A major event within the waterways world is the transition of
British Waterways into the third sector. A real example of the ‘Big Society’
restoring this National treasure into the custody of the Nation. A joint
conference had been orgainsed by the Inland Waterways Association and the
emerging Canal and River Trust. Invitations had been extended to waterways
organisations. The canal side was brought to life on a cold February morning by
over 150 waterways interested enthusiasts. We had been asked to provide an
‘image’ and a short paragraph explaining what that image meant to us (see image and text below). The
photographs were proudly displayed around the conference centre and
demonstrated decades of fighting – either nature or beaucroacy - to restore the
waterways.
The start of a highly organized day commenced with the workshops
breaking out to study the photographs and choose one image. I was struck by the
fact that a lot were of structures some brought to life by people but very few
featured a boat!” The intensity of the day did not slacken but whilst we all
came from a different start point we all shared a common destination – the
recognition and importance of the waterways – but people are at its heart.
The day was summed up by Lynne Berry, a transitional trustee of
the new charity. -“The canals were at the heart of the Industrial Revolution
and now they are at the start of a Social Revolution” When I get home and my
family ask “what have you done to-day?”
I will be able to tell “We had a cup of tea, we nattered and we started
a revolution.”
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| More Than Just a Boat - this is the image and text (below) that we shared and discussed at the conference |
More than just a boat
The waterways corridor is the gateway and the boat
the key that unlocks the door allowing a variety of people to enter into a world,
which has always been there - but they have never experienced.
The pace of the journey introduces the individual
to landscapes, vegetation, wildlife, heritage, architecture and creativity
whilst enabling communication with each other and nature.
It is used as a means to improve interaction
between generations, cultures and communities acting as a catalyst for personal
development.
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