Waterway Recovery Group

12/05/2026

One month to go until the WRG Leadership Teams Day 2026 on Saturday 13th June at Lowsonford Village Hall, B95 5ER.

If you’ve ever thought about becoming a WRG Camp Leader, Assistant Leader or Camp Cook, come and join us for this free training day.

We’re looking forward to a practical and engaging event, bringing together current and prospective Camp Leaders, Assistants and Cooks, alongside those supporting WRG activities and local society representatives.

Spaces are limited, so don’t leave it too late.

To learn more and book your place: https://waterways.org.uk/support/ways-to-get-involved/events/canal-camps-leadership-teams-training-day
or call us: 01494 783453 Ext 607

19/03/2026

𝗔 𝗳𝗲𝘄 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗮𝗻𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗙𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽 𝗼𝗻 𝟮𝟭𝘀𝘁-𝟮𝟵𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 - Join us restoring one of the most impressive heritage waterway structures in the UK!

𝗛𝗮𝗻𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗙𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: Hanwell Flight of Locks, Grand Union Canal, West London
𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻: Tue 21 – Wed 29 April 2026 (9 days, 8 nights)
𝗖𝗼𝘀𝘁: £103

Built in the early 19th century, this flight incorporates rare and innovative side-ponds, early water-saving devices designed to reduce the amount of water needed each time a lock is operated. This unusual feature was highlighted on IWA Risk Index map of those features most likely to suffer damage due to underfunding and/or a changing climate.

Volunteers will be working alongside the Canal & River Trust Restoration and focus on Locks 94 and 95 on retaining walls, weir walls, paddles and paddle chambers, as well as a partial rebuild of a failing quadrant retaining wall.

No experience needed – training and supervision will be provided.
Find out more and book your place here: https://waterways.org.uk/support/ways-to-get-involved/events/hanwell-flight-camp-2026

Spaces are limited and camps often fill quickly.

05/03/2026

We are excited to launch the Waterway Recovery Group (WRG) programme of 2026 Canal Camps – bookings are now open!

Take a look at this year’s week-long working holidays - and please be aware that some camps are particularly popular and they may fill up in record time. If you would like to join, we recommend booking as soon as possible.

It's a great place to learn new skills, meet new people and give something back, whilst having fun in the process!

Links to each camp are below.

Wey & Arun Navigation (Rooks Hill)
Week 1 – July 11th – July 18th – CC2026-08
https://waterways.org.uk/support/ways-to-get-involved/events/canal-camp-2026-08-wey-arun
Week 2 –July 18th – July 25th CC2026-10
https://waterways.org.uk/support/ways-to-get-involved/events/canal-camp-2026-10-wey-and-arun-canal-rooks-hill-bridge

Lichfield Canal (Tamworth Road Section)
Week 1 - 18th-25th July – CC2026-11
https://waterways.org.uk/support/ways-to-get-involved/events/canal-camp-2026-11-lichfield-canal and
Week 2 - 25th July -1st Aug - CC2026-13
https://waterways.org.uk/support/ways-to-get-involved/events/canal-camp-2026-13

Wilts & Berks Canal (Pewsham Locks)
Aug 1st - Aug 8th – CC2026-14
https://waterways.org.uk/support/ways-to-get-involved/events/canal-camp-2026-14-wilts-berks

Cotswold Canals Camp (John Robinson Lock Basin)
Week 1 - Aug 8th - Aug 15th – CC2026-16
https://waterways.org.uk/support/ways-to-get-involved/events/canal-camp-2026-16-cotswolds
Week 2 - Aug 15th - Aug 22nd – CC2026-18
https://waterways.org.uk/support/ways-to-get-involved/events/canal-camp-2026-18-cotswold-canals-john-robinson-lock-basin
Week 3 - Aug 22nd – 29th – CC2026- 20
https://waterways.org.uk/support/ways-to-get-involved/events/canal-camp-2026-20-cotswold-canals-john-robinson-lock-basin

18/02/2026

📢 𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗮𝗻𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗙𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝟮𝟭–𝟮𝟵 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹. We hope you can still join us!

There are still a very few spaces left for the first WRG Canal Camp of 2026:

𝗛𝗮𝗻𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗙𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
📍 Hanwell Flight of Locks, Grand Union Canal, West London
📅 Tue 21 – Wed 29 April 2026 (9 days, 8 nights)
💷 £103

Join Waterway Recovery Group restoring one of the most impressive heritage waterway structures in the UK. Volunteers will help repair rare early 19th century side-ponds, ingenious water-saving features now on the Heritage at Risk Register. These include rare triple side-pond arrangements and form part of wider efforts to strengthen the canal’s future resilience and protect Britain’s industrial heritage.

Work will focus on Locks 94 and 95 and includes brickwork repairs to retaining walls, weirs and paddle structures. No experience needed – training and supervision will be provided.

Find out more and book here:
👉 https://waterways.org.uk/support/ways-to-get-involved/events/hanwell-flight-camp-2026
Spaces are limited and camps often fill quickly.

This is the first camp of 2026, with the full Waterway Recovery Group programme coming soon. Keep an eye on the WRG website for updates:
https://waterways.org.uk/waterways/sites/waterway-recovery-group

Join Waterway Recovery Group on a waterways restoration dig on the Hanwell Flight, at the southern end of the Grand Union Canal.

17/02/2026

WRG Training Weekend 2026!

The annual training weekend returns to Fosseway Heath at Lichfield for 2026. All training sessions take place 16th - 17th May.

Volunteers are given an introduction to the wide range of skills commonly used on working weekends and canal camps. The aim is to provide initial or refresher training, as well as instructor training for those with several years of regular operator experience. This could include using excavators, articulated dumpers, minibuses, using tools and bricklaying.

To book a place or discuss, please email Ali Bottomley at [email protected] or visit the website link below:
https://waterways.org.uk/support/ways-to-get-involved/events/wrg-training-weekend

09/02/2026

𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 – 𝟮𝟭–𝟮𝟵 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹

While we wait on the edge of our seats for the release of the Waterway Recovery Group programme of 2026 Canal Camps, we’re excited to open bookings for the first WRG Canal Camp of the year!

𝗛𝗮𝗻𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗙𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
📍 Hanwell Flight of Locks, Grand Union Canal, West London
📅 21 - 29 April 2026 (9 days, 8 nights)
💷 £103

Join us at the historic Hanwell Flight of Locks restoring one of the most impressive heritage waterway structures in the UK.

Volunteers will help repair rare early-19th-century side-ponds, ingenious water-saving features now on the Heritage at Risk Register. Work will focus on Locks 94 and 95 and includes brickwork repairs to retaining walls, weirs and paddle structures. No experience needed - training and supervision will be provided, making this a great opportunity to learn traditional restoration skills.

These side-ponds are among the most impressive on the network, including rare triple side-pond arrangements, and form part of a wider effort to strengthen the canal’s future resilience and protect Britain’s industrial heritage.

WRG will be working with the Canal & River Trust Restoration which has cleared and dredged the two side-ponds to allow access to the bottom of the walls.

Find out more and book your place here:
👉 https://waterways.org.uk/support/ways-to-get-involved/events/hanwell-flight-camp-2026

Spaces are limited, and camps like this often fill quickly - If you would like to join, we recommend booking as soon as possible.

02/02/2026

Only 2 spaces left for this year's BCN Cleanup!

If you’d like to join in, we’d suggest signing up now:
👉 https://waterways.org.uk/support/ways-to-get-involved/events/birmingham-canals-cleanup?fbclid=IwY2xjawPtiHVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEelLw___XiRIyXJSEtVF95SyZuLY9nVahTJ3YP86wxuO6DZXJZlpJQtXleFvE_aem_0fiHIkOs4ZdFFYbKjpJWTw

Join our friendly team for a weekend with a difference helping to clean-up the canals of the West Midlands on the 14th and 15th March 2026.

24/12/2025

🎄A very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from Waterway Recovery Group🎄

19/12/2025

In 2026 IWA will be placing a spotlight on all things restoration right across the network. This is why IWA have been having a direct conversation with Canal and River Trust to raise some of our concerns over their plans for restoration.

CRT is taking IWA's views seriously and we will work constructively and collaboratively with them and all restoration societies to achieve the best outcome for the waterways in 2026. 

10/12/2025

𝗕𝗶𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗵𝗮𝗺 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻-𝘂𝗽 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 — 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘂𝘀!

📅 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀: 𝟭𝟯𝘁𝗵–𝟭𝟱𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵
📍 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗹
💷 𝗖𝗼𝘀𝘁: £𝟭𝟴

Ever wondered what’s hiding at the bottom of the Birmingham canals? Every year, around 50 volunteers come together to pull out 20–30 tonnes of rubbish - sometimes even more! From bikes and tyres to barbecues and the occasional electric guitar, you never know what you’ll find.

In 2026, Waterway Recovery Group volunteers will be tackling the Daw End Canal, taking on grappling tasks and offside vegetation clearance.

🏠 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻
Basic accommodation is available from Friday night (bring a camp bed/sleeping bag).
Accommodation bookings close at midday on Friday 6 March.
Find out more and book in: https://waterways.org.uk/support/ways-to-get-involved/events/birmingham-canals-cleanup

𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 - just email Chris Morgan or call 07974 111 354 to confirm where to meet.

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗱𝗼 𝘄𝗲 𝗱𝗼 𝗶𝘁?
Because rubbish in the canal is dangerous for wildlife, damaging for boats, and makes some sections almost impassable. This annual clean-up helps keep the BCN & Black Country Network open, safe and beautiful for everyone who walks, boats, cycles or fishes along it.

WRG volunteers are joined each year by members of IWA West Midlands branches, Canal & River Trust, Birmingham Canal Navigations Society, and Coombeswood Canal Trust.

Come along, get muddy, have fun, and make a real difference to your local waterways.

Join our friendly team for a weekend with a difference helping to clean-up the canals of the West Midlands on the 14th and 15th March 2026.