WILTS & BERKS CANAL TRUST

A charter boat trip that had been booked for 13 months took place at Beavans Bridge on the W&B Canal on Friday 17th. The evening weather was kind and the Engineers enjoyed a Trip on nb Dragonfly, a walk to Wichelstowe Canal and a BBQ provided by Vowley Farms - The Farmhouse Kitchen. Our guests were told about the work of the Trust and the Engineering tasks that are planned for section of the canal between Kingshill and Wichelstowe.

We are grateful to Den and Janice Feltham, passing-by photographers, who brought us print-outs of photos they had just taken, and these are shown.

Grateful thanks to the Engineers, their visitors, Vowley Farm Caterers and all the volunteers who made it such a lovely time in the evening sunshine.

For more information about Dragonfly  or if you would like to book a trip on, either our regular Sunday trips at 10.30, 12.00. 1.30, and 3.00 or book a charter with or without a BBQ please contact us here 

To book a BBQ with Vowley Farms see www.vowleyfarm.co.uk

The Wilts & Berks Canal Trust trip boat Dragonfly has been fitted with a lift enabling wheelchair access, thanks to the support of funders and the skills of the apprentices at MINI Plant Swindon. 

See Swindon Advertiser 17 April 2013

See full article in Link Magazine 14 April 2013  

Mike Lang, who coordinated the project on behalf of the Trust, said: "It was wonderful to work with the apprentices and to have all the facilities and equipment on hand to enable the installation – a task which was accomplished whilst at the same time as continuing with their training.

"We were pleased that at the same time MINI Plant Swindon allowed us to work on the boat whilst it was out of the water. We arranged for the propeller, propeller shaft and stern gland to be replaced whilst volunteers from the boat team and the Swindon work party cleaned and reblacked the hull."

Dragonfly is back in the water at KIngshill, and wheelchair users can now enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the canal

See full details about our boats and the Kingshill trip schedule

Dragonfly back from MINI Plant Swindon 22 March 2013

		Thank you to everyone who has helped in any way with the project to make Dragonfly wheelchair accessible. A special Thank You to the Apprentices and their managers at MINI Plant Swindon.
The event marking the installation of the wheelchair lift took place  on Friday April 12th on the canal at Kingshill.
		Dragonfly Trips begin  Sunday 31st March, then every Sunday 10.30,12.00, 13.30 & 15.00

Dragonfly taken to MINI Plant Swindon 8^th January 2013

Early January 2013. Dragonfly was lifted out of the canal and taken to  BMW Plant Swindon

nb Dragonfly returns to Kingshill after being fitted with a wheelchair lift

Dragonfly is available each Sunday at the following  times

10.30, 12.00, 13.30 & 15.00 each day

Adults £5 and  Children Free

Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Dragonfly can only take 12 passengers so booking is recommended  for large parties

Dragonfly departs from Kingshill Swindon

Charters available

If you would like to take a longer  trip on the canal, we can help.

In case you missed this beautiful picture of Dragonfly

This photograph is by Sabine Coe and originally appeared in the Swindon Advertiser in November 2012

The Trust has again run trips on its narrowboat to try to find Santa along the Wilts & Berks Canal at Kingshill Swindon.  The trips were over the 8 weekend days in December, 4 trips per day. We were fully booked by early December.

The boat was decorated and our guests enjoyed mulled wine & mince pies for the adults , squash and sweets for the children. The task was for the children to spot Santa who then got on board laden with presents for them. A total of 351 people joined us.

During the period there were 2 charter trips, one for a 40th Birthday celebration and on another occasion, singers from the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, enjoyed a company outing. We also ran successful trips on Boxing Day.

Proceeds were in aid of the Trust but more important many children, parents and grandparents now know about the Canal and the Trust in Swindon.

We would like to thank all of our volunteers who worked so hard in order that we were able to run 29 Santa Trips plus 2 charters during December.  It is difficult to name those who helped or even the list of tasks they performed as someone is bound to be missed out. So many thanks if you helped and please pass this on to anyone who helped you but we were unaware of. We would like to thank all our suppliers, especially Muddy Waters for their books www.muddywaters.org.uk.

The photos that we have been sent by our passengers, showing happy faces, makes it all very worthwhile.

We also thank our passengers who joined us and those who were  kind enough to send us the following comments

"I would just like to say what a wonderful time we had yesterday on the santa trip,..... and what a lovely santa my children loved it. Can I be cheeky and ask where you got your mulled wine from it was the best I have ever had. I will be definately booking again THANKYOU ALL SO MUCH" HS

"CAN'T THANK YOU ALL ENOUGH FOR A MAGICAL TIME"

Just got back from our trip to see Santa, what a fantastic time we had, so glad we booked it and definitely one to put on the calendar for next year, thank you to everyone for a wonderful time, keep up the good work" SG

"Many thanks for yet another fantastic Santa boat trip.
We all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Father Christmas was fantastic with the children and their gifts were wonderful. "TC

"We had a lovely time, my daughter enjoyed it hugely, We will definitely be booking next year" VN

For details about the boats and the location see www.wbct.org.uk/boat-trips/schedule or visit our shop in Theatre Square Swindon. Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ,  

See the video made by Infinite8 Productions

On Saturday 20th October 2012 the members of the Trust were holding their Annual General Meeting in Bourton when the Swans, resident on the Kingshill section of canal, decided that they wished to make a point regarding the omission of the canal through the town centre.

No one had told the Swans that the submission date for comments to Forward Swindon had passed. So wanting to make a point "Mummy" swan together with  her cygnets set off to locate a new home. They walked out of the water, onto the grass, and then straight across Kingshill Road onto Canal Walk.

After a short time they settled adjacent to the back yard of the Falcon Public House (what a delightful spot when the canal is restored in the area).

And so a message to all Wild Life Lovers

Join the Canal Trust in lobbying Forward Swindon and the Council suggesting that the canal should be restored across Kingshill Road and along Canal Walk in order to join up with the North Wilts Canal from Cricklade at the proposed new Basin  south of the railway close to Fleet Street.

The advantages for the swans would be a safe, slow, interesting trip between Swindon and Cricklade.

At the same time this would encourage the canal boats to transit the area with the associated economic benefits to the town.

The  photos were supplied by Derek Wiggins one of the regular towpath walkers.

We are very grateful  to Derek for allowing us to use his  photos.

 Swindon Advertiser

23^rd October 2012