To celebrate pioneering women connected with our waterways, we pay a visit to Stoke Bruerne to find out about the Idle Women movement of the 1940s. Featuring Kate Doddington, whose great aunt was an ‘Idle Woman’, and Heather Wastie and Kate Saffin.

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Idle Women of the Waterways

Spent the day with Faber New Poet Will Burns – who walks the Wendover Arm of the Grand Union Canal to nourish his sense of wellbeing – and festival director Joanna Cherry, who uses England’s longest canal as her regular “runaway spot”.

Water, creativity and wellbeing

David Bramwell spends the day with angler, author and squeaky-gate appreciator Chris Yates, to talk about our very natural connection with water.

In search of a quiet life with Chris Yates

Retired carpenter Derek Keller worked on our waterways in the years before the Canal & River Trust took over their guardianship. Now a Friend of the Trust, Derek has a boatload of extraordinary stories to share. Finally, our resident gongoozler John Shuttleworth joins us for another mischievous waterway fact.

Tales of a Canalside Carpenter

David meets up with poet and Radio 3 presenter Ian Macmillan by the Calder and Hebble canal, to talk poetry and waterways, to hear Ian read a few of his own and to learn more about work in this area from CRT volunteer, the appropriately named Hilary Brook.

Words on Water

David spends a day on the Oxford Canal with Mark Robinson and Hugh Warwick. Both do important work for conservation groups and CRT, exploring and opening up canals as green pathways for wildlife. Together they look for evidence of different animals on the towpath and in the water, including otters, bats and leaf cutter bees.

Green Pathways

Mercury Prize-winning musician Sam Lee meets up with David to discuss the relationship between water and Britain’s folk heritage. And, of course, Sam’s more than happy to belt out a few classics by the fireside. To wrap it all up Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist Lorraine Bowen plays us out with her enchanting song, ‘Land Shanty’.

Folk Songs of the Waterway

Presenter David Bramwell heads to Kings Cross St Pancras for the grand unveiling of a new pair of 2.5 tonne lock gates. This special CRT open-day offered him the chance to visit the St Pancras Water Tower, take a canalise-side historical tour and even meet some 19th century navvies!

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