Our centuries-old canals are an intrinsic part of the nation’s landscape, it’s vital we protect them - Sean McGinley

It’s likely you’ll visit a waterway looked after by our charity, Canal & River Trust. Launched in 2012, the Trust took over the guardianship of British Waterways’ canals, rivers, reservoirs and docks in England and Wales - heralding the next chapter in the renaissance of the waterways.

No other charity brings so much free, open and accessible blue and green space to the doorsteps of so many. Around 1.1 million people live within 1km of their local waterway in our Yorkshire & North East region.

We’re proud to be custodians of one of the UK’s largest collections of industrial heritage and the keepers of the third-largest heritage estate and the nation’s oldest working heritage network.

We look after 19 waterways in our region, from the urban thoroughfare of the UK’s longest single canal, Leeds & Liverpool, to the iconic Tees Barrage, and the waterborne freight highway of the Aire & Calder Navigation.

We have 317 miles of canals and rivers, 16.5 per cent of the Trust’s 2,000-mile network in England and Wales, plus scheduled ancient monuments and listed buildings. We’re fortunate to have two wonders of the waterways in Yorkshire - Standedge Tunnel, Britain's deepest, longest, highest canal tunnel, and Bingley Five Rise Locks, a 60ft drop covered by a feat of 18th century engineering.

This 250-year-old network transported vital goods and people around Britain. When freight declined, the canals fell into disrepair. We’re working hard to maintain their legacy and transform them from unloved places into welcoming spaces. Today, 50 per cent of our region’s waterways have been awarded Green Flag status, an international quality mark for parks and green spaces, showing just how far our canals have come.

Our waterways give us somewhere we can live, relax, get active, spend time together and get close to nature, without the need to travel great distances and spend money.

A first-of-its-kind study recently revealed that participants associated an increase in mental wellbeing for up to 24 hours when visiting our waterways - stronger compared to time spent in outside green spaces, such as parks and fields. We're thrilled that science is backing up what we've always believed to be true - spending time by water is good for your mental health. We could be called the nation’s Natural Health Service.

Our centuries-old canals are an intrinsic part of the nation’s landscape, with the sight of a narrowboat, lock or a humpback bridge a familiar one to many. But this vital resource is facing more challenges than ever - our canals are under threat.

The pioneering canal engineers from 250 years ago would never have imagined how their canals would be playing such an essential role in our society today – for leisure and recreation, a haven for wildlife and nature, supporting local economies and enhancing the health and wellbeing of millions.

Equally, they couldn’t have known how severe the impact from a changing climate. Each year, our list of repairs and restorations gets longer, more complex and costly, as more work is needed to strengthen the resilience of our historic infrastructure. We repair masonry and brickwork, fix leaks, replace lock gates and carry out major works to improve reservoir safety, strengthen the resilience of high-risk embankments, culverts and historic structures.

Our existing annual Government grant (fixed with no allowance made for inflation over the period to 2027), is reducing significantly in real terms. Beyond 2027, it seems highly likely the Government will seek to reduce its annual grant contribution, piling further pressure on the resources available to look after the network in the longer-term, leading to a cycle of decline and neglect.

As a stand-alone charity, we must work within the funds we have available and face difficult decisions daily. While we continue to call on the Government to sustain support for our nation’s waterways, we’re asking the wider canal community, our visitors and the many communities along our network that rely on us as their own back garden, to act now for canals.

There are many ways you can help. Talk to your neighbours, friends and family about what we do, sign up to Canalathon or take the Plastics Cha llenge pledge, become a Friend or try volunteering. See www.canalrivertrust.org.uk for details.

Sean McGinley is regional director for the Yorkshire & North East at Canal & River Trust.