Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust

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The view from our dumper while being filled with concrete. Look past the bridge and our mini digger - you can just make out volunteers in the distance. After around 22 months working on this phase, the finish line for this section is finally in sight. #Lichfield #UKCanals #WeDigCanals

Braving the rain, our Green & Grounds and DofE volunteers spent Saturday replanting shrubs along the boundary at Darnford Moors. A welcome change from cutting back vegetation and the soft ground made planting much easier. Thanks to all who came along in the rain! #WeDigCanals #Lichfield #UKCanals

Lovely article about us in @social.newcivilengineer.com Have a read 👀 #Lichfield #WeDigCanals #UKCanals www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/lichf...

On Thursday, seven volunteers from Aggreko Cannock joined us at Gallows Reach. They worked really hard and removed old rotten fencing, cleared the ground, and installed 24 metres of scaffold safety fencing. A big thank you to the team for their hard work! #Lichfield #UKCanals ##WeDigCanals

Our next members' magazine is due out in November. I know we're biassed but you really don't want to miss it. Become a member of LHCRT to get your copy. (Details in the post below.)

Narrowboating along the river, keep your eyes open - You too will experience such moments of Herondipity. 💙 #HeroneerTipOfTheDay 🚣

Check out the latest video update from Narrowboat Nige with news from Gallows Reach, Darnford Moors Ecology Park and more too! #Lichfield #WeDigCanals #UKCanals youtu.be/lkXv5N1qkOk

Another task at Gallows Wharf last week: a new handrail for the steps up to London Road. With the steps now extended, the old rail was too short, so our volunteers got to work on a replacement. We'll have to wait a little longer before it'll be open to use. #Lichfield #WeDigCanals #UKCanals

At Darnford Moors, another task was to build over the inlet pipes from Darnford Brook. These will take take the overflow from the brook during times of flood. (As we saw recently!) One of the many benefits of canals is their ability to help with flood attenuation. #Lichfield #UKCanals #WeDigCanals

Catch up with the naming of the lift bridge at Gallows Reach - now known as Buck's Bridge after designer, and former trustee, Peter Buck. #WeDigCanals #Lichfield #UKCanals youtu.be/Thwe4DWKVJY?...

A huge thank you to the six volunteers from the Tara Group who spent Thursday afternoon at Borrowcop Locks Canal Park. The team worked tirelessly clearing around and inside the lock, cutting grass, trimming hedges, and clearing the washway. 🙏 #UKCanals #WeDigCanals #Lichfield

Gallows Reach casting pads resume on Lichfield Canal Volunteers have restarted casting full-width concrete pads at Gallows Reach and completed new surface water drainage along with blue brickwork. #LichfieldampHathertonCanals The post Gallows Reach casting pads resum lovecanals.uk/blogs/gallow...

Poor thing! 🪶

For all you #UKCanals photographers. 📷

Great to see @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social Rivers 2040 Vision published today. While focused on the Trent, its call for nature-led restoration and long-term investment applies to our #UKCanals too. Support your local waterways - now more than ever! www.wildlifetrusts.org/news/every-1...

Over at Darnford Moors Ecology Park, the Stepoc wall on the east side is disappearing behind the brickwork. The team is working on the blue bricks at the moment, with the reclaimed bricks up next. 🧱 #WeDigCanals #UKCanals #Lichfield #Bricklaying

Coventry Building Society volunteers tidy Darnford Seven Coventry Building Society volunteers cleared weeds, dead flowers and hedges at Darnford Moors Ecology Park. The Trust says the autumn tidy-up is nearly complete. #LichfieldampHathertonCanals The post Coventry B lovecanals.uk/blogs/covent...

Lichfield Canal twin towns tour welcomes guests Volunteers led guests from Lichfield’s twin towns on a walk from Borrowcop Locks to Gallows Wharf during the 2026 Twinning Weekend. #LichfieldampHathertonCanals The post Lichfield Canal twin towns tour welcomes guests a lovecanals.uk/blogs/lichfi...

Buck’s Bridge naming marks Gallows Reach milestone On 11 October the new lift bridge at Gallows Reach was officially named Buck’s Bridge by designer and former trustee Peter Buck. #LichfieldampHathertonCanals The post Buck’s Bridge naming marks Gallows Reach mileston lovecanals.uk/blogs/bucks-...

Huge thanks to Four Oaks Reclamation Ltd-West Midlands for the donation of an inspection chamber cover. We can now cover the new chamber along Gallows Reach, making the path safe for everyone to use. Another little job ticked off! #WeDigCanal #Lichfield

Our green and grounds and DofE volunteers have been busy at Darnford Moors Ecology Park. They cleared vegetation, trimming hedges, and preparing for new saplings arriving this month. 🌱 #Lichfield #UKCanals #WeDigCanals

Seven volunteers from Coventry Building Society joined us at Darnford Moors Ecology Park to clear weeds, remove dead flowers and trim hedges. The autumn tidy-up is nearly complete. Huge thanks to everyone, especially the volunteer who travelled from South London! #lichfield #UKCanals

At Gallows Reach, the focus was back on the concrete pads this week. The team also completed a 'rough cut', removing several hundred tonnes of spoil for future base pads. They also need to dig out up to the bridge in order to set out for the surrounding brickwork. #WeDigCanals #UKCanals #Lichfield

Previously at Gallows Reach... What do you think we'll achieve this week? #Lichfield #UKCanals #WeDigCanals

For now, it’s a digger in the foreground, but look beyond the bucket… 👀 There’s the lift bridge in the frame, waiting patiently, as another piece of the canal takes shape. One day, boats will pass through here. For now, we dig. ☺️ #Lichfield #WeDigCanals #UKCanals

Dumper issues meant we couldn’t complete this week’s concrete pour, so the team switched focus to drainage. A 150mm connection and inspection chambers were installed, and the drain crossing onto our land was picked up. Now backfilled, with benching and covers to follow. #UKCanals #Lichfield

Skies over the Fosseway #BlueTue #ColorADay #lichfield #canals #staffordshire

A welcome return from Natalie at Nationwide on Tuesday, volunteering through their CSR scheme. She joined our regular volunteers and helped ready another base for concreting and saw the big strides since her last visit. #Lichfield #UKCanals #WeDigCanals

Lovely to see our duck family enjoying Darnford Moors Ecology Park. This section has only been in water since 2023, yet it’s already flourishing. 🪶 Thanks to support from Biffa Award #theLCF this section of the canal has become a rich, thriving environment for wildlife. 🌿 #Lichfield #UKCanals

Here's a sight you won't see every day! Our 14-tonne excavator making its way under the liftbridge. Not something you see on your average canal towpath! 😄 #UKCanals #Lichfield #WeDigCanals

Today we are happy to announce the finalists of the best large village (south) category in Staffordshire's Best Kept Village & Community awards, sponsored by Housing Plus Group! Congratulations to Alrewas, Gnosall, Perton, Wheaton Aston and Whittington!