news & events
Find out what's happening on the inland waterways. From interesting or relevant snippets of news, to all the organised events which take place throughout the year. Find out about festivals, boat rallies, historic boat gatherings, floating markets and Canal Open Days. A regularly updated guide.
News
water fern (azolla filculoides) on the southern stretches of lancaster canal
This invasive plant from North & Central America has almost entirely taken over the waters of the Lancaster canal between UCLAN sports arena and the locks at the top of Savick Brook. At this time of year the pant has died back, making it look as though the canal is filled with sand. C&RT are confident however that they can get the plant under control by introducing plant eating weevils during the spring and summer.
official statement on bread by the queen's swan marker
The Swan Sanctuary have published a statement by the Queen's Swan Marker, David Barber MVO. In it Mr Barber states emphatically that the feeding of bread to swans, while probably not offering them the most nutritious diet, is beneficial especially in winter. This is contrary to everything we have been told in recent years, where the feeding of bread to water fowl has been decried.
Read more @ theswansanctuary.org.uk
canal & river trust announces changes to short term licences
Following the national licensing consultation last year, the Canal & River Trust is announcing changes to the short-term licences the charity offers to visiting boaters.
The Trust will continue to offer short term licences for visitors and those who have boats off the water and will remove the daily licence. Provision will be made for discounts for legitimate cruising clubs who host events that require one day licences. The revised prices are available via the Trust’s Useful downloads, application forms and licence fees webpage.
bss press release - carbon monoxide alarms
co alarms mandatory from 1st april
From 1 April at least one carbon monoxide (CO) alarm became a requirement on nearly all private and non-private boats in scope of the Boat Safety Scheme (BSS) Requirements. BSS Certifications will not be issued to boats without alarms..
The BSS has just published a new handout as an essential guide to all the new requirements and background information.
READ MORE ABOUT CARBON MONOXIDE & SYMPTOMS OF CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING
Canal & River Events 2019
APRIL
07 Coventry Canal Basin Open Day. 10am-4.30
14 Norfolk Boat Jumble. Royal Norfolk Show Ground
18 - 22 Nantwich Jazz & Blues Festival : Nantwich
19 Easter Boat Gathering : Ellesmere Port
19 - 22 Linslade RCTA Easter Floating Market: Grand Union Canal. Bridge 111
MAY
03 – 06 St Richards Canal Festival : Droitwich Spa
04 - 06 Skipton Waterway Festival. Pennine Cruisers
04 - 06 Norbury Canal Festival. Norbury - Shropshire Union Canal
04 - 06 Berkhamsted RCTA Mayday BH Floating Market. Grand Union Canal
04 - 06 IWA Canalway Cavalcade, Little Venice, London : Regent's Canal
05 West of Scotland Boat Jumble. Irvine Water Sports Club, Ayrshire
11 - 12 Market Drayton RCTA Floating Market - Shropshire Union
12 Solent Boat Jumble. Netley. Southampton
18 Montgomery Canal Triathlon. Total 35 Miles
18 - 19 BCNS Brownhills Canal Festival
18 - 19 IWA Rickmansworth Canal Festival : Grand Union Canal
18 - 19 IWA Moira Canal Festival : Ashby Canal
24 - 27 HNBC Campaign Gathering @ Hebden Bridge
25 - 27 Fishery Wharf Boxmoor (RCTA) Canal Weekend - Grand Union Canal
25 – 27 Crick Boat Show : Crick Northants. (Preview tickets only 24th)
25 - 27 Chester RCTA Floating Market. Shropshire Union Canal
31 - 02 Beale Park Boat & Outdoor Show 2018 : River Thames
31 - 02 Northern Boat Show : Liverpool
JUNE
01 - 02 Beale Park Boat & Outdoor Show 2018 : River Thames
01 - 02 Leicester Riverside Festival : Leicester
01 - 02 Etruria Canals Festival : Stoke-on-Trent, Trent & Mersey Canal
01 - 02 IWA Trailboat Festival - Lancaster Canal
13 - 16 Middlewich Folk & Boat Festival : Middlewich, Cheshire
15 - 16 Ellesmere Food & Drink Festival : Ellesmere
15 - 16 Foxton Locks Festival : Grand Union Canal
15 - 16 Leamington Peace Festival
29 - 30 Braunston Historic Boat Rally: Braunston Marina
JULY
06 Bugsworth Basin Fun Day
06 - 07 Stratford-upon-Avon River Festival : River Avon
05 - 07 Ware Boat Festival : Ware
07 Titchfield Boat Jumble : Hound Hill Farm, Segensworth Road East, Titchfield, Hants
13 - 14 Cassiobury Park RCTA Floating Market - Grand Union Canal
19 - 21 Gnosall Canal Festival. Shropshire Union
19 - 21 Western Boat Show : Bristol. (Bristol Harbour Festival)
20 - 21 Cosgrove Canal Festival & Craft fair
28 Audlem Festival of Transport
AUGUST
08 - 10 Fairport Cropredy Convention
15 - 18 Green Man Festival : Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal
18 Boat Jumble : Fort Purbrook, Portsdown Hill Rd. Cosham, Portsmouth. PO6 1BJ
24 - 25 Burnley Canal Festival (TBC)
24 - 26 IWA Festival of Water 2019: Waltham Abbey
24 - 26 Milton Keynes RCTA Floating Market - Grand Union Canal
24 - 26 Merry Hill RCTA Floating Market - Dudley No 1 Canal
31 - 01 Shackerstone Family Festival : Ashby Canal, Leicestershire
SEPTEMBER
31 - 01 Shackerstone Family Festival : Ashby Canal, Leicestershire
07 - 08 Birmingham RCTA Floating Market - Birmingham Mainline
07 - 08 Aylesbury Waterside Festival (RCTA) - Grand Union Canal (Aylesbury Arm)
11 - 09 Leigh Canal Festival
20 - 22 Sheffield Waterfront Bi-Centenary Festival (tbc)
21 - 22 Huddlesford Heritage Gathering - Lichfield Cruising Club
OCTOBER
TBC Banbury Canal Day
06 Solent Boat Jumble : Royal Victoria Country Park, Netley, Southampton, SO31 5DR
11 - 13 Marsden Jazz Festival : Yorkshire Pennines
13 Kent Boat Jumble : The Hop Farm, Paddock Wood, Tonbridge, Kent, TN12 6PY
NOVEMBER
16 - 17 Stoke Bruerne RCTA Winter Floating Market - Grand Union Canal
19 - 21 METSTRADE : Amsterdam. (world's largest trade exhibition of marine equipment)
30 - 01 Berkhamsted RCTA Floating Market - Grand Union Canal
DECEMBER
07 - 08 Birmingham RCTA Floating Market - Birmingham Main Line
14 - 15 Birmingham RCTA Floating Market (2nd Weekend) - Birmingham Main Line