Regional Round-up North - February 2026

Walking on air in Cheshire

Towering above the surrounding countryside, Anderton Boat Lift is a marvel of Victorian engineering. Now, thanks to a very special, award-winning behind-the-scenes tour, Friends like you can enjoy a bird’s-eye view of Cheshire’s famous “Cathedral of the Canals”, so long as you have a head for heights.

The Walking the Lift Team of volunteers can offer you a captivating, guided tour bringing 150 years of lift history to life with their fascinating storytelling and commentary. It begins in our visitor centre, you can enjoy our exhibition showcasing the lift’s history, engineering inner workings, rarely seen cogs and cultural significance. Next, you’ll be guided out along the aqueduct before being shown the control room and machine deck, which are usually strictly off limits to the public.

Finally, our experienced volunteers will lead you out on to the top of the lift itself at a height of 50 feet, with its mighty wrought iron caissons, massive gears and impressive iron and steel framework. There, you will be greeted by a stunning panoramic view of the surrounding waterways, woodland, fields, and meadows.

“The views up there on a clear day are truly wonderful,” says duty manager Rachel Pacey. “Visitors can walk along the structure, take pictures, and reach out and touch a piece of 150-year-old history. It’s a perfect way for our Friends to see how our charity protects the heritage of this iconic lift, thanks to their gifts.”

If you’re feeling adventurous, why not book your place to see this Victorian masterpiece from a different angle and take a tour of this incredible feat of engineering? Tickets for the tour cost just £5 but remember The Anderton Boat Lift Visitor Centre itself is free to enter and as a Friend you can enjoy 10% off in our coffee shop!

Award-winning work in West Yorkshire

Our charity can offer a great training ground for young people, helping them learn new skills and giving them a sense of purpose. When 24-year-old Eve Ingle was made redundant, she decided to try her hand at volunteering, a year on, she was picking up an award in recognition of her work along the Calder& Hebble Navigation.

Eve, from Brighouse, is part of a team of ten volunteers who meet for four hours every Thursday. Together, they keep her local canal, safe, tidy, and accessible, clearing litter, planting bulbs, and carrying out general painting and maintenance duties.

For Eve, it’s been an incredibly rewarding experience; she’s made new friends, learnt valuable life skills, and given back to her local community. And she thinks more young people could benefit from volunteering in their free time – enjoying some fresh air, fun and camaraderie.

"I definitely think it’s something everyone should try,” she said after receiving her award. “You get a real sense of pride with it. I'll be walking down the canal with my boyfriend, and I'll be like, 'Oh, you see that wall that's been fixed? That's me'."

As volunteers like Eve bring their energy and enthusiasm to caring for our canals, your support ensures that this vital work can continue. Together we can keep our canals alive.

If you or someone you know would like to get involved with the Trust, why not come along to one of our Welcome Sessions?

Celebrating a historic milestone in Northamptonshire

In November, ‘Sculptor’, a historic working boat that played a key role during the Blitz, turned 90 years old. To celebrate this remarkable vessel’s legacy, we marked the occasion at our museum in Stoke Bruerne. Thanks to your support, she’s now owned and cared for by our charity.

Sculptor began her working life in 1935 alongside companion boat Toucan, transporting cotton, coal and other goods along the Grand Union Canal from London to the Midlands.

When war broke out a few years later, she was called into action to assist with firefighting duties in the country’s capital. As bombs rained down, Sculptor helped to pump water from London’s canals to douse the flames that threatened to consume the city.

Following the war, Sculptor was put to work as a canal maintenance boat on the Shropshire Union Canal. After being taken out of service in 1985, she found a new home with us here at the Canal & River Trust.

Many hours of devotion, maintenance and conservation means she remains one of just a handful of working boats still navigating our waterways and attending regular events up and down the country.

To celebrate the 90th anniversary of this beloved boat, visitors gathered at the Canal Museum in Stoke Bruerne to relive her storied past – brought to vivid life with photographs, artefacts, and historical accounts. There was even a special birthday cake to mark the occasion.

At 90 years old Sculptor remains in impressive condition thanks to the work of our dedicated volunteers and the vital support you provide to protect important heritage vessels like her.

If you’d like to join them, why not step aboard and lend a hand?

Curious about what’s happening across the South?

You already know the latest from your own region, but why not see what’s happening in the rest of the network? You can read all about the inspiring projects for the West Midlands, Wales and South, and discover how Friends like you are making a difference up and down our network.

Read our Regional Round-up - South