Launch of the Canal & River Trust

Launched today (12 July) the new national charity, the Canal & River Trust, will officially become the guardian of 2,000 miles of canal and river across England and Wales.  The Trust, which will be among the largest charities in the UK, is taking over from British Waterways and The Waterways Trust in England and Wales to tend the nation’s third largest collection of listed structures as well as hundreds of important wildlife habitats. 

By giving people a greater role in the running of their local waterways, the Canal & River Trust marks the next chapter in the long history of the nation’s former industrial waterways. The move is the single largest transfer of a public body into the charitable sector, and is underpinned by a guaranteed 15-year funding contract with Government.

Find out more from www.canalrivertrust.org.uk

£1m of funding is being pledged to the Trust thanks to players of the People’s Postcode Lottery.  Google is encouraging people to discover and enjoy the wildlife along their local waterway by literally putting towpaths on the map – Google Maps.  And a partnership with The Co-operative Bank will offer the 10.5million people who already enjoy or live on the waterways the option of supporting the conservation work of new Trust through everyday banking products.

Scotland’s waterways will continue to be managed by British Waterways Scotland, which will remain in the public sector and will not become part of the Trust.

To receive a free listing for your rowing club on the Canal & River Trust’s new website visit www.waterscape.com/listings.