Canal and River Trust – Cruising The Cut

Vlog 304: Canals in Crisis?

Posted on July 16, 2023February 24, 2024 by David Johns

The Canal & River Trust, the charitable organisation tasked with maintaining the navigations of England & Wales, gets a quarter of its budget from a government grant. It’s just been announced that grant is going to be cut from 2027 onwards, leaving the CRT with a huge hole in its finances, that needs to be plugged. I sat down with the boss of the CRT and asked what the practical effects of the cut will be and what they – and we – can do to stave it off.

Vlog 268: Gate Expectations

Posted on June 15, 2022February 24, 2024 by David Johns

Every year, the Canal & River Trust replace a load of worn-out lock gates across the 200+ year-old canals of England and Wales. But how do you lift a 4-tonne chunk of wood out of its bindings, on waterway, often with limited room to manoeuvre? With a crane on a boat, that’s how.

Vlog 247: The L’eaudown

Posted on September 1, 2021February 24, 2024 by David Johns

locks), how do the British canals stay full of water? This video attempts to shed some light.

Vlog 240: Much Ado About Locking

Posted on April 19, 2021February 24, 2024 by David Johns

Whether you’re a solo narrowboater or have plenty of crew aboard, there’s no doubt that at busy and long canal lock flights, a team of helpful volunteer lock-keepers can be a blessing to help you through. I spent a couple of days at Fradley Junction near Lichfield, talking to the volunteers as they prepare for the new boating season, and they explained what they do and why they do it.

Vlog 14: Lock Bottom

Posted on December 9, 2015February 24, 2024 by David Johns

Come journey with me down into the depths of an English canal, to a lock at Banbury in Oxfordshire that was emptied for maintenance by the Canal and River Trust. Find out how the locks are maintained and what unusual things have been found at the bottom!

Tag: Canal and River Trust

Vlog 304: Canals in Crisis?

Vlog 268: Gate Expectations

Vlog 247: The L’eaudown

Vlog 240: Much Ado About Locking

Vlog 14: Lock Bottom

Go Boating!

Canal Life