announces £5million Investment for Mon & Brec Canal

Last week IWA representatives joined members of the “Preserve & Protect the Mon & Brec Canal” group and other local…

News

Missed Opportunities as Boating Sector Overlooked in Spending Review

Responding to the Chancellor’s Spending Review, Bowman Bradley, Chair of IWA’s Sustainable Boating Group, said: “We are disappointed that the…

News

IWA at the Senedd Urging Welsh Government to Protect the Mon & Brec Canal

On Wednesday 9th July, IWA along with members of the “Preserve & Protect the Mon & Brec Canal” group will…

News

IWA calls for urgent action as Cam Conservancy faces crisis

The Cam Conservancy (the Navigation Authority in charge of 6 miles of the River Cam in Cambridgeshire) has warned that…

News

All Party Parliamentary Group for the Waterways Discusses Waterway Restoration

On Tuesday 13th May, under IWA’s secretariat, the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the Waterways convened to hear expert…

News

Waterways Restoration Conference 2025

On 26th April 2025, delegates and volunteers descended on the Ellesmere Port Boat Museum for the Annual Waterway Restoration Conference.

Latest Events

Fully booked

26 Jul 2025 7 day event

Canal Camps

Canal Camp 2025-07 Lichfield Canal

Lichfield

01 Aug 2025

Volunteering

Work Party – Burslem Port

Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent

Fully booked

02 Aug 2025 7 day event

Canal Camps

Canal Camp 2025-09 Lichfield Canal

Lichfield

03 Aug 2025

Fund Britain’s Waterways – River Cam Campaign Cruise

Cambridge

03 Aug 2025

Volunteering

Volunteer on the Northampton Arm

Northampton

03 Aug 2025

Lichfield Branch Lockwind at Barton Turn Lock

Barton Turn, Barton-under-Needwood

Book now

03 Aug 2025

Guided Walk

Regent’s Canal, Kings Cross, Granary Square and St Pancras

Central London

Fully booked

09 Aug 2025 7 day event

Canal Camps

Canal Camp 2025-11 Louth Navigation

Louth, Lincolnshire

Fully booked

09 Aug 2025 7 day event

Canal Camps

Canal Camp 2025-12 Cotswold Canals – Weymoor Bridge

North East Gloucestershire

15 Aug 2025

Volunteering

Work Party – Burslem Port

Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent

Book now

16 Aug 2025

Guided Walk

Sankey canal – 3 locks Walk

Newton-le-Willows

Fully booked

16 Aug 2025 7 day event

Canal Camps

Canal Camp 2025-14 Cotswold Canals – Weymoor Bridge

North East Gloucestershire

Find out more

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Conserving the waterways

Conservation

We know our waterways are special places – we are working to protect them from thoughtless development and to safeguard their unique environment for future generations.

What’s at risk?

Waterways Heritage at Risk

Aston Nature Reserve, Montgomery Canal: Habitats and heritage

Burslem Branch Canal: Conservation areas

Crown Wharf, Stone: Planning Protection

Aberdulais Aqueduct: Heritage structure at risk

Ashby Canal Trail

Protecting the waterways from the worst of HS2

HS2: Ashby Canal

HS2: Trent & Mersey Canal in Cheshire

HS2: Bridgewater Canal

HS2: Middlewich Branch of Shropshire Union Canal

What’s at risk?

Heritage

HS2 waterways

Protection

LATEST NEWS

LATEST NEWS

Breaking News: Welsh Government Announces £5million Investment for Mon & Brec Canal

Missed Opportunities as Boating Sector Overlooked in Spending Review

IWA at the Senedd Urging Welsh Government to Protect the Mon & Brec Canal

IWA calls for urgent action as Cam Conservancy faces crisis

All Party Parliamentary Group for the Waterways Discusses Waterway Restoration

Waterways Restoration Conference 2025

Latest Events

Canal Camp 2025-07 Lichfield Canal

Work Party – Burslem Port

Canal Camp 2025-09 Lichfield Canal

Fund Britain’s Waterways – River Cam Campaign Cruise

Volunteer on the Northampton Arm

Lichfield Branch Lockwind at Barton Turn Lock

Regent’s Canal, Kings Cross, Granary Square and St Pancras

Canal Camp 2025-11 Louth Navigation

Canal Camp 2025-12 Cotswold Canals – Weymoor Bridge

Work Party – Burslem Port

Sankey canal – 3 locks Walk

Canal Camp 2025-14 Cotswold Canals – Weymoor Bridge

LOVE YOUR WATERWAYS

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