Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust
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lhcrt.org.uk
Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust
@lhcrt.org.uk
2.1K followers 2.5K following 1.8K posts
We are a volunteer-led charity, restoring two canals in Staffordshire, and reconnecting them to the BCN and national canal network.

Follow our feeds: #WeDigCanals #UKCanals #FloatingTraders #Lichfield

Find out more: https://lhcrt.org.uk/
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lhcrt.org.uk
13 DofE volunteers and 4 Green Team adults braved the rain yesterday! 🌧️

Tasks done around the compound and canal, hedging prepped for reuse at Darnford Moors.

Great leadership from the older lads too. 🌿👏

#WeDigCanals #Lichfield
Volunteers in bright yellow safety vests load branches into a metal trailer on a muddy outdoor site. A green container and portable toilet stand nearby, with safety signage visible. The scene reflects teamwork and environmental care. Three volunteers in high-visibility vests maintain a roadside hedge on a leaf-strewn verge. Two trim foliage from the ground while the other is up a ladder. Trees, houses, and a passing car frame the autumn scene, highlighting seasonal care and community upkeep. Three volunteers in high-visibility vests work together in a tree-lined area, clearing branches and leaves. One handles a tool while another observes, with a third nearby. A large pile of cut foliage sits in the foreground, and stacked bricks and logs suggest ongoing maintenance. Dense greenery and bare trees frame the autumn scene. Two volunteers in high-visibility vests work on a gravel pile in a leafy public space. Traffic cones mark the area, and a wheelbarrow and upright shovel suggest active progress. Bare trees and fallen leaves hint at autumn.
November 30, 2025 at 8:01 AM
lhcrt.org.uk
The sun shines on the righteous…

Nige has captured some stunning shots of golden light streaming across Tamworth Road Narrows — beauty in progress.

📸 Narrowboat Nige

#Lichfield #WeDigCanals #Staffordshire
A large orange excavator rests on a dirt surface at sunset, surrounded by mounds of soil and construction materials. The low sun casts long shadows and a warm golden glow across the site, highlighting the machinery and trees in the background. The excavator’s arm is extended, its bucket touching the ground, suggesting recent earthmoving work. An orange excavator parked on a construction site in late afternoon light, with reddish soil and cylindrical concrete structures nearby. A narrow canal channel runs through the centre, bordered by equipment and materials. Bare trees and distant buildings suggest an autumn or winter setting, with long shadows and warm tones adding depth to the scene. A partially built retaining wall made of concrete blocks stands at a construction site, with two large cylindrical concrete structures behind it. The wall borders a steep, excavated slope of reddish soil, exposing tree roots. Scattered blocks and a leaning wooden plank suggest ongoing work. Trees surround the site, indicating a rural or wooded setting. A construction site at sunset, with long shadows stretching across sandy ground marked by footprints and tire tracks. Metal fencing encloses the area, with warning signs visible. Trees and residential buildings line the background, while the low sun casts warm, dramatic light across the scene.
November 29, 2025 at 8:27 AM
lhcrt.org.uk
Another productive day at Tamworth Road Narrows - more redundant Big Pipe finding a new life as structural support and more bricks laid in front.

#WeDigCanals #Lichfield
Four large vertical concrete piles stand onconcrete on reddish-brown soil at a canal construction site. Behind them, a steep excavated embankment rises, with trees and a building visible above. A partially built wall with exposed rebar and a black tarp sits in front of the piles, showing active restoration work. Four large vertical concrete piles stand on concrete on into reddish-brown soil at a canal construction site. Behind them, a steep excavated embankment rises, with trees and a building visible above. A partially built wall with exposed rebar and a black tarp sits in front of the piles, showing active restoration work. A large orange excavator sits on reddish soil at a canal construction site, its arm extended near stacked concrete pipes and construction materials. Nearby are upright concrete pipes and a curved structure with a ladder. The site is busy and is framed by fencing and trees.
November 28, 2025 at 8:08 AM
lhcrt.org.uk
We’re thrilled to share that we won the 'Charity or Social Enterprise Award' at the Lichfield Beacon Awards! 🌟

This is an amazing tribute to our incredible volunteers! 🙏

#WeDigCanals #Staffordshire
An award plaque sits on a table at a formal event, surrounded by wine glasses and bottles. The plaque reads “Lichfield District Beacon Awards – Charity & Social Enterprise Award – Winner – Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust – 2025.” In the softly blurred background, guests mingle and celebrate, with printed award category sheets partially visible on the table.
November 28, 2025 at 7:28 AM
Reposted by Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust
postcards2025.bsky.social
The old canal bridge at Pipe Hill, Lichfield. Part of the McClean Way that has recently opened .
#canals #mccleanway #lichfield #bricks #photography
November 24, 2025 at 10:54 PM
Reposted by Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust
iwa-uk.bsky.social
No direct waterways funding in the budget, but upcoming water reforms are being discussed. With new funding for devolved and regional authorities, we'll be continuing to campaign to make sure our waterways benefit. #iwa #budget2025
November 27, 2025 at 12:31 PM
lhcrt.org.uk
At Gallows Wharf, our volunteers mixed concrete for a base and l dug 5m each side of the pipe, ready for next week’s mix-on-site.

New volunteer Ellen joined, exploring civil engineering. Great to have you on the team.

#WeDigCanals #Lichfield
Five construction volunteers stand in the canal channel at Gallows Wharf, wearing high-vis clothing and hard hats. Behind them, an excavator and fencing mark the active site near a bridge entrance. Two volunteers in high-vis gear stand in a drained canal bed near an excavator bucket. A large pipe runs along the muddy bottom, flanked by brick walls and safety fencing. A bridge spans the canal in the background, with tools and materials scattered around. Freshly poured concrete slab bordered by a retaining wall on the left and a large cylindrical pipe on the right. Wooden planks and muddy ground surround the site, with brickwork and materials in the background.
November 27, 2025 at 7:49 AM
lhcrt.org.uk
More progress at Gallows Wharf!

Our inclined retaining wall is taking shape thanks to our regulars Steve and Alan – and a fantastic boost from Natalie, who joined us on one of her CSR days. She got stuck in bricklaying alongside the team, adding her energy to the project.

#WeDigCanals #Lichfield
Two volunteers in high-visibility gear build a brick retaining wall at a muddy construction site. A wheelbarrow filled with red mortar sits nearby, alongside a white container. Large concrete pipes line the path, with a grassy slope, wooden fence, and houses in the background.
November 26, 2025 at 7:57 AM
lhcrt.org.uk
This is Dave.

Last week Dave mowed all the grass verges from Lock 25 at Borrowcop Locks right through to Cricket Lane. The paths are looking fantastic, and it’s all down to his hard work.

Thanks Dave 💚

#WeDigCanals #Lichfield
A person in a bright yellow high-visibility jacket stands on a dirt path beside a canal, operating a yellow and black manual soil compactor. They wear a dark hat, gloves, and rubber boots, suggesting outdoor maintenance work. Young hedging whips in plastic guards line the path, with houses, a road, and construction materials visible in the background under overcast skies.
November 25, 2025 at 7:23 AM
lhcrt.org.uk
What has this week got in store for us?

At Tamworth Road Narrows, the brickwork is ready for more on the offside bend and the towpath wall.

How many bricks will be laid? 🧱
Will the weather slow us down? 🌦️

Stay tuned!

#WeDigCanals #Lichfield #Staffordshire
A partially constructed retaining wall, built with bricks and concrete blocks. Construction tools and materials like buckets and wooden planks are scattered nearby. The wall supports elevated ground to prevent erosion. In the background, trees, a house, and a wooden fence are visible.
November 24, 2025 at 7:40 AM
lhcrt.org.uk
10% off for Black Friday! 🎉

Use code TAKE10 at checkout for sustainable, plastic-free clothing that’s better for the planet.

Shop: lhcrt.teemill.com

#Lichfield #WeDigCanals
Folded grey t-shirt resting on a festive gift box, surrounded by Christmas tree branches and twinkling lights. Bold white text reads “10% OFF – Use code TAKE10 at checkout,” with holly leaves and berries decorating the word “OFF.”
November 23, 2025 at 12:35 PM
lhcrt.org.uk
Now you see it, now you don't!

Our massive soil heap has finally gone. Huge thanks to Chase Town Civil Engineering and Persimmon Homes for giving our surplus soil a new home and helping us keep the site moving.

📷 photos by Narrowboat Nige

#Lichfield #WeDigCanals
A large orange excavator sits atop a mound of reddish-brown soil at a canal construction site. Its arm is extended downward, actively digging or moving earth. In the foreground, a concrete pipe lies partially buried among debris including broken bricks, wooden planks, and metal frames. A leafless tree stands in the background beneath a partly cloudy sky, glowing warmly with sunrise or sunset light. A wide construction site at sunrise or sunset, with reddish-brown soil marked by tire tracks and footprints. Construction materials and vehicles are scattered across the site. In the distance, partially built houses and power lines stretch across the horizon under a partly cloudy sky tinged with blue, yellow, and orange hues.
November 22, 2025 at 8:11 AM
lhcrt.org.uk
At Gallows Reach our volunteers have been busy realigning the path where the liftbridge will sit, getting everything ready for installation (date coming soon).

#WeDigCanals #Lichfield
Three construction volunteers in high-visibility gear are working on a landscaped area near a path. One uses a shovel to level soil while the others assist. The setting includes grass, trees, shrubs, a wooden bench, and orange safety netting. Two volunteers dig along a pathway. One wears a red hard hat and yellow jacket, the other a blue hard hat and orange jacket. They’re surrounded by green grass, autumn trees, and nearby houses, with tools and safety netting visible, indicating infrastructure or pathway work. Two volunteers in high-visibility jackets and hard hats are working along a dirt pathway in a residential area. One kneels to work on the ground while the other stands nearby. Wheelbarrows, tools, and orange safety netting mark the active site, with trees, grass, and houses in the background. Three volunteers in yellow and orange safety gear are handling wheelbarrows and shovels at a suburban work site. They appear to be working on concrete or groundwork near a slab foundation. The area is enclosed by orange safety netting, with houses, trees, and a dirt path nearby under an overcast sky.
November 21, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Reposted by Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust
bsky.app
In v1.110, Bluesky now has a dark-mode app icon — for anyone who thinks light mode should require a content warning.
An illustration of the new Bluesky app icon for dark mode.
November 19, 2025 at 5:05 PM
lhcrt.org.uk
At Gallows Reach, it looks good, now that all of the shuttering has been removed.

#WeDigCanals #Lichfield
A construction showing a partially built concrete retaining wall below a brick wall with metal fencing. The ground is uneven and covered with dirt, tire tracks, and scattered debris including wooden planks, metal parts, and plastic. An excavator and bucket attachment rest on the right side. Trees and suburban houses are visible in the background.
November 19, 2025 at 8:40 AM
Reposted by Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust
canalboy.bsky.social
At some point in the next 18 months I'll be turning 40. I've decided to set myself the challenge of visiting 40 different canals before then. No real rules – obvs disused is better – but anything goes!

Rather arbitrarily, it starts today...

#ukcanals
#40before40
April 20, 2025 at 4:19 PM
lhcrt.org.uk
A rare photo of the Gallows Wharf team posing for the camera (well… most of them!) and an action shot too. A brilliant bunch of volunteers doing brilliant work.

#WeDigCanals #Lichfield
Five construction volunteers stand in the canal at Gallows Wharf, wearing high-visibility clothing and hard hats. They hold tools and smile for the camera, with metal panels and a grassy embankment behind them. Two volunteers in orange high-visibility jackets and hard hats stand beside a large orange excavator on a muddy site. Autumn trees and construction equipment fill the background. Several volunteers in high-visibility clothing and hard hats work on a pathway or retaining wall at Gallows Wharf. The site is enclosed by metal fencing and surrounded by trees. Construction equipment, including a mini excavator and dump truck, is visible among tools and materials.
November 18, 2025 at 7:33 AM
lhcrt.org.uk
Did you know we're on TikTok? Pop over and watch our update videos. Here's one of our recent ones:

vm.tiktok.com/ZNdoN1nwL/

#WeDigCanals #Lichfield
Screenshot of the TikTok profile for Lichfield Canal Trust (@lhrt), a volunteer-led charity restoring the Lichfield & Hatherton Canals. The profile shows 754 accounts followed, 1,166 followers, and 3,685 likes. Six video thumbnails are visible, featuring volunteers in high-vis clothing working on canal restoration. Titles include “Going for it at Gallows Wharf” and “Can we dig it?
November 17, 2025 at 5:37 PM
lhcrt.org.uk
🛑 Stop! Please read this — can you spare £1.25 a month? 🛑

For just £15 a year you will:
💦 Help reconnect the Lichfield Canal to the #UKCanals
🌿 Enhance biodiversity
📰 Receive our magazine

❌ No commitment to volunteer

🎁 Join in November and receive a free gift.

👉 lhcrt.org.uk/2025/11/09/j...
November 17, 2025 at 8:30 AM
lhcrt.org.uk
Brian sent us these lovely photos capturing Darnford Moors Ecology Park at its best — bursting with flowers and berries. A wonderful reminder of how our work helps wildlife and looks good too. 🌿💚

#WeDigCanals #Lichfield
A tree with slender branches bearing small, round yellow fruits, possibly crabapples or cherry plums, set against a grassy field and a bright blue sky. A bare tree branch densely covered with small, round red berries, set against a clear blue sky with a few lingering green and yellow leaves. A small daisy-like wildflower with white petals and a yellow center blooms beside a closed bud, surrounded by feathery green foliage and scattered rocks and gravel. A single white-petaled flower with a dark purple center stands upright among green plants, fallen brown leaves, and scattered pebbles on a textured patch of ground.
November 17, 2025 at 8:03 AM
lhcrt.org.uk
Let's hear it for @uyhoang.bsky.social who is walking and photographing the towpaths of #UKCanals to ensure the routes are on Google Street View.

Amazing 👏
November 17, 2025 at 5:20 AM
lhcrt.org.uk
Check out the latest update from Tamworth Road Narrows and Gallows Wharf by our ambassador Narrowboat Nige.

youtu.be/hGx4jYN8ydg?...

#WeDigCanals #Lichfield
Lichfield Canal Mid November round up 2025
YouTube video by Narrowboat Nige!
youtu.be
November 16, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Reposted by Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust
postcards2025.bsky.social
Lichfield Canal
#photography #autumn #evening #lichfield
November 9, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Reposted by Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust
postcards2025.bsky.social
The canal seat
#AlphabetChallenge #WeekSforShadows
#patterns
#lichfield #PhotographersofBluesky #blackandwhitephotography #ClassicMono
November 9, 2025 at 6:30 PM
lhcrt.org.uk
One day, in the next few years, this will be the Lichfield Canal and will be full of water.

#UKCanals
postcards2025.bsky.social John @postcards2025.bsky.social · 19d
At the edge of the evening, at the edge of the road.
#lichfield #scape #photographersofbluesky #landscape
November 15, 2025 at 7:59 PM