Montgomery Canal ‘coming alive’

Making Waves, a summer-long programme of events showcasing the Montgomery Canal, is under way with the goal of bringing the canal alive like never before.

Several successful Making Waves events have already taken place but organizers have released details of what’s to come.

Museum exhibition

Another Making Waves event is the current exhibition in the Powysland Museum, Welshpool, with a comprehensive display of boating artefacts, from lace plates and Measham teapots, to horse tack and examples of Roses and Castles painting. The exhibition also highlights the influence of geology on the building of canals, marking the 200th anniversary of the first geological map produced by William 'Strata' Smith, built on knowledge developed when working on the Somersetshire Coal Canal. The exhibition runs to April 28.

Boat trips

Making Waves also includes the first public trips being run at weekends by the Heulwen Trust, whose boats are busy throughout the week providing trips for the less able. The new arrangements include regular weekend trips and longer trips to Brithdir on selected weekends, all bookable through Welshpool Tourist Information Centre.  Trips have also started again on the George Watson Buck at Llanymynech.

Coming events include:

Montgomery Canal Triathlon (May 9): cycling, walking and canoeing the 35 miles from Newtown to Welsh Frankton in one day. The event will be started by Newtown Mayor Rina Clarke off Lower Canal Road (SY16 2AP) at 8.30am, and it is expected that CRT Chief Executive Richard Parry will be taking part in the final (canoe) section from Morton to the Weston Arm.

Making Waves with Canoes (May 17): canoe activities at Welshpool Town Wharf.

Flicks in the Sticks, Welshpool (June 8): a showing of The Bargee, a canal comedy classic with Harry H. Corbett, Ronnie Barker and Eric Sykes.

Making Waves with Coracles, Welshpool (June 27): Coracle racing, the Welshpool Coracle revived, coracle building and demonstrations.

Making Waves in Welshpool – The Welsh Waterway Festival (July 4/5): with visiting Wilderness, steam, electric and model boats, music and entertainments, demonstrations and activities, including walks organised by the local Ramblers, Wild Over Waterways activities for children and processions of decorated boats on Saturday afternoon and at twilight on Saturday evening.

The Montgomery Canal Forum, Welshpool (July 6): the annual public meeting to catch up with what is happening on the Montgomery Canal.

Michael Limbrey, Chairman of Making Waves, said: “The Montgomery Canal is coming alive this year with our Making Waves events showing what the canal brings to the borders of Montgomeryshire and Shropshire and what it promises for the future.

“One day boats will again be able to reach Welshpool from across the canal system, bringing a lively canal scene to the centre of the town.  Making Waves shows what that will be like.”

Up-to-date information about Making Waves can be found online at www.MakingWaves2015.co.uk and on Twitter @MakingWaves2015.

Making Waves is supported by the Montgomery Waterway Restoration Trust, the Friends of the Montgomery Canal, and the Inland Waterways Association’s Shrewsbury, District & North Wales branch.