Information Density: Canal & River Trust – Signal Evidence & AI Readability

[IMG: Two men in blue hi-vis and red lifejackets stand on the grass verge, leaning in with long rakes to scoop out weeds from the water.]
[H1] Nature is in crisis
Your canal is a lifelineDonate now
[H1] Nature is in crisis
Your canal is a lifelineDonate now
[H2] We're the UK's largest canal charity, looking after 2,000 miles of canals and rivers across England and Wales
Together, let's make sure they continue to be here for tomorrow and beyondLearn more about what we do
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[IMG: Illustration of a heron]

[H2] What are you looking for?
I'm interested in...boatingGo
[H2] Our impact
Our canals demand constant care and attention. With your help, we've achieved much since we became a charity in 2012.1000sitesrecognised for their value to nature, providing much-needed homes for wildlife704milesof waterways awarded Green Flag status, bringing nature into the heart of towns and cities2706listed buildingsrestored and kept in good repair by our team of expert heritage advisors and engineers
[H2] Volunteer with us
We're the charity protecting your canalsJoin our team
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[H2] Volunteer with us
We're the charity protecting your canalsJoin our team
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[H2] Get involved
A small action today will help look after canals for tomorrow. We can't do it without you
[H3] Towpath Taskforce
Volunteer with a local team
[H3] Donate
Protect the canals you love with a donation
[H3] Take action
Support our campaigns to help keep canals and rivers special
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[H2] Local to you
Show me places within...Explore your nearest canals and ways to enjoy them Find walks, activities and more within:
[IMG: illustration of two people walking along a towpath]
[H2] Local to you
Show me places within...Explore your nearest canals and ways to enjoy them Find walks, activities and more within:
[H2] Latest updates
Hear from the people making our work possible, find things to do near you and discover more about our waterways

[IMG: An illustration of people and nature enjoying the canal]
[H2] Donate
Our work is never done. As a charity we need you by our side more than ever. Support canals and rivers todayMonthlySingle£5£8£10Other amountYour £5 a month could help create canal-side water vole habitats to provide shelter for this endangered mammal, whose population has fallen by 95% since the 1970sDonate

[IMG: photo of a location on the canals]
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[H2] Stay connected
Sign up to our newsletter and discover how we protect canals and help nature thrive

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[H1] Volunteer

Canals need many hands to look after them. By volunteering with us, you can really make a difference.

[H2] Volunteer by water
Canals are a source of calm, connection and beauty, but they don’t look after themselves. They need your help.We offer a variety of roles for our volunteers, whether you can spare a few minutes or a few days. Every contribution counts, and you can truly make a meaningful impact in your community.

[H2] Volunteers' Week 2026
We're celebrating a record 12 months for volunteering across our 2,000 mile network, with a whopping 8,043 volunteers who have supported us. For the first time they have collectively donated over three quarters of a million hours. We want to say a massive thank you to all our volunteers, who play such an important role for us as a charity.

[H2]

[H2] The Big Help Out
We're a lead partner in the Big Help Out/Big Do taking place from 5 to 8 June. This year, in honour of Sir David Attenborough’s 100th birthday, the initiative is championing the call for people to take action for nature in what will be the UK’s biggest celebration of community.

Want to get involved?Want to start making a difference where you live, here's how you can get started

[H3] Why volunteer with us?
Our volunteers are here to tell you why they give their time, and what they're getting out of it.

Read the film transcriptCome and join us as a volunteer. It's a great way of meeting people, local communities, and exchanging friendships.One of the nicest things about volunteering, is the sense of camaraderie that you get, with other volunteers. It's not just a question of working in the outdoors, it's actually doing it alongside nice people.I love it, fresh air and exercise. We have a great time. There's no end of opportunities for all types of individuals.I think it just helps with my general health and wellbeing. It's a good way to relax, and it's a good way of giving something back to the community as well.The canals are a brilliant national resource, that if they're not maintained, then they're going to fall into disrepair and I think it's important to keep them for future generations.Without our volunteers, we can't keep the canals alive.

[H2] Search for opportunities
[H2] Join us today
[H3] Ways to volunteer
Check out all the different roles we offer
[IMG: Volunteers from Bank of America Merrill Lynch]
[H3] Ways to volunteer
Check out all the different roles we offer
[H3] Community volunteering
How to get involved if your community group wants to volunteer along the canal
[IMG: two men planting and volunteering by the canal in Nottingham]
[H3] Community volunteering
How to get involved if your community group wants to volunteer along the canal
[H3] #ActNowForCanals
Discover more ways you can help
[IMG: Smethwick Volunteers litter picking]
[H3] #ActNowForCanals
Discover more ways you can help
[H3] Meet our volunteers
Our wonderful volunteers each have their own journey to tell
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[H3] Meet our volunteers
Our wonderful volunteers each have their own journey to tell
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I’ve been really lucky to find a role which I find interesting, challenging, varied and rewardingPenny, volunteer

[H2] #volunteerbywater
We love hearing from our volunteers. Want to be featured on this page? Post your snaps and stories on Twitter and Instagram with the hashtag #volunteerbywater

[IMG: photo of a location on the canals]
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[H2] Stay connected
Sign up to our newsletter and discover how we protect canals and help nature thrive

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[H1] Donate to charity

We urgently need your donations to help us restore and maintain 2,000 miles of historic canals and rivers. As a charity, your support is vital to keep our network protected and alive with nature.
[IMG: An illustration of people and nature enjoying the canal]
[H2] Donate
We rely on charity donations to help protect canals and rivers. Please support us with a one-off or monthly giftMonthlySingle£5£8£10Other amountYour £10 a month will help us keep one of the largest heritage estates in the UK in good repair, including thousands of listed buildings and even scheduled ancient monumentsDonate

[H2] Donate in a way that suits you
Please donate today to support our work. You can donate online above. Alternatively, donate by phone or post.
[H3] Donate by phone
You can make a one-off donation or become a regular supporter by calling us on 03300021844. Our phone lines are open Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm.
[H3] Donate by post
Please print and complete our one-off donation form or our regular donation form (as appropriate) and return it to us at:Canal & River TrustBumpers WayBumpers FarmChippenhamSN14 6NG

[H2] How your donations to Canal & River Trust can make a difference
Our beloved 250-year-old network was once abandoned and fell into disrepair. With your help, we’ve been caring for 2,000 miles of canals and rivers since 2012.Canals are now used and loved more than ever by boaters, anglers, local communities, and wildlife, and that's thanks to our dedicated team, incredible volunteers, and the generosity of our supporters.But these waterways and surrounding historical structures are still fragile and vulnerable.The ongoing challenge of protecting them is ever-growing. A changing climate, rapidly rising costs, and the inexorable tests of time are all taking their toll.That’s why we urgently need your help.Your donations enable us to look after these blue and green corridors, provide community engagement projects, protect our heritage and nature, and mitigate threats to canals and rivers.

Donate today

[H2] How else can you support us?
Donations are key to help our valuable work, but there are other ways you can get involved and make a difference.

Become a FriendOur Friends give a small, regular donation every month to support us in our work. It’s quick to sign up and any monthly donation is appreciated
Fundraise your wayTackle a fundraising challenge whether you like to run, cycle, crochet or bake! We can help you make it happen
Dedicate a giftCelebrate the lives of your loved ones with a dedicated bench, plaque, or something more unique
Leave a gift in your WillFind out how to include a charity gift in your Will and know that your legacy will help support our vibrant waterways for future generations
Support our appealsWith your help, we can make our canals blue, green and better, and encourage nature back to our towns and cities

[H2] Need help?
If you are having difficulties donating, please call our Supporter Care Team on 0303 040 4040.

[H2] Donation FAQs
Is the Canal & River Trust a charity?The Canal & River Trust is a charity set up in 2012 to care for England and Wales' 200-year-old waterways, holding them in trust for the nation forever.How do I contact Canal & River Trust?You can contact us via phone (0303 040 4040), live chat, social media, email, or post. Head to our Contact Us page to find out more about the ways to get in touch.Who looks after canals?We’re the Canal & River Trust, a charity responsible for maintaining 2,000 miles of waterways in England and Wales. With your vital support, we’re responsible for the care and maintenance of canals and rivers, together with bridges, tunnels, aqueducts, docks and reservoirs, along with museums and archive collections. Find out more about us.Who funds the Canal & River Trust?Our much-loved canal network, which delivers so much benefit to people and for nature, relies on funding from multiple sources: government grants, boating licence and mooring fees, donations and fundraising, investment and property income, utilities and water development, third-party income from charitable activities, and more.How does Gift Aid work?Gift Aid is a scheme available for charitable organisations, meaning they can claim an additional 25p from HMRC for every £1 donated by a UK taxpayer. This means that Gift Aid can increase the value of every donation by 25%, so you can give extra to the causes you care about without costing you more.

[IMG: photo of a location on the canals]
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[H2] Stay connected
Sign up to our newsletter and discover how we protect canals and help nature thrive

[H1] Our canal & river network

Across England and Wales our 2,000 miles of canals and rivers flow through cities, past homes, alongside offices and out into glorious countryside, bringing wellbeing opportunities to millions.
Zoom in to the map to see more information about an area, including nearby facilities on and by the water. Or click 'View list' for a full list of our canals and rivers.

Map viewList view

[H3] Customer service facilities
Please let us know if there are any location or information errors on our interactive map by using our correction tool below.
Online map correction tool

[H2] Local to you
Show me places within...Explore your nearest canals and ways to enjoy them Find walks, activities and more within:
[H3] Places to visit
Find places to visit near you
[H3] Get the latest news from the towpath
Never miss out on the latest offers, news, events and ways you can support Canal & River Trust
[H3] Get your free guide to fun days out in your area
Looking for a perfect place to picnic, relax, think, run, walk your dog and more, all for free?
[H3] What are the benefits of canals and rivers?
Once the arteries of the industrial revolution, today our waterways are a network of hope

[H3] Open data
Are you interested in using some of the data we publish on our maps to create your own interactive maps and tools? Find out what data we publish on our open data portal.
Open data portal

[IMG: photo of a location on the canals]
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[H2] Stay connected
Sign up to our newsletter and discover how we protect canals and help nature thrive