Archive for 2010
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By AliceA 4th October 10
We are looking for talented young musicians who would like to join in music and songwriting workshops and write some new pieces to celebrate the Waterways (that’s canals and rivers to you and me) with Tom Kitching fiddle player and canal enthusiast extraordinaire, and renowned Singer-songwriter Gren Bartley. You can work as a soloist, as an existing band, or create a new act with other volunteers – this will be a great opportunity to meet other musicians and swap ideas.
The workshops start from the beginning of February and will finish with a performance evening between April 22nd – 24th at the National Waterways Museum at Ellesmere Port.
musicians at the museum
This is not a beginners course – You should already be able to play or sing to a basic standard, though you don’t need to have done grades. A basic understanding of music theory OR the ability to learn by ear would be useful.
If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact Simon Colderley or Hazel Mayow on 0151 373 4392, or email simon.colderley@thewaterwaystrust.co.uk hazel.mayow@thewaterwaystrust.co.uk
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The Big Draw campaign is a month long campaign to get more people drawing and painting. At the Anderton Boat Lift in Northwich we are holding a week long event for local children called ‘Uplifting Art’.
We are going to create a huge canvas wall depicting the lift and the surrounding area and over 240 children will take part. There will be 22 hour workshops every day from Monday 11th to Friday 15rd October.
If you have an interest in art and love working with children then please volunteer to help us with this project.
All volunteers that get involved will be invited to the unveiling and open day on 24th October and will receive a v Thank You certificate!
We need volunteers to sign up as soon as possible as this opportunity involves working with children and may require a CRB check to be undertaken.
There will be disabled access
Where? The Anderton Boat Lift, Northwich
Any experience/ skills needed? Volunteers would need to be good with children and have an wide interest in art.
Dates: Monday 11th Oct- Sat 15th Oct
Expenses: Public transport costs wil be reimbursed.
Who to Contact : To register for this volunteering opportunity or for more information, please contact Simon Colderley on 0151 3734392 or simon.colderley@thewaterwaystrust.co.uk
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Hi everyone!
We have brand new opportunity for you all!
The Hedgerows viagra YOUR help!!
Along this part of the canal there is a long strip of hedgerow that is near enough derelict!
It’s grown all tall and straggly and is no longer much use as a home or protection for wildlife.
Unfortunatly thousands of miles of hedgerow have been lost this way in the last 50 years, and its been a major blow for the creatures that depend on them for food, shelter and as safe corridors to get from one habitat to another.
This is where you come in!
What this hedge needs is laying –the ancient technique of cutting and bending over the trunks just leaving just enough bark intact for the plant to grow up again so it ends up stronger and more bushy. At first this looks brutal, but is actually good for the hedge and makes it live longer.
How will the laying be done?
We will cut down the hedge using saws, loppers and billhooks, and weave the spare branches into a temporary barrier/ wildlife shelter. Its physical work and good exercise – but don’t worry if you haven’t done it before or are a bit unfit – there will be full training and you can take it at your own pace.
We will provide you with gloves and tools, but you need to wear strong footwear (preferably steel toe caps if you have them) and clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty. Make sure you’ve got something warm and waterproof with you in case the weather turns nasty, and bring some lunch to fuel you – we provide the brews! You don’t need any special skills just willingness to get involved! Health and safety and basic equipment training on the day
Times & Dates: Every Friday, 10am-4pm, starting 1st October 2010
Disabled access: The towpath can be uneven but is accessible for wheelchair users.
Directions: Meet at National Waterways Museum, South Pier Road, Ellesmere Port. Its a 10 minute walk straight along from the Rail Station
What to do now: If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact Hazel Mayow on 0151 373 4392 or 07920 466237, or email hazel.mayow@thewaterwaystrust.co.uk
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By LucieU 1st September 10
Bell Boating at National Waterways Museum
Last Thursday was a lovely day and we had an end of summer celebration event for Volunteer’s and to celebrate this we had a BBQ, a meeting with Volunteers and some staff members.
In the morning there was a Bell Boat race that took place in Chester down the Canals, which was enjoyed by all
Bell Boating is a twin hulled canoe and is a team of 8-10 people working together to move the craft. We have found that the Bell Boat is a great way to enjoy the water and promote good teamwork.
Thanks to John Driver and the outdoor Lets Go Adventure Company for their help with the Bell Boating and BBQ.
There was 13 Volunteers that took place in this 8 mile Bell Boating race down the Canals from Chester to Ellesmere Port (which was done rather quickly)
We all went into the Boat Hall and spoke about the Museum and what’s it’s helped us all with and there was leaflets and info packs on the tables for people to have a good look at and then we had a lovely BBQ.
The aim of the event was to showcase Waterways Action Squad’s first year and included displays about…..
- Wildlife and conservation projects
- Rolt music project
- Murals in Ellesmere Port and Bootle
At the end of the event Alison and Bethany led a Wildlife Walk along the Shropshire Union Canal to Freemans Copes
We would just like to give a Big Thank You to Chief Exec of The Waterways Trust – Roger Hanbury and Chief Exec of British Waterways, Robin Evans for attending.
And a big Thank You to Ronnie and Flat lane Community Group for helping us set up.
Written by Candice Smith
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By SimonC 21st July 10
Volunteer Ambassador Ryan
What I got out of it?
I gained more confidence and independence which will help in the near future to help me get into employment.
I also did conservation work on the canals, we took the Himalayan balsam out as this was killing other plants. It was interesting to find out a few facts about the Himalayan balsam, what it looks like and best way to kill the plant.
What I enjoyed?
I enjoyed it because I met a few more people, had a really good laugh, we all worked well as a team, and everyone was helpful and helped with the chaos and we all supported each other. I also did two other activaties; Raft Building, this involved team work and communication skills and kayaking that involve’s your own physical skills like your balance, but we supported each other.
Why should you join waterways action?
I joined Waterways and I have gained more working skills, like my communication skills have become better and also my IT skills. I am also doing an NVQ in Business, so you get qualifications out of your voluntary job. We also go on residual holidays. I have met some good people. Voluntary also looks good on your C.V.
Why not get involved yourself?
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Hi, I’m Simon Colderley and I’m going to be around for the next 6 months or so working for Waterways Action Squad as the Volunteer Co-ordinator.
I’ve been out on a couple of conservation tasks and the ambassadors residential at Burrs. Its great to see so much energy around and I’m looking forward to getting out and about seeing as many projects as possible. We are currently gathering a whole host of new opportunities, that we hope to have posted soon, giving an even greater breadth of experiences to volunteer for.
To coin a phrase “I’m here to help” so any questions please get in touch simon.colderley@thewaterwaystrust.co.uk and I’ll try to answer your questions.
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By ChristyM 20th July 10
Lunch break
The Pride of Sefton was the location for this months ambassadors meeting. This narrow boat has been specially fitted to allow disabled access and frequently travels along the Leeds-Liverpool Canal. Docked at Haskayne, we arrived a little later than intended but with plenty of enthusiasm and plenty of grub!
Cruising along the canal we got to discussing the hot topics of summer activities schedules and ways to get returning students into volunteering with us. The Waterways Action Squad newsletter, which we hope to make a regular thing was also brainstormed. Ideas thrown into the pot include adding puzzles and volunteer profiles to get more people reading it. Plans to get our leaflets into public places and into universities were also put in place.
After a few hours, the biggest muffins ever and plenty of other food was brought out. We got to watch the baby ducklings whilst chatting about the ambassadors residential that’s coming up over the summer. We even got a few people to sign up on the day.
Then it was time to have a go at steering the boat (althought I think we just held the handle and Frank and Alan did the steering!).
Overall I would say it was a great chance for a catch up and to plan what will be going on in June, July and August, whilst getting to enjoy a fun trip along the canal! Thanks Pride of Sefton!
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On a lovely April 28th a few very brave people took to a boat to begin a journey from Slaithwaite to Huddersfield powered only by horse! Starting at 10am and arriving at their destination at 6pm‘It was a day of trials and tribulations that we overcame as a team – great fun!’ (Mayow, Hazel 2010). Here is an account by a Waterways Action Squad volunteer who helped to crew the boat on the day…
I signed up to help the Horseboating Society because I was very interested to see this old style of boating in practice. I wasn’t sure what to expect before I arrived but I did imagine it to be very arduous for the horse. I was surprised that the boat glided effortlessly and Bilbo (the Society horse) didn’t seem to struggle at all. There was a gentle silence to the boat, which is not possible with a motored barge, and when we weren’t preoccupied with the locks it was relaxing to walk alongside it. I’d never operated a lock before so that was an experience in itself, some of them were quite easy but others were rusty and they posed a bit of a challenge.When the narrowboat, horse and crew in (mostly) full Victorian dress passed through more urban areas the difference between old and new was striking and it made a nice image.It was exciting to ride in the boat through a long, dark tunnel, which had been especially built beneath a development to accommodate passing boats. There was no room for Bilbo who had to be taken along another route to meet us at the other side. Without the horse towing us members of the crew used poles against the side of the walls to push us along. I appreciated seeing this technique but I was quite glad we didn’t need to ‘leg’ the boat through. ‘Legging’ involves lying on the narrowboat and pushing it along a tunnel with your feet using the walls or ceiling. I wasn’t sure I was quite ready for the indignity of that!It was an interesting day and I’d encourage anyone to have a look at horseboating in action if you get the chance.Polly xxx -
By CandiceS 25th May 10
My name is Candice; I’m now 20yrs of age. I have been working in a lot of different places over the past couple of years and I have never felt so in place before until I started working here as a volunteer in the National Waterways Museum in Ellesmere Port. I’m working in the office and helping out with, updating the website for Waterways Action Squad, updating the volunteer database, taking down notes about the various different things that go on in this place and type them up, etc.
I enjoy working here as the people I work with are all really nice and friendly, which is good to have in a work place.
I’ve learnt how to do stuff on the computer which I would have never known I could have done. I like this place because you learn things about the past like how to build boat from scratch an how they did various other things which is really good to know. -
Hey, did you know we’ve got a competition on at the moment? The deadline for entries has been extended to May 31st to give you time to get photo-taking!
If you’re aged between 16 and 25 and enjoy snapping away on your camera, see what the theme ‘The Secret Life Of Canals And Rivers’ conjures up in your mind and send your entries to emma.wright@thewaterwaystrust.co.uk by May 31st 2010. Use your imagination and see what delights you can come up with, whether it be a photo of a canal boat or a Kingfisher.
Make sure you send jpegs and keep them to a maximum size of 800 pixels x 800 pixels so they fit on our screens! The best entries that we receive will be exhibited in the National Waterways Museum at Ellesmere Port some time later in the year and the winners will get to spend a day boating with friends!
Get snapping!
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