Making life better by water
Specialist teams
Find out how our expert teams work together to make life better by water
Work for us
We have vacancies across all of our waterways and in the offices, museums and attractions that support them. We're one of the UK's biggest charities and we take pride in everything we do
Contact us
If you're thinking of getting in touch then please take a moment to look through these pages as we probably have the answer on our website
Summer safety by the water
As the weather is warming up we want everyone to be able to enjoy our canals and rivers in the safest possible way
Stoppages and notices
We're continually carrying out work to improve our canals and rivers. Find out if we're working along your route before you set off on a boat trip
10 reasons to take up canoeing
It's a great way to get fit and explore our waterways at the same time
Share the Space
Take a look at our common sense guide to sharing the towpath
Winter open days
Our open days offer a different perspective of our waterways, a behind-the-scenes look at the great work we do. A free day out for all the family.
Find a place to fish
From reservoirs to club-managed canals and river stretches - find your nearest place to fish
Get your free guide
Download your free guide today and start exploring the waterway nature near you
Download your free guides
You've nine free days out guides to choose from - where will you go first?
Find a walk near you
Are you ready to ramble? Find a waterside stroll or a satisfying hike along our beautiful canals and rivers
Wellbeing with Well-B
Discover how you can recharge when spending time by water
Art Events
Take a look at our upcoming events here.
Something for everyone
Help us make a difference and have fun along the way. Find your perfect volunteer role today
Join our team
Could you join your local Towpath Taskforce team and help us to keep our canals looking lovely?
Volunteering in partnership
Want to make a real difference to your community? You could join over 400 groups who volunteer with us every year
Donate today
100% of your donation will be used to make life better by water
Canals are better with Friends
Becoming a Friend by making a monthly donation is one of the most effective ways to support our work
Leave a gift in your Will
Will you leave a gift in your Will to keep the canals and rivers you care about alive?
Give in memory
Celebrate the life of a loved one by giving a gift in their memory
Give in celebration
Got a favourite place in mind? Dedicate it in celebration of a loved one today
Corporate giving
Make a difference to the wellbeing of your community
We care for our supporters
We are caring and open and aim to put our supporters at the heart of everything we do
Use My Location
22 April 2022
A big part of maintaining more than 2,000 miles of towpaths across our network is cutting the grass along the banks of our canals and rivers. However, we’re now starting to mow less as we try to help nature bloom and improve the biodiversity of wildlife found by our canals. It’s a delicate balance, as on the one hand, we want to improve and revive valuable natural habitats; but on the other, we still need to keep towpaths safe and accessible to everyone.
Posted by: Waterfront
1 April 2022
In June 2021 Darren decided to take on the first-ever solo canoe navigation of the Avon Ring to raise funds for the Canal & River Trust. He set a record of four days and ten hours, travelling 109 miles and negotiating 129 locks. This is his story.
Every winter our charity spends millions of pounds repairing, restoring and maintaining waterways, so our canals, locks, bridges and tunnels stay open and working each summer. Around £7m a year is spent on one of the most crucial tasks; dredging the bottom and edges of canals to clear them of silt. But why do we need to do it and how does it all work? To find out, Waterfront filmed our dredging teams at work on the Peak Forest Canal at Marple, near Stockport.
11 March 2022
The Montgomery Canal, known locally as “the Monty”, is situated on the border of England and Wales, wending its way from Shropshire in the North to Powys in the South. A glittering ribbon into the heart of the Welsh countryside, the canal is one of the most picturesque on the entire network, home to an array of plant and animal life, many listed heritage structures, and in parts, a popular route for boaters, cyclists and walkers.
A love of nature often draws us to the towpath. Canals and riverbanks provide ideal habitats for a variety of flora and fauna. However, not all species are good for the health of our waterways. Over the years, more than 50 non-native plants and animals have been accidentally introduced into our network, damaging the environment and displacing our own indigenous populations.
The Canal & River Trust care for over 300 aqueducts across the waterways of England and Wales. For the most part, they are constructed from traditional materials, such as brick or masonry. There are, however, a number of exceptions, impressive structures wrought from cast iron. Follow our heritage advisor, Bill Froggatt, as he takes a closer look at the history of some of these stunning feats of engineering.
4 February 2022
Our canals and waterways have captivated artists for centuries, inspiring some of the finest paintings in British art. They’ve been depicted as pastoral idylls, places of leisure and industrial monstrosities; celebrated and immortalised on canvas.
As the name suggests, the common toad was once among the most widespread amphibians in the British Isles, found in gardens, parks and woodland up and down the country. However, since the 1980s, numbers have been in sharp decline.
You're reading Waterfront, the online home of our supporter magazine.
