Regional Round-up South - August 2026

Taking the plunge in Birmingham

For many of us, going for a stroll along the canal or taking a quick dip in our local pool is a simple pleasure. But for some, those same experiences can feel intimidating or even scary. That’s why we’re proud to be spearheading a new initiative in Birmingham that’s helping to redress the balance.

Developed in partnership with Sport England, ‘Swim Sista Swim’ is encouraging more Black women to experience the joys of being in, on and around water. From building confidence in the pool to stepping aboard a heritage boat or paddling along the canal in a canoe, participants are seeing Birmingham’s waterways in a brand-new light. 

The programme builds on the success of a similar initiative in Nottingham, which saw more than 150 women take to the water for the very first time, including Serah. She told us: “I saw the name Swim Sista Swim, it was really encouraging and caught my attention. When I went along that, sense of having your own people going in the water together was really powerful.” It’s wonderful to see more women discovering an affinity with water and experiencing the joys of canals we know are so beneficial to our health and wellbeing. 

"I’m excited that ‘Swim Sista Swim’ is now being delivered in Birmingham," says engagement co-ordinator Carol Burrell. "My hope is that the programme will eventually be rolled out nationally to encourage Black women everywhere to learn this valuable life skill and change the narrative." 

With your continued support, wonderful programmes like these can help break down barriers and make everyone feel welcome by water across our network.

Keeping Kelston Lock alive

Strolling along the River Avon near Saltford, it’s easy to pass Kelston Lock without giving it a second thought. But for more than two centuries, this historic structure has helped boaters negotiate one of the trickier sections of the river. Last summer, that was interrupted, when a boat fire broke out inside the lock.

Thankfully, no one was hurt, but before the blaze could be brought under control, the oak lock gates suffered major fire damage. For the first time in decades, this ancient navigation fell silent.  

To bring this vital link, that provides navigation for boats connecting Bristol and London, back into use each new lock gate had to be hand-crafted at one of our two specialist workshops before being carefully craned and fitted into place by our engineers.  

But it was all made possible thanks to one of our long-standing supporters from the South West, who left us a generous gift in his Will to fund projects along the Kennet & Avon Canal. 

"We are so grateful for the extraordinarily kind gift that has enabled us to complete these works," says our regional director for Wales & South West, Ben Cottam. "We face an ongoing battle to manage our ageing waterways, and donations like this from wonderful supporters are crucial." 

Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, Kelston Lock is open to traffic once more, helping boaters guide their vessels along this historic tributary, just as they have for generations. 

Making mooring easier for everyone

Mooring a boat should be one of the easiest parts of any journey. But if you have limited mobility, poor eyesight or struggle with balance, something as simple as tying up your boat can become an ordeal. That's why we're trialling an innovative new mooring bollard designed to make life on the canals safer and easier for everyone.

Installed at accessible moorings on the Grand Union Canal at Milton Wolverton near Milton Keynes the new bollards have been developed over several years with the help of disabled boaters and Birmingham City University. Taller, easier to spot and designed to be reached from a seated position, they make it much simpler for boaters to secure their vessel and step safely ashore. 

As our national towpath advisor Dick Vincent explains: "The designs and installations are the culmination of many years of work, as well as vital input from thousands of boaters who have told us what they need to get more out of their time on the water."

The two pilot schemes will provide valuable feedback, allowing us to make any final adjustments before the bollards are rolled out across the network.  

It's another example of how we're working to remove barriers so more people can enjoy the simple pleasure of spending time on our canals. With every gift you make, together, we're helping to make our waterways welcoming and accessible not just to boaters, but to everyone who would like to spend more time by water.