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The charity making life better by water

Fall in love with Sheffield's Canal this Valentines weekend

We're inviting you to discover the benefits of being by the water with your friends and family at Tinsley Marina Open Day.

Sheffield street art trail 2019

The event takes place on Saturday 15 February, 10am until 3pm at Tinsley Marina Lock House Walk, Tinsley, Sheffield S9 2FN. 

Sharing the love

Taking place over Valentine’s weekend, we will be sharing our love for Sheffield & Tinsley Canal with an event that showcases some of the many ways that canals can be enjoyed. 

From arts and heritage to canoeing and walks – a range of free family-friendly activities for all ages will be on offer, kindly supported by players of the People’s Postcode Lottery funding.

Improving your health and wellbeing

George Baines, our youth and community engagement coordinator is organising the event.  He said: “Sheffield & Tinsley Canal is a wonderful place to be, taking you from city to country. Wildlife and greenery line the towpath and the area's rich steel heritage is everywhere along the canal, alongside contemporary artwork and colourful murals.

“Research tells us that our canals and rivers are among the most important places to visit to improve your health, wellbeing and give our mood a boost.  With spring around the corner, it’s a great time of year to help people to reconnect to this hidden gem and showcase the work we do to look after our historic waterways and keep them open and alive.”

The Looping Boat - Alex Chinneck

Discover the major new public artwork by British artist Alex Chinneck that celebrates the history of Tinsley, Sheffield’s historic waterways and industrial heritage. The Looping Boat is situated just a few minutes’ walk from Tinsley Marina and takes the form of a 13-metre-long canal boat that performs a gravity-defying loop-the-loop on the water.  Arts & crafts activities include creating your own canal scene and making your own duck food, perfect for younger visitors.

Learn what it takes to look after over 200 years of living history and see first-hand our work to repair and restore our canals this winter. Walk to Tinsley Lock 12 (approx. 1.5 miles along the towpath) to see works taking place at the last lock before the canal enters the River Don.  Repairs undertaken while the lock chamber is empty of water include replacing both upstream and downstream lock gates, the lock ladders and brickwork repairs to the chamber wall.

Meet our volunteers and hear about ways you can get involved and make a difference to your local canal. Take away information to help you explore the network with maps, details of upcoming activities on the canal, walking routes and more.

With very limited on-site parking at Tinsley Marina, visitors are advised to use public transport or park elsewhere. The nearest supertram stop is Carbrook.  Cross the stepped access only footbridge, then it is an approx. two-minute walk along the towpath.  Free parking is available at Meadowhall. There is a ramped footbridge joining the towpath, then it is an approx. 15-minute walk along the towpath.  From Victoria Quays, it is a 3.5-mile walk along the towpath.

Kingfisher in flight with small fish in its beak

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Last Edited: 31 January 2025

photo of a location on the canals
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