Ever wondered what treasures lie at the bottom of the Birmingham Canals?
Every year, about 50 volunteers spend two days removing an estimated 20 to 30 tonnes of rubbish from the Birmingham Canal Navigations (BCN). The Annual Birmingham Canals Clean-up weekend is the perfect chance to have fun, meet new people, and help clear shopping trolleys, tyres, bicycles – and perhaps even more surprising finds – from the canals. This yearly effort on the BCN helps keep the less-used sections of the BCN & Black Country Network clear, preventing them from becoming clogged with rubbish and impassable for boats.
This year, Waterway Recovery Group (WRG) volunteers will be working on the Daw End Canal, tackling grappling tasks and offside vegetation clearance. Volunteers are joined each year by members of IWA West Midlands branches, Canal & River Trust, Birmingham Canal Navigations Society, and Coombeswood Canal Trust.
Guidance for Day Visitors
If you’d like to join for the day, please email Chris Morgan or call 07974 111 354 to confirm the meet-up point and time.
Bookings for the weekend are now open
Basic accommodation is provided from Friday night – Please bring camp beds/sleeping bags.
** Accommodation bookings close at midday on Friday 6th March **
Book now
Event Date(s)
13th to 15th March
Cost
£18
Location
Walsall
Restoration
Birmingham Canals Clean-up 2026
Ever wondered what treasures lie at the bottom of the Birmingham Canals?
Every year, about 50 volunteers spend two days removing an estimated 20 to 30 tonnes of rubbish from the Birmingham Canal Navigations (BCN). The Annual Birmingham Canals Clean-up weekend is the perfect chance to have fun, meet new people, and help clear shopping trolleys, tyres, bicycles – and perhaps even more surprising finds – from the canals. This yearly effort on the BCN helps keep the less-used sections of the BCN & Black Country Network clear, preventing them from becoming clogged with rubbish and impassable for boats.
This year, Waterway Recovery Group (WRG) volunteers will be working on the Daw End Canal, tackling grappling tasks and offside vegetation clearance. Volunteers are joined each year by members of IWA West Midlands branches, Canal & River Trust, Birmingham Canal Navigations Society, and Coombeswood Canal Trust.
Guidance for Day Visitors
If you’d like to join for the day, please email Chris Morgan or call 07974 111 354 to confirm the meet-up point and time.
Bookings for the weekend are now open
Basic accommodation is provided from Friday night – Please bring camp beds/sleeping bags.
** Accommodation bookings close at midday on Friday 6th March **
Details
Activity
Canal Clean-up
FAQs
The Birmingham Canals Clean-up will take place on the Birmingham Canal Navigations.
Using grappling hooks, volunteers will patrol the canals and fish out the many treasures hidden below the surface. Lots of interesting ‘treasures’ were pulled out of the canal including bikes, an electric guitar, a gas barbecue, a mountain of tyres and of course lots and lots of shopping trolleys! There is the option of litter picking as well as grappling hooks. Equipment and gloves will be provided.
Every year, about 50 volunteers spend two days removing an estimated 20-30 tonnes of rubbish from the BCN. In some years, this total has been closer to 50-60 tonnes. This rubbish looks unsightly, is a danger to wildlife, causes pollution and can damage boats and injure waterway users.
Friday evening from 6pm.
Saturday and Sunday breakfast; Saturday and Sunday lunch and Saturday evening meal for campers is £18.
