Cromford Canal Restoration

Cromford Canal Restoration2024-10-11T15:30:28+01:00

Strategic Restoration – Beggarlee

After securing Planning Permission, we have been able to finally commence work on the extension of the navigable canal north from Langley Mill, through a staircase pair of locks, under the A610 and through to its original course at Stoney Lane, Brinsley.

You can download the press release here, and see an earlier outline video presentation here.

We’ve Started Work!

Click on the play button on the audio file to listen to a radio interview we recently had with BBC Radio Derby.

Click on the image to see the Beggarlee extension in full.

Beggarlee extension, Cromford Canal

Beggarlee Autumn 2024

Overview There has been no significant progress on the Beggarlee flood storage facility since the summer, the weather has not [...]

Beggarlee Summer 2024

WRG at Beggarlee July 2024 A group of eleven WRG (Waterway Recovery Group) volunteers came back to Beggarlee on [...]

Beggarlee Spring 2024

By John Guyler From the first Wednesday in January, the work parties have worked to clear the flood plain [...]

Beggarlee Winter 2023

By John Guyler Well, winter is upon us with a vengeance, and as I write it’s snowing – not [...]

Beggarlee Summer 2023

John Guyler reports . . . The second pre-work stage for the Beggarlee Extension took place over six days, from [...]

Beggarlee Autumn 2023

By FCC’s Honorary Water Engineer Chris Broome Finally, nearly three years on from obtaining detailed planning approval, we have [...]

Tactical Restoration – Working Parties

FCC work parties expend several thousand volunteer hours every year, normally every Wednesday and cover sections along the entire 14.5mile length of the Cromford Canal from Langley Mill on the Derbyshire / Nottinghamshire border to Cromford Wharf at Cromford.

Our Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/FriendCromCanal contains regular / weekly updates on what we’ve been up to, but to give you an idea our work includes:

  • clearing vegetation
  • removing rubbish & litter picking
  • clearing the channel of reeds and trees
  • clearing Himalayan Balsam
  • trimming overgrown hedging to providing views for bird watchers
  • repairing the towpath edges with coir rolls
  • footpath / towpath improvement work
  • maintenance of walls, repairing steps
  • maintaining the flow of water to the water meadows.

The FCC work under the direction of the DCC Rangers and C&RT Area Managers for the relevant sections, and also work with the Waterway Recovery Group (WRG) which is a national waterways volunteer group on a number of projects.

FCC supply safety glasses, Hi Viz tabard, work gloves and when required hard hats and water proof over-trousers. Volunteers are requested to wear suitable footwear ideally with toe caps and clothing for the weather conditions. Tools are provided, signing on at the start of every work party session, is a requirement.
If you feel you would like to join the FCC work parties, who are very friendly group, contact John Barker via the Contact Us page.

Work Party update October 2024

Work party report 2nd October 2024 All work parties were cancelled due to bad weather and potential flooding of the [...]