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

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

On Wednesday 9 July, the Inland Waterways Association (IWA) along with members of the “Preserve & Protect the Mon &…

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 (APPG) for the Waterways Discusses Waterway Restoration

On Tuesday 13th May, under the secretariat of IWA, the Waterways APPG convened to hear expert evidence from the Wilts…

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.

Boats at Saul Junction on the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal.

News

IWA Response to CRT Commission on Licensing

The Canal & River Trust (CRT) established an independently led Commission to review the legal framework around boat licensing, to…

News

Navigation saved with details finalised for formation of new charity

IWA has successfully completed the final details in setting up the new charity designed to increase support for the Chelmer…

Latest Events

Book now

04 Jul 2025 3 day event

Festival

Ware Boat Festival 2025

Ware

Fully booked

05 Jul 2025 7 day event

Canal Camps

Canal Camp 2025-03 Wey and Arun Canal – Rooks Hill Bridge

Cranleigh, Surrey

06 Jul 2025

Volunteering

Volunteer on the Northampton Arm

Northampton

Book now

06 Jul 2025

Guided Walk

Regent’s Canal, King’s Cross, Granary Square & Camden

Central London

Book now

10 Jul 2025

Boat Trips

Kentish River Stour – Boat Trip

Canterbury

Fully booked

12 Jul 2025 7 day event

Canal Camps

Canal Camp 2025-04 Wey and Arun Canal – Rooks Hill Bridge

Cranleigh, Surrey

Book now

12 Jul 2025

Guided Walk

Ribble Link and Lancaster Canal Walk

Haslam Park, Preston

15 Jul 2025

Volunteering

Volunteer on the Northampton Arm

Northampton

17 Jul 2025

Restoration

Work Party on the Cheshire Locks

Stoke-on-Trent

18 Jul 2025

Volunteering

Work Party – Burslem Port

Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent

Book now

20 Jul 2025

Guided Walk

Regent’s Canal, Islington to Kingsland Road

Central London

Fully booked

26 Jul 2025 7 day event

Canal Camps

Canal Camp 2025-07 Lichfield Canal

Lichfield

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

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 (APPG) for the Waterways Discusses Waterway Restoration

Waterways Restoration Conference 2025

IWA Response to CRT Commission on Licensing

Navigation saved with details finalised for formation of new charity

Latest Events

Ware Boat Festival 2025

Canal Camp 2025-03 Wey and Arun Canal – Rooks Hill Bridge

Volunteer on the Northampton Arm

Regent’s Canal, King’s Cross, Granary Square & Camden

Kentish River Stour – Boat Trip

Canal Camp 2025-04 Wey and Arun Canal – Rooks Hill Bridge

Ribble Link and Lancaster Canal Walk

Volunteer on the Northampton Arm

Work Party on the Cheshire Locks

Work Party – Burslem Port

Regent’s Canal, Islington to Kingsland Road

Canal Camp 2025-07 Lichfield Canal

LOVE YOUR WATERWAYS

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