Annual Report, drought updates, winter works, boating safety, mooring news and cruising information from across the network.
Boating at Hatton
As autumn takes hold and we begin the shift from summer cruising to winter maintenance, this edition looks at some of the issues, projects and developments across the waterways.
You'll find highlights from our latest Annual Report, reflecting on a year shaped by drought, extreme weather and the Llangollen Canal breach, alongside major investment in the network and growing public support.
We also share a behind-the-scenes look inside Stanley Ferry Workshop, plus, there are important updates on boat safety, movement requirements, winter moorings and maintenance works that may affect cruising.
What a year of extremes revealed about our waterways
Our recently published Annual Report tells the story of a year shaped by extremes. From record-breaking drought to the Llangollen Canal breach, colleagues and volunteers worked tirelessly to keep as much of the network open as possible while continuing to invest in the waterways, support nature and build resilience for the future.
A summer of drought
The year 2025/26 was dominated by a summer of drought. Despite the UK’s warmest and sunniest year on record and the driest spring since 1974, we were able to keep over 80% of the network fully open and operational. Our colleagues and volunteers worked tirelessly to manage water supplies, keep boats afloat, and protect wildlife.
While prolonged dry conditions affected summer water supplies, the devastating breach on the Llangollen Canal at Whitchurch in December demonstrated the scale of challenges that an ageing canal infrastructure can bring. Working quickly in difficult conditions, teams were able to rescue stranded boats, secure the water supply around the breach site and start the rebuild which is now well underway.
The drought conditions experienced during 2025 have continued beyond the reporting period. Another drought in 2026 has meant the nation has now experienced its third major drought in five years, with waterways across England and Wales once again coming under significant pressure. Increasingly regular drought incidents reinforce the importance of canals not only as cherished heritage assets but as key infrastructure that, with investment, will help to improve the nation’s water resilience.
Despite the challenges caused by extreme weather, the report highlights a year of investment and progress across the network. We completed more than £55 million of major infrastructure projects, spent around £29 million upgrading reservoirs, removed over 75,000 tonnes of material through dredging, and completed 137 large-scale winter maintenance projects.
Improving boaters’ experience
We continued our work to improve the experience of boaters, increasing investment in dredging, vegetation management, lock repairs and customer service facilities. We also published, and are acting upon, the report and recommendations of an independent Commission which examined how waterways are used by boaters today.
Despite the operational challenges, the nation’s waterways remained hugely popular. We estimate that 881 million visits were made to its waterways during the year.
Funding support
Alongside this vital work, fundraising and public support continued to grow. Income from donations and legacies increased to a record £10.3 million, while the number of regular supporters rose to 38,355 and volunteers contributed a record 776,242 hours helping to care for the waterways.
During the year, we also secured important additional public funding to support the long-term future of the canal network. The Welsh Government announced it would contribute to increased costs of water supply for the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal over the next five years, while Defra announced extra financial support of £6.5 million for projects to build long-term resilience across the network.
Boating through Selly Oak
A challenging year
David Orr, our chair, said: “This was a challenging year for our waterways, with drought placing enormous pressure on canals, reservoirs, wildlife and the people who depend on them. I want to pay tribute to colleagues, volunteers and partners whose dedication ensured that, despite those challenges, the vast majority of our network remained open for people to enjoy.
“The challenges described in this report have continued into this year. Since the end of the reporting period, another exceptionally dry summer has meant the nation has now experienced its third major drought in five years. It underlines both the scale of the challenge we face and the growing importance of canals in supporting nature, communities and contributing uniquely to the country’s water resilience.
“Our task is not only to protect this remarkable inheritance, but to ensure it continues to deliver benefits for people, nature and water management for generations to come. I would like to take the opportunity to recognise the many thousands of individuals and organisations who have contributed through donations during the year.”
Incredible commitment
Campbell Robb, our chief executive, said: “This report reflects the incredible commitment of the people who care for our waterways. Despite drought, water shortages and the Llangollen Canal breach, colleagues and volunteers worked tirelessly to keep canals open, protect wildlife and support the millions of people who enjoy our waterways every year.
“The report highlights significant investment across the network, growing public support and additional funding from both the Welsh Government and Defra to help build long-term resilience.
“As extreme weather becomes more frequent and intense, our responsibility is to adapt, innovate and invest so that canals can continue to be enjoyed by boaters and local communities, as well as provide crucial corridors for nature, long into the future.”
Annual public meeting
Our Annual Public Meeting will take place online at 2pm on Tuesday 20 October 2026, providing an opportunity for supporters, boaters, volunteers and members of the public to hear more about our work and ask questions about the year covered in the Report.
Questions can be submitted in advance by emailing [email protected].
Climate challenges prompt early maintenance on the River Soar
Boaters on the River Soar may notice work taking place at Cossington Lock, where we're replacing lock gates earlier than usual to help avoid the disruption increasingly caused by winter flooding.
Normally, projects like this would form part of our winter maintenance programme, when fewer boats are on the move. However, with winter floods becoming more common on the River Soar, we've brought the work forward to ensure it can be completed safely and efficiently before water levels rise.
The project includes replacing both sets of lock gates with new bespoke oak gates, as well as repairs to the lock chamber brickwork, improvements to lock ladders and the installation of a new cill to help create a watertight seal.
The decision to bring the work forward highlights the growing impact of extreme weather on the historic waterway network. While drought has dominated headlines in recent months, increasingly frequent winter floods are also creating challenges for essential maintenance work.
Floodwaters overwhelm our repair works at Ratcliffe Lock on the River Soar
Andrew Morris, regional construction manager, said: "In a time of drought it might seem odd to be thinking about flooding, but with the nation's weather becoming ever more extreme, it's a good example of the impacts of climate change and the year-round work we have to do to protect our historic waterways.
"Over the past few years, winter floods on the River Soar have made this type of project a real challenge, with worksites regularly ending up under water. By bringing the project forward we're making sure we can complete the full programme of work in the quickest possible time."
“The work at Cossington is just one of many projects taking place as part of our ongoing investment in the waterways. Over the winter, teams across the country will be replacing lock gates and carrying out repairs to locks, bridges and tunnels to help keep the network navigable, open and alive for boaters and local communities.”
Where many winter stoppages begin
September was another busy month at Stanley Ferry Workshop. The team completed lock gates for sites across the network, including Hawley Lock and Bascote Locks, started work on 12 new gate leaves for Stoke Bruerne, manufactured specialist paddle gear and made improvements to the workshop itself. They even found time to open their doors for a Heritage Open Day, giving visitors a glimpse of the craftsmanship behind many of the structures and features boaters encounter across the network.
Stanley Ferry workshop (4)
Drought update: where things stand across the network
It's been a challenging summer for boaters and for our teams managing the network.
We know the drought has had a significant impact on your ability to get out on the water and enjoy boating. Throughout the summer, colleagues across the Trust have worked tirelessly to keep navigations open wherever possible, balancing water resources across the network while responding to rapidly changing conditions.
The picture remains mixed across the country. Following recent rainfall, reservoirs in the North West, Yorkshire and parts of the northern Midlands are beginning to recover. As a result, we've been able to lift most of the closures and restrictions introduced in those areas during the summer.
However, further south, the situation remains much more difficult. There has been little meaningful rainfall and reservoir levels continue to fall, meaning some restrictions and closures remain necessary.
Current closures - Leicester Line
The Leicester Line has been closed since early August. Unfortunately, reservoir levels have not recovered sufficiently and we're currently unable to say when the canal may reopen.
South Oxford Canal
The South Oxford Canal remains in a similar position, with no significant reservoir replenishment since the closure was introduced. At present, we're unable to provide a timescale for reopening.
In both cases, we're continuing to explore options that could help boaters who are currently unable to return to their home moorings or need to travel for other essential reasons.
Areas we're monitoring closely - Grand Union Canal south of Milton Keynes
The Tring reservoirs that supply this section of the canal continue to decline. However, based on current forecasts, and with some support from the weather, we believe sufficient water remains to maintain navigation through to Christmas.
This area also relies heavily on borehole supplies, and we're seeing groundwater levels fall as the drought continues. We are monitoring the situation very closely and may need to introduce further restrictions if conditions worsen.
For now, the existing restrictions will remain in place.
Macclesfield Canal and Peak Forest Canal summit
The drought continues to affect this area, but the situation is being compounded by major engineering work at the two primary reservoirs that supply it.
These essential projects are significantly limiting our ability to increase water supplies. The refill of Toddbrook Reservoir is progressing as planned and we are keen to avoid taking any action that could jeopardise its recovery or future availability.
As a result, Bosley Locks will not reopen for general boating at this stage. Marple Locks have now closed and will remain shut.
Thank you for your patience
Drought conditions persist across parts of the network and, at present, there is little indication of significant relief in the areas most affected.
We'd like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding while we continue to manage these exceptionally challenging conditions. Our teams remain focused on making the best use of available water resources and keeping boaters informed as the situation develops.
If you haven't already done so, please sign up for notices in the areas where you cruise or keep your boat to ensure you receive the latest updates directly.
Is your gas bottle stored safely?
As the boating season winds down and winter maintenance jobs begin, now is a good time to check that any gas cylinders on board are being stored safely and securely.
LPG is heavier than air, which means that if a leak occurs, gas can collect in low areas of a boat and potentially create a serious fire or explosion risk. That's why Boat Safety Scheme requirements place strict controls on how cylinders should be stored and secured.
Recently, concerns have been raised about unsecured gas bottles being spotted on boats and moorings. Whether a cylinder is full or empty, it should always be properly secured. Unsecured cylinders can pose a danger not only to those on board, but also to neighbouring boats and emergency services attending an incident.
Boaters should also be aware that gas installations which do not comply with Boat Safety Scheme requirements may result in a boat failing a BSS examination. Without a valid BSS certificate, a boat cannot normally be licensed on our waterways, and any insurance cover could be affected if the vessel is found not to meet required safety standards.
If you use LPG on your boat, it's worth taking a few minutes to check that:
Empty cylinders are treated with the same care as full ones
It's also important to remember that standard LPG cylinders, such as Calor and Flogas bottles, must only be refilled by the gas supplier or an authorised filling contractor. Attempting to refill these cylinders yourself is unlawful and potentially extremely dangerous.
Kevin Tyson, BSS manager, said: "Boaters should not attempt to refill LPG cylinders intended for factory replenishment, as to do so is unlawful and it can be highly dangerous.
"The possibility of fireballs and explosions if liquid propane or butane is pressure-driven through a boat's appliances is very real. The potential harm to the owner, crew and anyone nearby could be immense."
A few minutes spent checking your gas storage arrangements today could help prevent a much more serious problem tomorrow.
Find out more
For more information on storing LPG safely and the checks carried out during a Boat Safety Scheme examination, visit:
As mentioned in the last edition, the temporary suspension of the 14-day movement requirement has come to an end, with boats expected to continue their journeys by 15 October.
Water levels across much of the network are starting to recover, but there are still some restrictions and closures in place to help conserve water. If you're planning to cruise, please remember to check the latest notices and stoppages before setting off.
If you're unable to move because of an active stoppage, there's no need to let us know. We take closures and restrictions into account when reviewing movement patterns. You can also find more information about the current situation and how we're managing water resources in our drought FAQs.
We're incredibly grateful for the support boaters have shown throughout a challenging summer. As we move into autumn, we're still asking everyone to be water-conscious by sharing locks where possible and making sure paddles are fully closed after use. If you spot unusually low water levels, please report them using our online contact form.
If you have a disability, access needs, or are experiencing difficulties as a result of drought-related restrictions, please contact our welfare team. –.
Thank you again for your patience, understanding and efforts to help save water and protect the canal network over recent months.
Winter moorings now on sale
Just a reminder that, if you don’t have a home mooring but fancy tying up somewhere longer term this winter, our winter moorings are now on sale.
With more than 130 locations across the network, winter moorings provide a temporary base for boaters who would prefer not to continuously cruise during the winter months. Sites are allocated on a first come, first served basis.
We’re pleased to say that following recent rainfall and an improvement in water levels on the South Stratford Canal between Lapworth and Stratford upon Avon we can now offer the winter mooring sites along this stretch. Unfortunately, the winter moorings along the Leicester Line and parts of the Oxford Canal remain unavailable at this time.
Winter moorings for 1 November 2026 to 28 February 2027 are now available to view and purchase online.
Before booking, please check the details of available locations and the latest information about any sites currently affected by drought-related restrictions or closures.
Permits can be purchased through your online licensing account or by calling 0303 040 4040.
Maintenance this weekend that may affect cruising
Water levels are starting to recover, but we continue to manage a network low on water, so you may find that planned and unplanned works may affect cruising this weekend.
While we're doing everything possible to minimise disruption, some works will inevitably require navigation restrictions or temporary closures. Before setting off, it's worth checking the latest stoppage notices for your route and surrounding waterways. You can view all current notices for this weekend on our interactive map and sign up for personalised alerts, helping you stay informed about any issues that may affect your cruising plans.
If you’ve got a question about a specific closure, or you spot something that doesn’t look quite right, just get in touch — we’re happy to help.
Last Edited: 9 October 2026
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