Communications Update 21st July 2015

News Round up

There was continued coverage of the Trust’s Annual Report & Accounts which reported record levels of engagement with communities along our waterways. The chief culture writer in (24/07/15) reported the results as ‘spectacular’ whilst the editor of the Sunday Express (26/7/15) devotes his column to the wonders of canals.

· John Sergeant praised our work as he spoke eloquently to the drive time show on BBC Radio 5 Live (21/07/15) about the delights of canals.

· On the back of our Annual Report results, enterprise manager James Clifton spoke to BBC Three Counties Radio (22/7/15) about ‘why canals are as popular as the seaside’

· The Trust was also mentioned on Radio 4’s comedy programme It’s Not What You Know (21/07/15) where Miles Jupp refers to us as “a great bunch… not in the least bit daunted by bearing the responsibility for 2,000 miles of this country’s historic waterways”.

· Regional construction manager, Ged King, gave a brilliant live interview to BBC Radio Stoke (26/7/15) about last weekend’s open day at Lock 42 near Red Bull.

· BBC North West TV (23/7/15) ran a lovely feature about the Canal gaining Green Flag status. The piece is available to view online .

· Annette Simpson, describes her long term career in interpretation, and passion for canals, in the summer edition of the magazine for the Association for Heritage Interpretation .

· The BBC website (25/7/15) reports the maintenance work to the Tees Barrage. Team leader, Lee Butler, spoke to BBC Radio Tees about the work (22/7/15). ITV (29/7/15) had a great report about the works on its regional news including a good interview with harbourmaster Stuart McKenzie – available to view on the ITV website .

· Apparently Jonathan Agnew on talked about how fantastic canals are, especially Foxton Locks. · All Aboard: The Canal Trip (the surprise slow TV hit shot along the Kennet & Avon Canal) was repeated on BBC4 (29/7/15).

· BBC North West TV (29/7/15) reported on its news headlines the reopening of the Lancaster Canal following repairs adjacent to the Lune Aqueduct.

· The Sunday Telegraph (26/7/15) features the lifestyle and costs of living afloat.

· (30/7/15) mentions the Trust and the increasing popularity of canals in its G2 feature exploring one of their journalist’s last ten years living afloat in London.

· The popularity of London’s canals as places to live is being reported on the other side of the Atlantic in the Los Angeles Times (30/7/15).

· Many of the national newspaper websites, including the Telegraph (30/7/15), are reporting that a teenager fleeing from police drowned in the River Lea.

· Development & Engagement Manager Liz Wood spoke to Free Radio (30/07/15) inviting them on a day of boating at Fradley Junction.

In social media:

· This week on social we’re continuing to promote the summer activity guide. In total, our posts have reached 57,041 people on Twitter and 23,303 people on Facebook. The Facebook advertising is also continuing to do well. So far it’s delivered 2,930 leads reaching 714,670 people

· Doing well this week is the story of the Macclesfield Canal being awarded a Green Flag Award. On Facebook, the story reached 4,600 people with 225 likes, comments and shares, and on Twitter it reached 4,065 people

· The story of Alfie’s 86th birthday at Pickett’s lock also did well on social this week with a reach of 3,030 people on Facebook and 2,762 people on Twitter

· Finally, we’ve hit another milestone on our Facebook page as we’ve now got over 25,000 fans

Coming up next week:

· On Tuesday we’re hosting a photocall in Manchester with the Institution of Civil Engineers celebrating the city’s waterways as feats of civil engineering

· The new recycling bins being installed across the waterways will be targeted as a nice summer story about the canals becoming even greener · Balance beams are being replaced on the Bridgwater & Taunton Canal

· We’re inviting the media to come and see the lock gates being replaced at Limehouse in London

· Also in London, we’ll be appealing for volunteers to help tackle the towpath graffiti

· We’ll be promoting the Fiddle & Bone award-winning project to the Birmingham media

· A butterfly conservation group is adopting a stretch of canal at Fenny Compton in Warwickshire

Events

Want to be a junior lock keeper?

4 – 25 August

The Locks

Devizes. SN10 1QR

If you have a young canal adventurer who would like to try their hand at lock keeping, this is for them.

Working with staff from the Canal & River Trust, young explorers will be able to help out alongside friendly and experienced volunteer lock keepers to operate locks and aid boaters as they travel up and down the much loved staircase of locks.

Taking place every Tuesday in August, this is a free experience and open to anyone between the ages of 7 and 14. Sessions are an hour long and the junior lock keepers will be shown how to operate locks and how we look after our locks and towpaths.

Be sure to wear sensible shoes. All junior lock keepers are to be accompanied by an adult. Full safety instructions and life jackets will be provided.

More information about the event

Booking is essential, so to reserve your place please contact Elaine Stanley in the education team on 07733 124565 or email [email protected] .

Open Days at the Tees Barrage

22 August 2015

10am – 4pm

Come and join us for a rare chance to see a more in-depth look at the Tees Barrage whilst we're carrying out some repairs.

This is a fascinating chance to see what it takes to keep your waterways working during this maintenance project. Venture into the drained gate well and talk to our experts about how we carry out maintenance at this amazing structure. Get up close to the 50 tonne fish belly gates which are used to control the flow of the river and help prevent flooding and the effects of tidal change. Find out all about the fish passes, white water course and get access into the control tower too!

No pre-booking required.

The barrage itself is an impressive structure and includes a fish-pass (with viewing area), navigation lock and canoe slalom.

At the time of its construction it was at the time the largest civil engineering project in the UK so this is a very rare chance to delve deep below the tidal waters and see some unique maintenance.

The history

The River Tees was formed over 18,000 years ago in the Ice Age and has always been at the heart of Teesside. Since medieval times it has brought trade and prosperity, firstly to Yarm and later with the Industrial Revolution to Stockton then Middlesbrough.

Open day at Tringford Pumping Station

29 August 2015

10am – 4pm

A great opportunity for everyone to learn about the history of the pumping station and it's future plans.

The historical and working Tringford Pumping Station is being opened and visitors will be able to have tours. A rare chance not to be missed.

There will be a regular shuttle bus going from Startops car park over to the pumping station. This open day coincides with Anglers taster fishing session, and also Friends of will be doing wildlife walks along Marsworth, for more information visit: http://www.fotr.org.uk/p/contacts.html

Not long to go before nominations open for election to the Trust’s Council

The Canal & River Trust is calling on people to stand for election to the charity’s governing Council, with nominations opening on 11 September 2015, before voting in November.

If you’re thinking of standing for election, prepare your manifesto now.

We will have contacted everyone we believe to be eligible to vote or stand for election by the end of July. We are urging people to give us their correct email address because, in order to save costs and paper, this time we will run the entire election process online including nomination and sponsoring of candidates, publication of manifestos, election communications and voting.

The Council is made up of 40 nominated, co-opted or elected members as well as the Chairs of the waterway partnerships. Together they reflect the wide appeal of the waterways – from boating and angling through to walking and conservation. The Council is responsible for the appointment of Trustees, helps to shape policies and provides guidance and perspective to Trustees.

This year’s elections will decide four posts representing the interests of private boaters, two representing boating businesses, a post representing the Trust’s staff, and for the first time, elected posts for volunteers and people who make a regular donation to the Trust. Council members take up their four-year voluntary post from March 2016.

Anyone keen to stand for election should:

• Check they will be eligible • Learn more about the Council and the role of a Council member • Think about preparing their manifesto and getting sponsors

Tony Hales says: “This is a fantastic opportunity for people with a passion for the waterways to get involved with our work, and particularly in how the Trust is governed. Nominations open in September but we’re appealing for candidates to start preparing.” Everything you need to know about the Council, the election process and advice to prospective candidates is at www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/councilelections2015 . Here you will also find a short video from our chairman and three current Council members encouraging people to stand. Nominations open on 11 September 2015 for 4 weeks and voting opens on 13 November 2015 for 4 weeks.