Communications Update 22nd January 2016

Fundraising appeal launch

We have launched an appeal to raise much needed funds and attract volunteers to support the re-building of our network and the communities that have been affected by the Christmas floods.

To find out more visit www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/donate/flood-appeal and keep up to date with our latest stories from the waterways. We’re promoting the appeal on the Trust’s social media channels. Please share with your followers on Facebook and Twitter and ask them to donate and share too. # CanalFloodAppeal

News Round up

BBC Look North went to Elland Bridge (15/1/16) and spoke to waterway manager Jon Horsfall alongside the deputy leader from the Council about the new temporary footbridge being installed as part of the flood response in Yorkshire

As reported on the ITV website (17/1/16), the Government has announced £5.5m of funding for the restoration of the Elland Bridge and a temporary footbridge.

The Sunday Express (17/1/16) featured volunteer lock keeper Peigi Mackay and national volunteering manager Edd Moss in its article about the popularity and joys of volunteer lock keeping for the Canal & River Trust

Volunteer development coordinator Steve Manzi spoke to Anne Diamond on BBC Radio Berkshire (14/1/16) about the opportunity for people to join the Trust on the Kennet & Avon as volunteer lock keepers

BBC London TV (18/1/16) lunchtime and evening news bulletins spoke to supervisor Graham Smith to publicise this weekend’s open weekend in Camden on the Regent’s Canal which, according to the studio presenter, is ‘London’s most famous waterway’. Time Out (19/1/16) and the Evening Standard (18/1/16) also plugged the event

ITV Central are featuring our canals in the Midlands three times this week. Tuesday’s film stared Paul Roache, one of volunteer lock keepers at Wilmcote. Wednesday’s episode looked at the Trust’s ‘Helping Hedgerows’ project and featured volunteers planting up a hedgerow in Tamworth together with ecologist Stuart Moodie. Last night’s film featured Community Adoptions and the Trust’s new adoption group Wassifa Inspire who have adopted three miles of canal in Central Birmingham

Professor Ian Rotherham, wildlife expert from Sheffield University, gave a good plug for the Trust on BBC Radio Sheffield (20/1/16)

Customer ops manager Mike Marshall gave a really informed interview about canal maintenance on the Sheffield & Tinsley Canal and the upcoming open day on Valentine’s Day to BBC Radio Sheffield (20/1/16)

Volunteer development co-ordinator Steve Manzi spoke to BBC Radio Wiltshire (20/1/16) about the Trust’s Love My Stretch fundraising opportunity and why people love the canal through Wiltshire

Director of marketing, communications and fundraising Sophie Castell has been interviewed by Third Sector (21/1/16)

And finally, the Mirror website (17/1/16) reported the unfortunate taxi driver who reversed into the Huddersfield Canal last weekend

In social media:

The flood appeal has been the main focus on our social media channels this week. We’re sharing key appeal messages as well as latest news updates and stories from people that have been affected (#CanalFloodAppeal)

This weekend is the Kentish Town Lock Open Weekend which has been promoted across Facebook and Twitter. A bespoke Facebook event page has so far reached over 18,000 people (double the amount of people reached compared to the other winter open day events pages). BBC London also promoted the open days on their Facebook page which has 676,033 fans

This week we’ll be continuing to promote the flood appeal as well as our Leicester Line and Barrowford winter open days

And coming up next week:

Volunteering on the Rochdale Canal from Sowerby Bridge to Hebden Bridge means that part of the towpath is set to reopen

The boating community has been pulling together to assist, from the water, in the flood response

Members of the public, including local cadets, are assisting with a clean-up on the Calder & Hebble

A section of the Aire & Calder Navigation is set to open following flood repairs (including dredging silt and debris)

It’s the launch of the Trust’s Helping Hedgerows campaign with stories across the network

Heritage repairs are being made to the Ashton Canal and we’ll be issuing details to the press

Similarly, there are winter works across NW&B, South East and West Midlands which we’ll be promoting

Second World War air raid protection gates in London are being inspected and we’ll be inviting the media to come and find out about them

A clip from one of the canal laureate film poems will be in a BBC Radio 3 documentary this Sunday at 6.45pm – including a section of Lifted by former canal laureate Jo Bell

• Restoration & Repair open days

The restoration and repair open days continue to draw crowds around the country and there’s really no better way to get a feel for the ingenious engineering and precise workmanship that went into making our canals all of those years ago than by descending into drained locks, taking a boat trip or strolling along an empty aqueduct.

Kentish Town Lock open days – 23 rd /24 th January

Leicester Line open weekend – 30 th /31 st January

Barrowford open day – 31 st January

Visit our website to see all the sites that will be holding open days through to April.

Click here to watch a short video from the recent open day in Banbury

Events

• Discovering the Regent's Canal

Get your Sundays off to a good start with a guided walk along the lovely Regent's Canal. Dates for the coming months are -

Sunday 24 January Sunday 28 February Sunday 27 March

10:00am - 12:30pm

Join us for a guided walk exploring the history of the Regent's Canal between Islington and Camden.

Meet at 10:00 at Angel Station. The event is free of charge, but donations to the Canal & River Trust are welcome. The walk will finish at approximately 12:30 at Camden Market.

To book your space email [email protected]

• ‘Along the Blue Loop' - Tinsley Canal Walk

Grab your walking boots for a fun guided walk along the Tinsley Canal. Event details

6th February 2016

10:00am - 12:00pm Address

Start from Sheffield Station at Supertram stop (above platform 8).

A pleasant walk along the Tinsley Canal leading out of the centre of Sheffield to Meadowhall and return.

Break your walk here or continue return to the city centre following the ‘Five Weirs Walk’.

Distance: 4 or 8 miles

All welcome – walk is free. Wear suitable clothing & footwear, can be muddy underfoot.

Details call 01522-534655 or text 07908-450444.