The charity making life better by water
Making life better by water
Explore our Friends webinars below.
Join us as we hear from Mark Somerfield, one of our Heritage Advisors, who takes us behind the scenes of our 2024/25 winter projects with a heritage perspective.
We'll learn about the work the Trust has accomplished over the winter, and discuss why this important maintenance period is essential for keeping the canal network running smoothly throughout the year.
Come behind the scenes as we discover how your support helped preserve the iconic Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, a UNESCO World Heritage wonder. We're joined by Andy Featherby, Senior Engineer from our asset management team, who tells us about the history of the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, and the work that he and his team have been undertaking to ensure the future of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Find out what it takes to inspect such a structure, and how Friends' donations are helping to keep this site running throughout the year.
Learn about our lock restoration plan, blending heritage with innovation, and how we are preserving canal history for future generations.
During this in-depth session, Head of Direct Services, Dean Davies will discuss how we're blending modern engineering techniques and materials to preserve our 250-year-old locks over the next five years. Throughout the event, we’ll explore the latest approaches to maintaining historical integrity while ensuring lasting quality made possible thanks to your support as a Friend.
The Canal & River Trust oversees 68 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), which are internationally renowned for their rich wildlife. These 'designated sites' are treasured havens for our aquatic flora and fauna, harbouring some of the UK's rarest plant species. Our canals, in particular, offer vital refuge for these unique plants amid the loss of other natural habitats.
Join us as Tom King, Ecologist for the Canal & River Trust, explores these remarkable plants in detail and provides insights into the ongoing Montgomery Canal Restoration project, supported by the Levelling Up Fund.
We're bringing history into the 21st century as we discover how our Collections team are striving to secure the future of some of our amazing items held at our National Waterways Museum at Ellesmere Port.
Join us to hear from collections adviser Georgina and volunteer Chris, who spearhead our project, digitising our varied collection of waterways memorabilia to ensure that future generations can enjoy them too.
Discover how photogrammetry technology is revolutionising how we explore and preserve our canal heritage as Chris takes us behind the scenes into this fascinating process.
Join us for a captivating webinar exploring the history and heritage of two incredible East Midlands locations. Jeannette Warrener (destination & attractions manager for the East Midlands- shares the secrets and stories of Foxton Locks and Stoke Bruerne. Learn about their past, present, and future within our network.
Jeannette, with her wealth of experience, will offer a sneak peek into ongoing projects and initiatives. This is a rare chance to see behind the scenes and appreciate the value of these heritage sites.
John Ward (head of project delivery) and Dean Davies (head of direct services) will introduce us to the challenges they face in maintaining and repairing our waterways, at a time when we are battling an aging network and the effects of climate change, even in the face of challenging cuts to future government funding.
For our second Friends webinar, we are joined by Charles Hughes, one of our Ecologists, to discuss all things invasive plant species.
Charles is an environmental scientist who has a lot of knowledge about the plants and animals that pose a threat to our canals, rivers, and towpaths. He will explain what an invasive plant species is, how they impact our waterways and habitats, and what we are doing to control them.
For our first Friends webinar, we are joined by Kate Gordon and Bill Froggatt to learn more about the vital work we do at some of our amazing landmarks.
We’ll discover the history of the Docks, and the work needed to care for our historic waterways. We hear plans for future projects, both within the next five years, and longer-term works, all made possible by donations from you, our amazing community of supporters!
Last Edited: 20 May 2025
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