Birmingham Canal Navigations Society

24/03/2026

More positive feedback. Our enormous efforts are appreciated.

24/03/2026

Some great photos by Kev Maslin of our Icicle Cruise last weekend.

22/03/2026

Unmistakably a Kev Maslin photo even without the blue sky. As ever he has captured the essence of our joint event with Fund Britain’s Waterways. A really good turnout of boats cruising a little used waterway (Walsall Canal), celebrating that it has been re-opened after a massive chemical spill and drawing attention to the fact that our waterways are chronically under funded.

Some bright spark had this idea to set up a pre-cruise photo call at Moorcroft this morning. Nothing complicated, you know, just four boats across the width of the cut, four people and four banners. I'd have probably shot it from the bridge, but there was this enormous services pipe in the way.

So this is where the flying machine comes into its own in avoiding such obstacles. Everybody smiled (except for Tim), the boats behaved themselves, and the shot was in the bag. I hadn't accounted for a misty morn, but it didn't cause any problems.





Birmingham Canal Navigations Society
Fund Britain’s Waterways
Inland Waterways Association
Canal & River Trust

21/03/2026

A very nice newly painted deck board on Malus captured by Paul Scrutton. I do like the chilly style lettering albeit hopefully the temperature will be kind to all the boaters.
Malus is part of the joint BCNS/ Fund Britain’s Waterways Icicle Cruise which will see a flotilla of boats cruising the Walsall Canal to Walsall Town Arm today.

20/03/2026

All gathered ready for our Icicle cruise into Walsall town basin tomorrow. In partnership with Fund Britain's Waterways and Canal & River Trust

We hope to see you there.

15/03/2026

14/03/2026

BCN Society summer gathering of boats 22nd - 25th of May.
The BCNS invites you to our summer gathering of boats over the weekend of the 22nd to the 25th of May.
There is no charge to attend the event, which will coincide with the end of the May Explorer Cruise and the 24 hour BCN challenge.
All in all there should be in excess of 50 boats on the Titford canal.
During the weekend there will be boat trips, a real ale bar, a tombola, book stall and our annual duck race. There will also be a mobile hot food van on Sunday afternoon. As always this is a very informal event however due to insurance and CRT requirements anyone bringing a boat to the gathering is required to fill in the form linked below and return to Barrie Johnson as per instructions on the form.

We all hope to see you there.

The gathering takes place at Titford pump house, Oldbury B69 4NL

Boat entry form
https://bcnsociety.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Icicle-cruise-2026.pdf

18/12/2025

I have just received this card from the Atlas and Malus Heritage Boat group jointly representing the Society and Coombeswood Canal Trust. The original photo was taken by Francis Herne and then students at Halesowen college have worked their magic. What a great collaboration. Happy Christmas to everyone.

14/12/2025

The Society work party volunteers were out in force yesterday to ‘hit’ Bromford Stop. The island was cleared and the overhanging foliage was cut back to allow navigation through both channels.
A big thank you to everyone who gave up their time to make this happen.