Canal volunteers

[Maryland]

Does anyone on here do any Canal & River Trust volunteering? If so, would be interested in hearing your thoughts as I'm about to sign up, I think.

 

[Gramaisc]

I used to do a good bit with - http://www.staffs-wildlife.org.uk/volunteer - over many years - though, I haven't done anything for a while now.

This exists, as well - http://www.countrytrust.org.uk/volunteering - although, I have no direct experience of it.

 

[bpelectric]

All depends on what group and canal, you can learn some useful skills with the right people

 

[Maryland]

I used to do a good bit with - http://www.staffs-wildlife.org.uk/volunteer - over many years - though, I haven't done anything for a while now.

This exists, as well - http://www.countrytrust.org.uk/volunteering - although, I have no direct experience of it.

Thanks for those links G - I've been scanning volunteering sites for some time now and hadn't come across either of these. Will investigate.

 

[Maryland]

All depends on what group and canal, you can learn some useful skills with the right people

What I'm after doing bp is getting myself outdoors and doing something physical after a few months of rubbish. I'm a practical sort and like the sound of what the CRT volunteers seem to get up to - waterborne litter picking appeals for some reason - but don't know anybody at all who's had experience of what they actually do. So all and any intelligence gratefully received.

 

[Gramaisc]

Thanks for those links G - I've been scanning volunteering sites for some time now and hadn't come across either of these. Will investigate.

The Wildlife Trust has many sites, some of which are very local, which reduces travelling time, if that matters. The way it used to work was there there were various "gangs" of long-term and transient volunteers. It all worked quite well - give them a ring and go out on a few random days. See how it goes. There's a lot of variety possible, from wetlands, like Doxey, to hillsides on the edge of the Peak District.

Any of these organisations are going to be a little wary of killing you in the early days, but it will settle down quite quickly.

@gon2seed volunteered for them for a while, too..

 

[bpelectric]

One of the better CRT groups are the Shroppie Union lot
Good bunch with a cross section of people
They carry out maintenance repair open up old sections of the cut litter picking you name it

 

[Maryland]

One of the better CRT groups are the Shroppie Union lot
Good bunch with a cross section of people
They carry out maintenance repair open up old sections of the cut litter picking you name it

Interested to read that, since there aren't any volunteer positions on the SU being advertised on the CRT site and this is my (very) local canal. I'll have to ask around a bit more.

I know the reopen the Newport Branch support group go out and do stuff along the line of the former cut out that way. But ever since they came up with a proposal to build a multimillion quid inclined plane, or some such piece of wizardry, off the Shelmore embankment, and turn Norbury Jnction into a major rural tourist hotspot, I've felt that their aspirations and my own pursuit of a quieter life didn't quite match. Although I think that idea may have been recognised, post-financial-apocalypse, as slightly less achievable than Owl Mail.
But who knows. Osborne was on Today today telling us about how we're earning more now than then (don't mention the public sector, George), so anything could happen.

 

[Gramaisc]

Ah, if you're off out in Yokelsville, then you could also look at - http://www.shropshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/volunteer .

 

[bpelectric]

Next time I'm out at the Anchor Inn I'll make some enquirers I know a few of them get in there during the summer months

 

[Maryland]

Ah, The Anchor. The pub that time forgot. Long may it continue to sell crisps, beer and pop and not much else.

If you have contacts there, please press them for information.

 

[industryarch]

Take a look at waterway recovery group or inland waterways association

 

[bpelectric]

Ah, The Anchor. The pub that time forgot. Long may it continue to sell crisps, beer and pop and not much else.

If you have contacts there, please press them for information.

Don't forget the Cider

 

[Darren]

I used to do security for a Waterways show that was aimed to raise money for canals, in fact i think it was the biggest show of its type in Europe.
This was a few years ago now, but it invloved being away for three weeks on the event for security and Waterways staff and volunteers this is there website https://www.waterways.org.uk/ this might be worth checking out to https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/?gclid=CKustr29k8QCFSYHwwodPYEAfA

 

[Maryland]

I used to do security for a Waterways show that was aimed to raise money for canals, in fact i think it was the biggest show of its type in Europe.
This was a few years ago now, but it invloved being away for three weeks on the event for security and Waterways staff and volunteers this is there website https://www.waterways.org.uk/ this might be worth checking out to https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/?gclid=CKustr29k8QCFSYHwwodPYEAfA

Thanks for that suggestion, Darren.

 

[Maryland]

Take a look at waterway recovery group or inland waterways association

Cheers for that, IA. I didn't realise the IWA was still around.