The Living Waterways Awards*,* sponsored by Kier, Amco Geffen, Arcadis, CPC Civils, Fountains, Land & Water and Vinci, seek to recognise the most exciting and inspiring waterway-based projects across the UK which are transforming where we live and enriching our lives.
Sue Wilkinson, Canal & River Trust trustee and chair of the Awards assessment panel, said: "Our inland waterways have been part of our history for hundreds, if not thousands of years. That they are still being used and enjoyed today, making our lives richer and happier is down to a lot of effort by many unsung heroes and these awards exist to celebrate their efforts.
"This is the fifteenth year of the Awards and, as ever, the assessment panel faced a tremendous challenge in selecting which projects to recognise; we congratulate all finalists."
A rigorous assessment process saw the expert judges travel across the country from Powys to Glasgow and from London to Burnley before selecting the finalists for the 2018 Living Waterways Awards.
From inspirational education programmes and innovative construction projects, to exciting community-binding environmental initiatives, the winners of these prestigious awards are:
Art, Culture & Events
Winner: Burnley Canal Festival, Lancashire
Runner-up: Hereford River Carnival, Herefordshire
Commended: The Idle Women: Recreating the Journey, national
Built Environment
Winner: Merchant Square Floating Pocket Garden, London
Joint Runner-up: Knostrop Weir foot & cycle bridge, Yorkshire; and Somers Town Bridge, London
Engaging the Community – large scale
Winner: Woodside, Firhill & Hamiltonhill Development Framework, Glasgow
Runner-up: Waterspace Bath, Somerset
Engaging the Community – small scale
Winner: Nowka Bais, Birmingham
Joint Runner-up: The Wanderer Community Workboat, Worcestershire; and Idle Women, Lancashire
Heritage & Conservation
Winner: Hetty's Tea Room, Stoke on Trent
Runner-up: Restoration of Church Bridge & Pocklington Canal Bicentenary, Yorkshire Commended: New Mills Marina, Derbyshire
Learning & Skills
Winner: Rivertime Boat Trust, Berkshire
Runner-up: Leicester Young Ecology Adventurers, Leicestershire
Natural Environment
Winner: Mon & Brec Green Infrastructure Improvement Programme, Powys
Runner-up: Lower Misbourne Enhancements, Buckinghamshire;
Commended: Bringing Back the Bulbourne, Hertfordshire
Outstanding Achievement Award
Roger Hanbury