Essex Waterways Ltd.

31/10/2026

Just a reminder that today is the last day the office is open at weekends. From tomorrow we will be available Monday to Friday 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Happy Halloween everyone!

TRIPS ARE STILL AVAILABLE ON BLACKWATER DAWN for today only please book online at bookeo.com/canaltrip.

For further information please contact our office on 01245 226245.

22/10/2026

IMPORTANT NOTICE - WINTER OPENING HOURS

Please note that, with effect from Sunday 1st November 2026, the office at Paper Mill Lock will be closed at weekends.

The office will remain open during the week, Monday to Friday, 9am–4pm.

Thank you for your understanding. We look forward to seeing you during our weekday opening hours! 😊

22/10/2026

We advertised a boat for sale earlier this year called Stella Maris. The price has been reduced to £2200 and is available with the mooring at Heybridge Basin on the towpath.

If you or anyone you know is interested, please email [email protected]

15/10/2026

WE’RE HIRING! Community Engagement Officer

📍 Paper Mill Lock, Little Baddow, Chelmsford 💷 £26,500 per year + 8% employer pension contribution ⏰ 35 hours per week | Permanent position

Do you love the outdoors, care about the environment, and enjoy bringing people and communities together?

Essex Waterways Navigation Trust is looking for an enthusiastic and proactive Community Engagement Officer to help connect local people with the beautiful Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation.

This is a fantastic opportunity to:
✨ Inspire children and young people through educational visits and activities.
🌿 Organise community events, conservation projects and litter picks. 🙌 Recruit, support and coordinate volunteers. 🤝 Build relationships with schools, community groups and local organisations. 🛟 Promote water safety, wildlife conservation and responsible use of our waterways.

If you're a great communicator, highly organised, passionate about community engagement and keen to make a real difference, we'd love to hear from you!

How to apply: Send your CV and a covering letter explaining why you're right for the role to [email protected]

Closing date: 7 November 2026

Based at Paper Mill Lock, Chelmsford, Essex, CM3 4BS.

Help us inspire communities, protect our natural environment and secure the future of one of Essex's hidden treasures!

Interested? Apply today or share this post with someone who might be perfect for the role!

https://environmentjob.co.uk/jobs/111939-community-engagement-officer

Are you passionate about education, communities, the environment, and helping people make the most of the outdoors? Essex Waterways Navigation Trust (EWNT) is looking for an enthusiastic and proactive ...

13/10/2026

Stonhams lock is all finished and the team have now moved onto the repairs at baddow lock, Here are some impressive shots taken by Ashley's Woodwork last week whilst he was out enjoying the scenery and whilst the team were still working on Stonhams and there are also some photos taken by our volunteer David of the team and volunteers working together to dam off baddow lock today ready for some much needed repairs to the bottom of the lock and the top paddle!

06/10/2026

Stonhams lock gate replacement is going well with the team just adding the finishing touches. The new top and bottom gates are in and fitted with the foot plates and handrails left to install and then it will be time to pack up and move onto baddow lock next week to investigate some subsidence related issues. The team from The Green Oak Carpentry Company have absolutely smashed it in building and helping to install the new gates at Stonhams and this work wouldn’t have been possible without their expertise. Thank you to our volunteers who have been along and helped to tidy up the site today making it easier for the team to focus on getting the lock finished and the works packed away. We will try and bring you a short video of the new gates in action as soon as they are done!

30/09/2026

The lock gate replacement at Stonhams is well and truly underway. The lengthsmen started on Monday and got the top and bottom of the lock dammed and pumped out and began taking apart the old gates yesterday. They also assisted in harvesting some of the cricket bat willow on Stonhams island at the same time. The new lock gates arrived this morning along with the team at The Green Oak Carpentry Company and the old gates were removed today with the new ones lowered into place this afternoon. Now comes the job of installing new capping boards and mitring the gates so that the lock is watertight!

Thanks to everyone from boaters to dog walkers for their patience whilst this work is underway and we will try to bring you more updates on how the work is progressing as we go on.

If you anyone has anyone questions on the work that is being carried out please feel free to ask away in the comments!

28/09/2026

Boat Trips on Blackwater Dawn

Based at Heybridge Basin, Blackwater Dawn is available for hourly boat trips every day until the end of October.

Trips depart from 11 a.m., with the last trip leaving at 3 p.m.

📅 Every day until the end of October
⏰ Departures: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
📞 Book by phone: 01245 226245
💻 Book online: bookeo.com/canaltrip

Come aboard and enjoy a relaxing trip on the water!

25/09/2026

Still time to get out on the water!

Our Albert and Blackwater Dawn Trips are still available until the end of October! 🍂

Don’t miss your chance to enjoy a trip out on the beautiful Blackwater and Chelmer Navigation.

📅 Book now: bookeo.com/canaltrip
📞 For further information: 01245 226245

We look forward to welcoming you aboard!

19/09/2026

It’s been a month or two since our last lengthsmen update so here’s what the team have been up to recently!

Since our last update things have been quieter along the navigation with the exception of some walkers, fishermen and paddleboarders. We have removed several fallen trees from the navigation along with several trees that were beginning to impose on the navigation. We have also removed ALOT of pennywort from the navigation using our conver weedboats and volunteers in canoes over the last few weeks. We’ve also began to prepare for a double gate replacement at Stonhams lock in the coming weeks now that it’s becoming quieter along the river. We’ve been trying to keep on top of towpath maintenance with our weekly volunteers so that they are nice and clear for all to use including cutting a very overgrown section of towpath at Springfield basin.

That’s it for now however with a busy few weeks hopefully there will be some exciting updates to share soon!