Communications Update
19th February 2016
News Round up
Where does the week go? Timeto catch up on the news again...
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· TheDaily Telegraph (15/2/16) has a wonderful article on the Anderton Boat Lift and the Trust’s half term open day activities
· The Daily Telegraph (13/2/16) also included a nice mention of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal bicentenary (including a call to action for the Trust and Drifters) in a round-up of what’s new in Yorkshire
· Heritage advisor Florence Salberter has given two fascinating interviews to BBC Radio Berkshire (11/2/16 & 17/2/16) about the repairs underway at Sheffield Lock on the Kennet & Avon Canal, the wider canal system and her route into heritage work
· We got some nice regional radio coverage for the Trust’s Love My Stretch fundraising campaign, with Development & engagement manager Liz Fleuty speaking to BBC Radio Lincolnshire (12/2/16 and national press officer Maeve Thompson speaking to BBC Radio Hereford & Worcester (14/2/16)
· The ITV website and BBC website (14/2/16) featured the stranded boats at Elland Road being craned back into the water following the Boxing Day floods.BBC Radio Leeds’ (14/2/16) news headlines reported that the Trust was installing a new footbridge to carry utilities
· Matthew Parris writing in his column in The Times (13/2/16) complained that the national forest “has hardly crossed the media’s radar” unlike the Canal & River Trust which “gets good publicity”
· Ecologist Mark Robinson had a good chat to BBC Good Morning Wales(16/2/16) about rare bats hibernating in lime kilns on the Mon & Brec Canal.
· And for the high-flyers, WIZZ, the in-flight magazine of Wizz Air, has a nice feature on London’s canals and says ‘to get under the skin of London, head for its canals, where culture, nature and history combine’
In social media:
· This week we promoted the story about the amphibious tractor clearing the blockage in Standedge Tunnel. This performed above average on social, particularly on Facebook where it reached 14,740 people (38% above our average reach)
· On Twitter we promoted ‘Holiday of my Lifetime’ with Len Goodman & Toyah Wilcox which was aired on Friday. The post was one of our best performing posts on Twitter this week gaining 111 engagements reaching 6,759 people (34% above our average reach). We also were retweeted by Toyah Wilcox (10,706 followers)
· This week, we’re continuing to promote Winter Open Days, the flood appeal and places to visit during half term
And coming up next week:
· We are announcing the £1.75m project to restore Carpenters Road Lock in East London
· We’ll be letting stakeholders know about our joint working group with the Environment Agency to explore options for the transfer of EA navigations to the Trust
· We’ve a photocall on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal to promote the Trust’s mile marker initiative (part of the Leeds & Liverpool 200th anniversary celebrations)
· The Wigan office is moving to a new office early next month (also on the canal in Wigan) so we’ve some comms planned to let customers know about the new arrangements
· We’ll be promoting a giant ‘spider crane’ that is being floated into position to assist in the restoration works (and public viewing event) under way at Bingley Three Rise on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal
· Mountsorrel Lock open day in Loughborough ison 27 and 28February, so we’ll be promoting the opportunity to local media
· Heritage adviser David Viner is due to speak to BBC Gloucestershire about the restoration works at Saul Junction on the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal
· BBC’s popular Call the Midwife series broadcasts scenes this weekend filmed at Bulbourne Yard on the Grand Union Canal
Events
- 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.
Here’s one that is open for more than a day –
- Bingley Three Rise Showcase
This is a fascinating chance to see what it takes to keep the Leeds & Liverpool Canal working during this maintenance project at Bingley - 200 years after it was opened!
15th February 2016 to 6th March 2016
10:00am - 3:00pm
Leeds & Liverpool Canal
Bingley
West Yorkshire
BD16 4DS
You'll get the chance to see our craftsmen repairing this famous canal landmark from a viewing platform at the top of the lock and talk to them about how we change the gates for new ones.
There's no need to book either. You, your friends and family can just turn up anytime between 10-3pm each day between 15 February and 6 March…just don’t forget to wear sensible shoes!
Parking at this site can be tricky. If you can, please use public transport. The train station is only minutes away from the site along the towpath.
Other Open Days coming up –
Sheffield Lock open day – 21st February
Mountsorrel open weekend – 27th/28th February
Fall Ings Lock open day – 6th March
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.
- Winter Wildlife Walk along Huddersfield Narrow Canal
We are running a winter wildlife walk on Thursday 3 March. A gentle stroll let by a nature expert.
3rd March 2016
1:00pm - 3:00pmAddress
Meeting at Lock 7,
West Stalybridge, Huddersfield Narrow Canal
We will be meeting at Lock 7 West in Stalybridge and heading up the canal into the greenery. This will be a gentle stroll led by a nature expert pointing out and discussing the wildlife we encounter along the way.
We will be covering about3 miles and will return to Lock 7 West.
Please note that the towpath can get muddy so please wear sturdy outdoor shoes and warm clothing. Everyone welcome however children under 16 should be accompanied by an adult
To reserve a place or for further information please contact or 07917 241 104.
- 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 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
Rebuilding Canals in the heart of flood hit communities
Keep up to date with our lateststories from the waterways. From boater Sheila who baked cakes and pies on Boxing Day for the people helping to clear up, teams of CRT Staff and volunteers out an about on the canals & waterways to school children in Hebden Bridge who maintained an important tradition of the Friday afternoon visit to the sweet shop by setting up a pop up shop to raise money.
Fundraising appeal
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We have an appeal to raise much needed funds and attract volunteers to support there-building of our network and the communities that have been affected by the Christmas floods.
To find out more visit promotingthe appeal on the Trust’s social media channels. Pleaseshare with your followers on Facebook and Twitterand ask them to donate and share too. #CanalFloodAppeal
2016 Living Waterway Awards
The 2016 Living Waterways Awards are here and we're calling for waterway organisations and groups across the UK to put forward their engaging, innovative and inspirational projects. With seven awards up for grabs be sure to apply before 16 March.
Led by an independent panel of experts from the voluntary, environmental, arts, heritage, engineering and architecture sectors, the Living Waterways Awards celebrate the fantastic work done by individuals, communities and organisations to improve their canals, rivers, lochs and lakes making them exciting places to live, learn and spend time.
Richard Parry, chief executive of the Canal & River Trust, explains:“We are delighted to open the 2016 awards for entries and we look forward to finding out about and recognising the most inspiring and exciting waterway-based projects across the UK.
“We are searching for those people and projects that have done the most to make a difference to the nation’s canals and rivers - transforming the places they pass through, and enriching the lives of all who use them.”
Christopher Rodrigues CBE, chairman of VisitBritain and chair of the awards’ independent panel of experts, adds: “It is thanks to the dedication and hard work of communities and organisations, both large and small, across the nation, that our waterways are the wonderful destinations they are today."
Award categories and awards timeline can been seen on the 2016 Living Waterways Award page on the website