The Cotswold Canals Trust

28/08/2026

🍂📖 The Autumn Trow is Here!

Our latest edition of Trow magazine is out now – packed with news, updates and stories from across the Cotswold Canals.

This edition includes a special feature from the Project Director of Cotswold Canals Connected, looking at the progress of the Missing Mile Big Dig and the M5 River Frome culvert works, including maps showing the current towpath diversion route.

You can also read about the fantastic work being carried out by our dredging teams at Lodgemore and Wallbridge, alongside the latest updates from our volunteers and restoration teams.

📖 Want to receive Trow and keep up with the restoration?

Become a Cotswold Canals Trust member and receive Trow in print or digitally, plus our monthly newsletter, from just £25 a year.

👉 Join online: www.cotswoldcanals.org/support-us/join-us/

You can also pick up a copy from our visitor centres and Charity Book & Music Shops.

Join our growing membership community and be part of the journey to reconnect the Cotswold Canals! 💚

26/08/2026

🌉🏆 Vote for Bonds Mill Lift Bridge – Voting closes this Friday!

We’re delighted to support our partners at Cotswold Canals Connected and Stroud District Council in celebrating the Bonds Mill Lift Bridge, which has been shortlisted as a finalist in the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) South West People’s Choice Award.

The project is one of just 12 schemes selected from across the South West, recognising civil engineering projects that have made a real difference to local communities through innovation, sustainability and collaboration.

The new lift bridge is a fantastic milestone in the restoration of the Cotswold Canals, reconnecting the waterway while balancing engineering, heritage and the environment.

🗳️ Have you voted yet? Help us celebrate this fantastic project!

👉 Vote for Bonds Mill Lift Bridge: www.ice.org.uk/about-us/ice-near-you/uk/ice-south-west/awards/peoples-choice-voting

⏰ Voting closes at 5pm this Friday, 28 August 2026.

Thank you for supporting this fantastic local project and everyone who has helped bring the Cotswold Canals back to life! 💚🚤

24/08/2026

Wonderful coverage from BBC Gloucestershire, thank you!

Learn more on our newsfeed here: www.cotswoldcanals.org/the-missing-mile-supporters-gather-to-see-restoration-progress/

The canal was filled in to make way for the motorway in the 1960s - but now, volunteers are working towards restoring the Stroudwater Navigation waterway ➡️ https://bbc.in/4hMJamW
It's called the 'Missing Mile' project - and will see locks, bridges and wetlands restored to create a route from the River Severn.

21/08/2026

🚧 A milestone worth celebrating!

Yesterday, we welcomed local communities, supporters, investors and volunteers to the Missing Mile site for a special open and press day – bringing together many of the people who have helped us reach this incredible point in the restoration of the Cotswold Canals.

With construction now underway on the Missing Mile and the M5 crossing works, it was fantastic to showcase the progress being made and, most importantly, celebrate the volunteers whose hard work, dedication and determination are helping to turn years of planning into reality.

We were delighted to be joined by local media, who came along to hear more about the project and speak to those involved. Keep your eyes and ears peeled for their upcoming coverage and interviews showcasing the work taking place!

Yesterday was a brilliant opportunity to recognise just how many people and organisations have played a part in getting us here – from our volunteers and local communities to our project partners, funders, investors and supporters.

What a milestone for the Cotswold Canals Trust and the Cotswold Canals Connected project. The Missing Mile is becoming a reality! 🎉

Read more on our newsfeed here: www.cotswoldcanals.org/the-missing-mile-supporters-gather-to-see-restoration-progress/

📷M.Bigwood / C.Wren
Cotswold Canals Connected
The National Lottery Heritage Fund

19/08/2026

💪 A helping hand from WRG at John Robinson Lock! 🚧

It’s been fantastic to welcome volunteers from the Waterway Recovery Group (WRG) to John Robinson Lock, where they’ve been getting stuck in and supporting our volunteers with the latest restoration work.

WRG is part of the Inland Waterways Association (IWA) and has been supporting canal restoration projects across Britain for more than 50 years. Their volunteers provide practical support on restoration sites through working parties and week-long Canal Camps, helping local restoration groups get even more work done.

Canal restoration is a huge team effort, and we're incredibly grateful to everyone who gives their time, skills and energy to help make it happen. From local volunteers working throughout the year to specialist restoration teams travelling from across the country, every pair of hands makes a difference. 💚

Find out more about WRG here: https://waterways.org.uk/waterways/sites/waterway-recovery-group

📷: David J / Mike G

17/08/2026

🔥🌿 Help us keep our canals safe this summer

With the current hot and tinder-dry conditions, we’re asking everyone using our towpaths and waterways to take extra care and help protect our canals and the surrounding environment.

🚭 Please never discard cigarette butts on the towpath or into vegetation. In these dry conditions, even a small discarded cigarette can create a serious fire risk.

🍾 Please take glass bottles and rubbish home with you or dispose of them responsibly. Broken glass can pose a serious risk to walkers, cyclists, dogs and wildlife, as well as creating a potential fire hazard in dry vegetation.

⚠️ Please do not swim in the canal. Our canals are not designated swimming areas and the water is not safe for swimming.

Our canals and towpaths are shared spaces, enjoyed by thousands of people every year. A little consideration can go a long way towards keeping them safe, clean and enjoyable for everyone.💚

12/08/2026

🔨🚧 Stroud Brewery Winding Hole Progress Update

Work continues on the new Stroud Brewery Winding Hole, a winding hole is a specially widened section of canal that allows boats to safely turn around. Once completed, it will enable boats over 10 metres long to safely turn, avoiding the need to reverse through multiple locks and ensuring this restored stretch of the Thames & Severn Canal can be navigated safely by both workboats and, in the future, visiting boaters.

The dense mixture of clay and rock has proved much tougher than expected, meaning several different construction methods had to be explored before the team found a successful solution. Thanks to the expertise and determination of the construction team, work is now progressing well, with around half of the steel piling now in place. The remaining piling is expected to be completed over the next couple of weeks.

Structural engineering design, together with the supply of plant and materials for the project, has been managed and funded by the Stroud Valleys Canal Company (SVCC). Construction has been carried out by the experienced Cotswold Canals Trust Piling Team volunteers, following the necessary agreements secured by SVCC with Stroud District Council and Network Rail, alongside consultation with local parish councillors and business leaders.

Projects like this are never without their challenges, but it's fantastic to see the team's perseverance paying off. As always, safety remains our top priority throughout the works.
A huge thank you to everyone involved in helping move this important restoration project forward. We look forward to sharing more updates as work progresses.

📷 Photo: Lee Grant / Peter P

10/08/2026

🚜🌿 Ever wondered what our dredgers, barges and work boats are doing along the canal?

Our latest website news updates take you behind the scenes of one of the biggest jobs in canal restoration – dredging.

Over the past few months, our dedicated volunteers have been hard at work clearing decades of silt, rubble and even the occasional shopping trolley from the canal between Dudbridge and Wallbridge, while carefully navigating under Lodgemore Lift Bridge to keep restoration moving forward.

These updates explain:
🚤 What our dredgers, barges and specialist equipment do
🌿 Why dredging is so important for restoring navigation
🦺 The challenges of working beneath bridges and through historic canal sections
💚 The incredible work our volunteers carry out to bring the canals back to life

If you've spotted our boats on the water and wondered what they were up to, now's your chance to find out!

📖 Read the latest restoration updates on our website:
👉 https://www.cotswoldcanals.org/news/

07/08/2026

🚤 New September Saul Adventure Boat Trips Added Due to Popular Demand!

Our Adventure Boat Trips from Saul Junction have proved so popular this summer that we've added five extra sailings throughout September!

Enjoy a relaxing two-hour scenic cruise aboard Adventure, our fully accessible, all-electric 54ft boat. This smooth, lock-free journey is perfect for families, friends and visitors looking to experience the beauty of the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal.

🌿 New September Dates
📅 Wednesday 2 September
📅 Wednesday 9 September
📅 Wednesday 16 September
📅 Wednesday 23 September
📅 Wednesday 30 September

🕑 2:00pm – 4:00pm
📍 Saul Junction Visitor Centre, GL2 7LA

Adventure features:
♿ Wheelchair lift and accessible toilet
🛥️ Comfortable seating and onboard heating
🥪 You're welcome to bring your own food and drink to enjoy during the cruise.

⚠️ Please note: Sandfield Swing Bridge at Saul Junction is currently closed. Please follow the signed diversion (seen on our website) to the Saul Junction Visitor Centre, where all trips depart.

🎟️ Pre-booking is essential. If there are no advance bookings, we'll stand the volunteer crew down, so please book online before travelling.

👉 Book your place today:
https://portal.cotswoldcanals.org/product/boat-trip-saul-junction-adventure/