Vision and Strategy
The Herefordshire & Gloucestershire Canal Trust has the ultimate aim of completing restoration of a fully sustainable Canal from Gloucester to Hereford – an ambitious but achievable goal.
British Waterways (now Canal & River Trust) predicted the canal will generate £20 million a year and provide around 400 jobs to the area.
It is H&G CT’s plan to provide a financially sustainable independent Canal that does not require support from public bodies or other charities for its future operation and maintenance, but can be enjoyed by everyone.
An example of this is at Dymock where a partnership between H&G Canal Trust and Dymock Parish Council, and supported by Two Rivers Housing Association and the landowner, Tomack Developments, was carefully formulated to meet requirements of all four parties.
The purpose was to create the Canal Basin in the centre of the village combined with much needed community benefits for Dymock village in the form of additional parking, a play area, a new footpath, a greatly improved public environment and, most importantly, twenty new houses to accommodate the increased population essential to protect the village school, the community-owned pub and other village facilities.
The open market houses will pay an annual sum towards the upkeep of the Canal.
This demonstrates not only the progression of the Trust but also how we are now moving forward to become a key delivery partner to both public and private sectors.
The prestigious International Green Apple Award 2016 for the Built Environment and Architectural Heritage was given to H&G Canal Trust for Dymock Partnership Project.
The Dymock Partnership Project was one of more than 100 nominations for the Green Apple Environment Awards for 2016, part of the international campaign to find the greenest companies, councils and communities. This is the second time H&G CT has won a Green Apple Award – we were a Gold Award winner in 2014 in the Eco Tourism category for our work.
Restoration work elsewhere
Stretches of the canal at Monkhide, Yarkhill, Moat Farm, Oxenhall, Over and the stone chamber of House Lock and Ell Brook Aqueduct at Oxenhall have been completely restored by trust volunteers.
In addition work, has been carried out at Burcott Road in Hereford, Aylestone Park, Kymin East, Dymock, and Llanthony.
Working with the Waterways Recovery Group, the original canal basin at Over, where the Canal connected with the River Severn, has been reconstructed. This was the largest all volunteer canal restoration project in the UK in 1999-2000. Since then, Vineyard Hill, a stretch of similar length, has also been brought back into water.
The Wharf House at Over Basin, just west of Gloucester was built on the site of the old lock cottage that once stood overlooking the banks of the River Severn.
The shell of the building was constructed for the Trust by Swan Hill Homes. Inside, Trust volunteers completed the entire fit-out, much of it using material recycled from the Hospital buildings that once stood near by, to provide a restaurant, offices and visitor centre.
Our volunteers later added seven luxury bedrooms.
In 2019 the building was let out to a third party providing an ongoing income stream for the Trust, and is now trading as The Lock Keepers and The Moorings.
Financing the Restoration
We are a leading Canal Trust Charity in promoting a restored Canal that will be financially self-sustainable and independent once complete. However, substantial sums are required to acquire the land and deliver the initial restoration. Like all charities, fundraising is a vital part of H&G CT’s work, and partnerships, bequests and grants are relied upon to achieve each restoration project.
Please support the restoration of the Hereford and Gloucester Canal by donating to the H&GCT.
Ways YOU can support the H&G CT financially…
The Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal Trust actively seeks financial support for its work, which is currently received via;
- Fund Raising at Canal Trust Events
- Legacies
- General Donations
- Contributions to the Land Fund
- Corporate Support
More information on Supporting the Trust financially can be found on our Ways to Donate to the Trust page, whilst other more practical ways you can support the Trust can be found on our Support the Trust pages.