BW 'consults' on new image for waterways charity

The name chosen by British Waterways for the new waterway charity does not appear in the top three names suggested by the 350 organisations that responded to the consultation on behalf of their members. This does not come as a surprise to seasoned observers of previous BW consultations. Most popular was 'The National Waterways Trust', followed by 'The Waterways Trust' and 'The Waterways Trust for England and Wales'.  However BW have chosen 'Canals & Rivers Trust' as the name for the new charity.

Along with a new name comes a new logo and speaking at the Kennet & Avon Canal Users Forum last week, the waterway manager, Mark Stephens said: "The new logo represents what we are trying to achieve. The waterways are being promoted as a haven for people and nature, protected and accessible. It is about people and communities enjoying the canal so we have retained the bridge for the backdrop and we wanted an iconic water bird so we have gone for a swan. There was much discussion about which bird it might be — kingfishers were quite popular though they can seem to be a little bit too fleety and so not suitable for our charity which is going to last for a long time."

Come and work for no pay on the K&A

British Waterways is recruiting a team of local people to be volunteer lock keepers on the Kennet & Avon Canal to work at Caen Hill, the Bath Flight, Bradford on Avon, Crofton, Seend and Kintbury. 

K & A Canal Waterway Manager,  Mark Stephens, said: “This is an exciting opportunity and we are expecting there to be a lot of interest. The role of a lock keeper is arguably the most iconic and colourful role on the waterway and by opening it out to volunteers we’re hoping to tap into the great wealth of knowledge and passion that we know local people have for their canal.”

For potential volunteers to find out what is involved there are guided walks on:

Friday 4^th March 10am at Bradford and 2pm at Bath

Friday 11^th March 10am at Crofton and 2pm at Kintbury

Friday 18^th March 10am at Devizes and 2pm at Seend

Volunteers will be required to work from March until October and able to offer at least one day a week, although this is flexible.  

BW say that the ideal volunteer lock keeper will have an interest in the waterways, enjoy meeting people and like the sound of spending time outdoors in beautiful surroundings.  

No prior experience is necessary and successful applicants will receive full induction, training and a uniform to equip them for their role as ‘the face of the waterway’. 

For more information contact Sarah French on: 01827 252097 or email:  volunteer@britishwaterways.co.uk  

K&A Canal anniversary avenue of oak trees

To mark the 200th anniversary of the Kennet & Avon Canal, British Waterways will plant an avenue of oak trees on land alongside the historic Caen Hill Flight in Devizes with the help of pupils from local schools.

Oak trees have been chosen because their timber is traditionally used to make lock gates on the inland waterway network. 29 trees will be planted at the site — one for each lock in the Devizes Flight that includes the world famous Caen Hill Flight.

Pupils from St Peter’s Primary School, Rowdeford School and St Joseph’s Primary School and members of the British Trust for Nature Volunteers will plant the trees at 10.30am tomorrow (2 December).

British Waterways project manager, Sarah Brice, said: “These trees will be planted to mark the bicentenary of the canal and will, we hope, still be standing to celebrate it in another 200 years. Oak lock gates, painted black and white, are one of the most iconic features of British Waterways’ 2,000-mile national network.

"While this project celebrates the heritage of our navigations, today the Kennet & Avon Canal and other waterways are as much loved as leisure spaces and green corridors through our towns and cities as for their historic legacy. By creating this avenue of trees for, and with, the help of the local community, this bicentenary project will celebrate both the canal’s past and its future.”

Kennet & Avon Canal waterway manager, Mark Stephens said: “Throughout this bicentenary year projects around the Kennet & Avon have not only celebrated the navigation but also the role that those who live and work on and alongside it play in maintaining the canal and securing its future. 

"This planting will enrich the environment around the waterway for future generations as well as marking the fascinating history of the navigation.”

Previous story at: Adopt a tree>>

http://kacanaltimes.blogspot.com/2010/11/adopt-tree-for-k-bicentenary.html

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