You, your

Canoe England Membership and the environment Membership of Canoe England offers a huge range of benefits including:

●● Licence to on 4,500km of Britain’s navigations and canals ●● Third party liability insurance up to £10 million Caring for the ●● An annual directory environment ●● Six editions of Canoe Focus magazine ●● Discounts on events, equipment, clothing, travel and boat insurance and Your canoe is a traditional craft used throughout coaching supplies the world for exploring wilderness areas and quietly observing wildlife and flora. It causes no ●● On coastal waters take care on shingle ●● Access to information, resources, courses and competitions erosion, noise or pollution and leaves no trace beaches- they may be nesting grounds e.g. ●● Access to the member’s area on the website, including classified of its passing. at appropriate water Terns. Avoid dragging through sand advertisements levels is an environmentally benign activity2 and dunes and their grasses. For more advice causes no damage to fish stocks3. refer to: Sea - A Guide to Good Environmental Practice5 So don’t delay- join or renew your membership today! By following the simple steps below you can ●● Canoe a safe distance away from wildlife ensure your presence is not detrimental to the to avoid causing disturbances and stress to Telephone 0845 370 9500 or visit www.canoe-england.org.uk freshwater and marine environment, it can help otters, seal colonies, rafts of wildfowl, and to minimise and avoid accidentally disturbing sea birds as well as their nesting, shelter wildlife and their habitats. and feeding areas e.g. mudflats, marshes Notes 4 and cliffs. Remember, basking sharks, Alien species in some UK rivers could be transferred to other inland waters. A fish parasite (Gyrodactylus Salaris) ●● Find out about the area before you go, dolphins and whales can also be a danger Canoeing is the generic term used to describe canoe, and paddlesports. from Europe would have serious consequences for UK noting its sensitive places, protected to you. salmon stocks. It can survive in damp or wet conditions for 6 areas , species and breeding seasons. ●● Constantly assess wildlife. If you see signs 1 For health, safety, and water quality (Weil’s Disease) 5 or 6 days on water recreation clothing and equipment- canoes, small boats, fishing tackle etc. It is particularly ●● Take your litter home with you, leave no of disturbance move away quietly. information visit www.canoe-england.org.uk/about/health- and-safety. Also refer to the Canoe England Member’s important all equipment used abroad is disinfected before trace of your visit. ●● Note Environment Agency information Directory and information provided by local navigation and re-use in the UK. For details of this procedure and further ●● When clearing litter left by others, handle it and the measures that can be taken to port authorities. information visit www.canoe-england.org.uk/ access-and- environment/environment and www.environment-agency. with care. minimise the spread of alien species in UK 2 Canoe England has a Memorandum of Understanding gov.uk ●● Leave the environment as you find it. rivers and threat of disease to UK salmon with English Nature (now formed as Natural England) stocks after using canoes and equipment 5 Canoe Scotland has issued: Sea Kayaking- A guide to ●● Keep noise to a minimum. that states “English Nature and the BCU agree that overseas4. there is unlikely to be any significant impact on or lasting Good Environment Practice. Refer to ●● Do not ‘seal’ launch or drag boats to avoid disturbance to wildlife and the water environment from the www.canoescotland.com/default.aspx?tabid=701 wearing away natural banks. Float your Report pollution, damage and incidents to passage of canoes.” 6 Protected Area designations- Special Sites of Scientific canoe for launching, lift out when landing the relevant authorities. 3 An Environment Agency report entitled “W266- The Interest (SSSI’s), Special Areas of Conservation (SAC’s), www.canoe-england.org.uk and carry it to and from the water. Environment Agency incident reporting effects of Canoeing on Fish Stocks & Angling” concluded Special Protection Areas (SPA’s apply to rare and ●● Do not damage bank side vegetation when Telephone 0800 80 70 60 (24 hours) that there is no empirical evidence linking canoeing with vulnerable species of birds), National Nature Reserves and Marine Nature Reserves (to be known as Marine launching or landing. damage to fish spawning grounds or damage to fish British Waterways Emergencies stocks. Conservation Zones). Visit www.natural-england.org.uk for ●● Where possible keep to any designated Telephone 0800 47 999 47 further information. Updated December 2009 paths or launching points. RSPCA for wildlife and animals in distress ●● On rivers, avoid over gravel banks Telephone 0990 55 59 99 (24 hours) Supported by: in low water conditions- they may contain For Coastguard and other emergency fish spawn. services call 999 canoe

www.waterways.org.uk www.thegreenblue.org.uk www.broads-authority.gov.uk england Consideration for others ●● When offering assistance to those in You, your canoe & the environment need, on or off the water, do not put Canoeists will meet a variety of land and yourself or fellow canoeists at risk. water users on their journeys. Common England has a wonderful network of inland and coastal waters that ●● Show consideration to organised bank sense, polite behaviour and conversations side activities, and give way as required are amongst the best in Europe. This leaflet provides guidance on can help to promote a mutual understanding. to on-water events. good practice for using these waters in a responsible and appropriate manner. Canoeists should be able to enjoy their sport and recreation in On Land Anglers harmony with the natural environment and share the resource with other ●● Stay away from houses and private Keep a look out for anglers whilst paddling. water-users. gardens. Anglers can be hard to spot on banks. ●● Change discreetly, using public facilities ●● Co-operate to avoid lines, nets and To get the best canoeing experience, try to Take responsibility for where possible. swims. be considerate and respectful; treat others ●● Drive sensibly at all times. ●● If it is unclear where to pass lines or as you would wish to be treated, respect the your actions ●● Car Parking- do not obstruct roads or swims, then quietly attract the attention freshwater and marine environment, follow The outdoors is a fantastic place for sport entrances to buildings or farm property. of the angler and agree a route to follow. safety recommendations and be seen as a and recreation, but it is also a natural ●● Ensure your kit does not cause an ●● When an angler is playing a fish from the welcomed visitor. environment which needs to be treated with obstruction when unloading. bank or wading, stop some way off and respect. await their acknowledgement to proceed. Observe the Countryside Code. ●● Leave gates positioned and property as For information visit: you find them. ●● Do not linger in pools or swims occupied ●● Be aware of information/ hazards for by an angler. www.countrysideaccess.gov.uk your chosen journey and ensure you are ●● Avoid damage to fences and walls. confident in the ability of your party to For information about canoeing in England go For information on where to canoe, including cope with the conditions expected. On Water information on access arrangements that to www.canoe-england.org.uk may be in place, contact the Canoe England ●● Take account of water, flows, levels and weather conditions. ●● Follow the general rules of navigation For information about canoeing elsewhere Local River Advisor, Local Coastal Advisor, and any local bylaws. Obtain any ●● Leave details of your trip with a visit the following websites: Regional Access Advisor, navigation or port necessary licences. authority. Contact details can be found on the responsible person and advise a safe www.canoewales.com Canoe England website: arrival. ●● Respect and do not obstruct other water www.canoescotland.org users. www.cani.org.uk www.canoe-england.org.uk ●● Ensure your equipment is in good condition. Use and wear it correctly. ●● Keep a look out and be aware that larger vessels may not see you and are less ●● It is recommended to take advantage manoeuvrable. In confined waters keep of BCU advice and courses offered on to the edge of the deepwater navigation canoe skills and safety for all levels of channel. ability. ●● Keep the numbers in your party ●● Be aware of health, water quality and consistent with safety, the nature of the other safety information.1 stretch of river and the impact on your ●● Permission may be required to cross surroundings. private land. ●● It is your assessment of conditions/ factors whether to go on the water.