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Volunteers on this year’s camps will be working towards building the second of two new lift bridges. The bridges are needed to bring the Birtley section of canal back to life.

The work will involve preparing the site for future projects and to begin the construction of the bridge. This camp is a perfect opportunity for budding engineers and construction enthusiasts to experience first-hand what it takes to work on a significant infrastructure project. The Newbury Working Party Group will be supporting this week.

The Wey & Arun Canal was opened in 1816 as a safe route from London to ports such as Portsmouth. It was abandoned in 1871 but significant restoration work has been carried out since the 1970s.

Cancelled
Event Dates

11th July 2020

Sign up Deadline

07/07/2020 12:00 am

Location

Surrey

Restoration

Wey & Arun Canal Camp – Week 2

Volunteers on this year’s camps will be working towards building the second of two new lift bridges. The bridges are needed to bring the Birtley section of canal back to life.

The work will involve preparing the site for future projects and to begin the construction of the bridge. This camp is a perfect opportunity for budding engineers and construction enthusiasts to experience first-hand what it takes to work on a significant infrastructure project. The Newbury Working Party Group will be supporting this week.

The Wey & Arun Canal was opened in 1816 as a safe route from London to ports such as Portsmouth. It was abandoned in 1871 but significant restoration work has been carried out since the 1970s.

Details

Activity

Heritage Construction

Accommodation

Kirdford Village Hall, Kirdford, West Sussex, RH14 0LY

Booking

Our camps are open to anyone aged 18 or over with each camp costing just £70 per week, with food and accommodation included. We welcome participants from all different backgrounds, including those completing the residential section of their Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award.

Ticket Type Price
General Admission £70

About The Camp

Where is it? 

The 23-mile Wey & Arun Canal – comprising the combined Arun Navigation and the Wey & Arun Junction Canal – was once the national inland waterway network’s only connection to the English Channel. The canal route runs from the Godalming Navigation of the River Wey at Shalford, near Guildford in Surrey, to the River Arun at Pallingham, near Pulborough in West Sussex.

What will I be doing?  

Over the three weeks planned this year, volunteers will begin the construction of the second new lift bridge over the canal creating the foundations and starting to build the bridge. Both projects will provide construction opportunities for volunteers.

Why is it important? 

Now known as ‘London’s lost route to the sea’ because in the 19th century it was a safe route from the capital to ports such as Portsmouth at times when shipping along the south coast was at risk from attack by the French navy. Restoration of the waterway started in 1971 and since then, more than half the route has been worked on, with 12 locks, 24 bridges and two aqueducts restored or rebuilt. The aim is to make the whole route navigable once more!

Contacts

If you want to find out more about any of our Canal Camp working holidays, please get in touch.
Phone 01494 783 453 607

Email [email protected]

View event location

Location

Surrey

3 Canal Bank Mews, Woking GU21 6DL, UK

Accommodation

Kirdford Village Hall, Kirdford, West Sussex, RH14 0LY

Find directions to the Event

Waterway underfunding

Hundreds of miles of waterways – along with their unique heritage and habitats – are currently starved of funding and rely on constant lobbying by us to safeguard their future.

Sustainable Boating

We want boating on canals and rivers to be more sustainable and – even though the current overall contribution to UK carbon emissions is very small – we want to help reduce emissions on the waterways.

Waterways Heritage at Risk

Britain’s canals and rivers are a unique, living heritage. But that heritage is at risk – from urban development, lack of protection, loss of skills and knowledge and climate change.

You can help Save Waterways Heritage.

Waterway restoration

Restoring the UK’s blue infrastructure – our inherited network of navigable canals and rivers – is good for people and places.