The Inland Waterways Association’s Waterway Recovery Group is looking for volunteers to help restore Britain’s lost waterways.

Without the support of volunteers, these canal restoration projects cannot be completed and valuable history will be lost forever.

In 2019, the Waterway Recovery Group (WRG) has 25 canal restoration projects, or Canal Camps, all around England and Wales that need support, especially the Cotswolds Canals.

Working outdoors, volunteers can find themselves carrying out various activities such as clearing vegetation and bush-whacking, or learning new skills such as bricklaying, stone walling, restoring locks, re-lining canals or creating towpaths.

Restoration of the Cotswolds Canals is one of the largest projects in the UK. Nearing the final phase of the Weymoor Bridge project, volunteers on this Cotswolds Canal Camp would be completing work on the retaining walls and working on the structure of the bridge. Camp dates are April 19-27 and August 3-10 and 10-17.

Each Canal Camp is one week-long, costs £70 and includes three meals a day plus endless tea and cake. Basic accommodation is provided, usually in a village hall or Scout hut.

Volunteers will need to provide their own camp bed or sleeping mat. All transfers to and from the accommodation to the work site are included but volunteers will need to make their own way to the Canal Camp. If travelling by public transport, volunteers can be collected from the nearest railway station.

Mike Palmer, chairman of the Waterway Recovery Group, said: "In return for helping to preserve our industrial heritage and restoring our beloved canals, we can offer volunteers a fantastic chance to learn new skills such as bricklaying, restoring a flight of locks, building a new section of canal, or even rebuilding a bridge.”

For more details on the Cotswolds Canal Camp, go to wrg.org.uk, email enquiries@wrg.org.uk or call 01494 783 453 to order a new brochure. Camps are open to anyone aged 18 and above and no experience is necessary.