The nation’s historic canals, including thousands of centuries-old hand-crafted bridges, locks, tunnels, embankments and aqueducts, need action to ensure that they aren’t irreparably damaged by climate change, the national charity Canal & River Trust warns.

Spanning 2,000 miles across England and Wales and dating back to the 18th century, the free-to-visit canal network is busier with more boats than the height of the Industrial Revolution, and brings nature, vital green space and traffic-free routes to millions of people in many of the country’s most urban areas.

And, whilst the canal network has been repurposed for modern society, its age and the unrelenting passage of time means that more frequent and severe storms are bringing flooding and landslips and causing unprecedented damage.

The Canal & River Trust is taking action with an annual targeted programme of maintenance and repairs over the next six months and is hosting three behind-the-scenes open days (on the Kennet & Avon Canal in Wiltshire, Grand Union Canal in Warwickshire, and Aire & Calder Navigation in Yorkshire) for the public to see firsthand its work to keep canals open and alive.

The charity has also launched its first fundraising campaign that directly responds to the rising cost of repairing storm and flood damage. Last winter alone, a succession of ‘named’ storms caused almost £10 million of additional and unforeseen repairs, including a major landslip on the Oxford Canal where 4,000 tonnes of mud slipped 18 metres, completely severing one of the busiest and oldest canals in the country. Just south of Leicester, a section of the Grand Union Canal bank and towpath was washed away, while, in Lancashire, a breached dam caused a towpath to collapse, and there was widespread flood damage across the canals in the East Midlands.

Richard Parry, chief executive at Canal & River Trust, said: “Britain’s ageing canals are a national treasure. They have been repurposed for modern society for leisure, recreation and for their wildlife, supporting thousands of jobs and the economy and saving the NHS over £1 billion annually because of the health and wellbeing benefits they bring to millions of people.

“And whilst the canal network is cherished by today’s society, it is, however, also facing a perfect storm, with costs rising and support from government reducing.

“As we head into winter, we’re bracing ourselves for more costly damage from extreme weather but also working to make these aged former transport routes, and the wildlife they support, as resilient as possible. Our specialist teams of skilled workers and volunteers will be giving long hours, carrying out heritage conservation works, and fighting to respond to the storms that are becoming ever more common.

“Keeping the canals open and safe requires millions of pounds and a year-round effort. We’re talking to government about the need for an active partnership, and we’re calling on people to donate and help us safeguard our canals and rivers for the future.”

The Canal & River Trust is about to start work on a winter programme of important repair, heritage and conservation tasks at 159 sites across England and Wales. 129 new lock gates, handcrafted in the charity’s specialist workshops, will be installed, while other work includes masonry repairs to centuries-old bridges and tunnels, work to fix leaks and preserve water for navigation, and inspections of important ageing infrastructure. The charity is also using innovative techniques and materials to make the canals stronger and more resilient.

This important work is being showcased at three open days this winter, where people can come along and find out more about the colossal effort and skills involved in maintaining this living heritage. The open days include Caen Hill Locks, a scheduled ancient monument on the Kennet & Avon Canal that is one of the Seven Wonders of the Waterways (8 February); ‘Stairway to Heaven’ Hatton Locks on the Grand Union Canal (15 and 16 February); and, this month, urban Leeds Lock, in the heart of the city (30 November). For further information: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/open-days-2024-25

For more information visit the Canal & River Trust’s website: Protect canals from storm damage | Canal & River Trust

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