With the British canal system facing pressures from extreme weather and rising maintenance costs, the UK Government has announced that it is providing an addtional £6.5 million in funding for the Canal and River Trust (CRT), who care for the majority of the canals and river navigations in England and Wales. This in addition to the £52.6 million annual Government funding already provided to the Trust.

The Canal and River Trust has faced a variety of weather-related damage over the winter, including a major breach of the Llangollen Canal near Whitchurch, in Shropshire, in December 2025. More details here: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/news-and-views/news/llangollen-canal-breach

The Inland Waterways Association recently launched its own on-line risk map of threats to British waterways lats year: https://waterways.org.uk/campaign-map

Britain’s 250-year-old waterway network covers roughly 2,000 miles and is used by millions of people annually for walks, bike rides, and to spend time near nature. Further details on the grant can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/iconic-canals-to-be-better-protected-with-6.5-million-investment