The Walsall Canal runs for seven miles from Ryders Green Junction to Walsall Town Wharf. The canal is an urban waterway revived. The Walsall Town Wharf has been re-developed, and now has an innovative new art gallery at the end of the canal arm. It provides moorings for boaters and access to the town’s attractions, including the Leather Museum, Walsall Arboretum and the Jerome K Jerome Birthplace Museum.

Canal & River Trust are working in partnership with the New Walsall Art Gallery to provide an exciting, hands-on visit. Make the most of the school offer by combining our ‘Waterways, Wildlife & Wellbeing visit’ with a tour around the art gallery.

Our school visits run from outside the New Walsall Art Gallery, taking in the sights and sounds of canal life. Discover the wildlife and heritage of these hidden places through our guided walks and workshops inside the art gallery.

Workshops

Pre-visit virtual workshops (KS1 & KS2)

Water Safety

Learn how to spot the hazards of being near water, what to do in an emergency and our SAFE message (Stay Away From the Edge).

Introduction to Rivers and Canals

An introductory workshop to give some context before a waterside visit. Learn the difference between canals and rivers and how they are used today.

Our virtual pre-visit workshops are a great activitiy to set the scene before a waterside visit. Each workshop lasts 30 minutes for KS1 and 40 minutes for KS2.

Workshops on site at Walsall Basin and Art Gallery

Guided Canal Walk

The Walsall Canal provides a vital green and blue space for nature in the heart of an urban landscape. Understand the history and heritage, see the plant and animal life and understand the wellbeing benefits of spending time by water with our guided walk along the Walsall Canal and Basin.

Build a Canal activity (takes place inside the art gallery)

This session helps children understand how and why canals were built, how they changed Britain and how canals are different to rivers. It provides an interactive way of discussing local industry and how the arrival of the canals shaped the landscape.

Load the Boat activity (takes place inside the art gallery)

This workshop will help children develop a clearer understanding of the factors affecting whether something sinks or floats. Children take the challenge of loading a model boat with cargo, trying not to sink it!

Learning Resources

Use the following resources to support learning on your trip and back in the classroom:

Build a Canal

Rivers

Habitats

Local Studies

Facilities

Dedicated classroom space inside the art gallery (for workshops)

Toilet facilities

Outdoor picnic benches

Bookable indoor lunch space (this will need to be booked with the art gallery)

Free preliminary visits & website resources

Coaches will need to drop off near the art gallery. The New Art Gallery and Canal Basin are situated in the heart of Walsall Town Centre at the top of Park Street, along the main High Street and within easy walking distance from both the train and bus stations.

Information on how to get here: https://thenewartgallerywalsall.org.uk/visit/

Price

Visits to Walsall Basin and art gallery are FREE!