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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?

Campaign

HS2: Ashton & Rochdale Canals

Campaign

The unique heritage of the waterways is under threat

Campaign

Protecting the waterways from the worst of HS2

Campaign

HS2: Aire & Calder Navigation

Campaign

HS2: Dearne & Dove Canal

Campaign

HS2: Sheffield & South Yorkshire Navigation

Campaign

HS2: Nottingham Canal

Campaign

HS2: Erewash Canal

Boats cruising in Handsacre on the Trent & Mersey Canal

Campaign

HS2: Trent Navigation, Cranfleet Cut

a family walking alongside a canal

Campaign

HS2: Chesterfield Canal

Campaign

HS2: River Soar

Campaign

HS2: Ashby 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

LATEST NEWS

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See all articles
Hammersmith Bridge with boats underneath

News

Hammersmith Bridge reopens but waterways heritage at risk

The closure of Hammersmith Bridge – and the delay to repairs – raises concerns for other historic bridges and waterways…

Volunteers bricklaying

News

2021 Summer Canal Camps back digging

Five Canal Camps, organised by our Waterway Recovery Group, are taking place in July and August.

freight barge on the Aire & Calder

News

Funding for North East waterways freight essential

We raised our concerns over the impact the long-term lack of funding has on freight in a letter to Rebecca…

News

Parliamentarians urged to support residential boaters

IWA facilitated the online meeting, with presentations from the Residential Boat Owners Association, the National Bargee Travellers Association and Canal…

Boat cruising at Inverness

News

7,000 miles of British waterways now identified

New research reveals a total of 7,000 miles of waterways in Great Britain. Of these, 5,000 of the miles are navigable today. The other 2,000 miles are…

Feature

Covid-19 and using the inland waterways

We have been engaging with DEFRA on how the proposed steps of the Government’s roadmap, announced in February, should be…

Latest Events

29 Jul 2021

Work Party

Litter picking & vegetation clearance

Kidsgrove to Wheelock

31 Jul 2021
volunteer on a work boat

Work Party

Bridgwater & Taunton Canal

Bridgwater

31 Jul 2021

Work Party

Bridgwater Docks

Bridgwater

Waiting list
31 Jul 2021 7 days
Volunteers bricklaying

Canal Camps

Derby & Sandiacre Canal Camp

Derbyshire

Waiting list
31 Jul 2021 7 days

Canal Camps

River Waveney Canal Camp

East Anglia

Book now
01 Aug 2021

Guided Walk

Grand Surrey Canal, Royal Navy Victualling Yard & Greenland Dock

London

01 Aug 2021
Volunteers at Work

Work Party

Volunteer on the Northampton Arm

Northampton

03 Aug 2021

Volunteering

Himalayan Balsam Bash at Falling Sands

Kidderminster

05 Aug 2021

Volunteering

Himalayan Balsam Bash at Falling Sands

Kidderminster

06 Aug 2021

Work Party

Litter picking & vegetation clearance

Kidsgrove to Wheelock

Book now
07 Aug 2021 7 days

Canal Camps

Shrewsbury & Newport Canal Camp

Shropshire

Book now
07 Aug 2021 7 days

Canal Camps

River Waveney Canal Camp

East Anglia

Find out more

Love your waterways

Together we can protect and restore our waterways; the UK’s 6,500 miles of canals and rivers need your help.