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The view from our dumper while being filled with concrete.

Look past the bridge and our mini digger - you can just make out volunteers in the distance.

After around 22 months working on this phase, the finish line for this section is finally in sight.

#Lichfield #UKCanals #WeDigCanals
View from the driver's position of a yellow dumper filled with wet concrete. In the foreground is the steering wheel, while ahead a raised white lift bridge spans the canal route. Beyond the bridge, a muddy construction track leads into the distance, with two orange diggers visible as work continues on this section of the canal restoration project under a clear blue sky.
October 26, 2026 at 8:16 AM
lhcrt.org.uk
Braving the rain, our Green & Grounds and DofE volunteers spent Saturday replanting shrubs along the boundary at Darnford Moors.

A welcome change from cutting back vegetation and the soft ground made planting much easier.

Thanks to all who came along in the rain!

#WeDigCanals #Lichfield #UKCanals
Volunteers in high-visibility clothing plant new shrubs along the boundary fence at Darnford Moors Ecology Park on a wet and windy day, with softened ground making planting easier. DofE and Green & Grounds volunteers dig up hedging plants from the nursery, ready for replanting along the boundary at Darnford Moors Ecology Park during rainy weather. Volunteer planting a new shrub along the boundary fence at Darnford Moors Ecology Park, with protective tree guards ready to be installed. Volunteer working in wet conditions to prepare the ground for shrub planting at Darnford Moors Ecology Park, surrounded by newly planted saplings and tree guards.
October 25, 2026 at 8:03 AM
lhcrt.org.uk
Lovely article about us in @social.newcivilengineer.com

Have a read 👀

#Lichfield #WeDigCanals #UKCanals

www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/lichf...
Lichfield & Hatherton canal restoration requires jacked culverts beneath A38 and railway | New Civil Engineer
Founded in 1988, the Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust (LHCRT) is working to reopen the seven-mile Lichfield Canal, between Huddlesford
www.newcivilengineer.com
October 23, 2026 at 10:36 AM
lhcrt.org.uk
On Thursday, seven volunteers from Aggreko Cannock joined us at Gallows Reach. They worked really hard and removed old rotten fencing, cleared the ground, and installed 24 metres of scaffold safety fencing.

A big thank you to the team for their hard work!

#Lichfield #UKCanals ##WeDigCanals
Seven volunteers from Aggreko Cannock pose for a group photograph on Buck's Bridge at Gallows Reach after a day's volunteering, which included fencing and site clearance work. Volunteers install scaffold safety fencing alongside the canal at Gallows Reach, positioning and securing the handrail after clearing vegetation from the bank. Two volunteers in high-visibility vests install scaffold safety fencing at Gallows Reach, using a spirit level to position a fence post among cleared vegetation beside the canal. Partially completed scaffold safety fencing lines the canal bank at Gallows Reach, while volunteers inspect the completed work beside the restored canal channel.
October 23, 2026 at 7:25 AM
lhcrt.org.uk
Another week at Gallows Reach and another base pad dug out and concrete cast. 🥳

#Lichfield #UKCanals #WeDigCanals

And...
A canal restoration excavation showing newly prepared reinforcement mesh and shuttering for a concrete base slab. Muddy ground and construction equipment, including a wheelbarrow and ladder, sit within the channel. Temporary fencing lines the left side, while steel sheet piling and overhanging trees border the right. A partially constructed canal channel with fresh concrete base sections visible in the distance. Deep muddy excavator tracks run along the centre of the excavation, with temporary fencing on the left and steel sheet piling supporting the bank on the right. Fallen red leaves are scattered across the site beneath mature trees.
October 22, 2026 at 6:54 AM
lhcrt.org.uk
... The team has also backfilled and graded the sides, over the route of the surface water drainage from the adjacent garages and car park.

It's now ready for nature to take the area over again and create its unique green 'carpet' next spring.

#Lichfield #UKCanals #WeDigCanals
The excavated material along the canal restoration site has been spread, levelled and graded to create the canal bank profile. Temporary fencing lines the site boundary, with the canal channel and surrounding trees visible in the background. Excavated soil beside the new canal channel has been levelled and graded to form the future canal bank. Concrete channel linings and newly constructed canal base sections are visible alongside the reshaped earthworks.
October 22, 2026 at 6:54 AM
lhcrt.org.uk
Check out the latest video update from Narrowboat Nige with news from Gallows Reach, Darnford Moors Ecology Park and more too!

#Lichfield #WeDigCanals #UKCanals

youtu.be/lkXv5N1qkOk
Lichfield Canal - More Production Weekly
YouTube video by Narrowboat Nige!
youtu.be
October 20, 2026 at 6:23 AM
lhcrt.org.uk
Another task at Gallows Wharf last week: a new handrail for the steps up to London Road.

With the steps now extended, the old rail was too short, so our volunteers got to work on a replacement.

We'll have to wait a little longer before it'll be open to use.

#Lichfield #WeDigCanals #UKCanals
Volunteers install a new metal handrail alongside the newly extended brick steps leading up to London Road at Gallows Wharf. Wearing hard hats and high-visibility clothing, the team work beside the canal and lock, with the bridge visible in the background.
October 19, 2026 at 7:06 AM
lhcrt.org.uk
Yesterday our green team was at Darnford Moors Ecology Park with six Green and grounds team members plus eight DofEs.

They finished the tidy up of the canal banks and cleared weeds from around the old lock and...

#Lichfield #WeDigCanals #UKCanals
Smiling volunteer in a high-visibility vest operates a flail mower while clearing overgrown vegetation beside a path. Open green space, hedgerows and a clear blue sky form the background. Volunteer in safety gear uses a brush cutter to trim overgrown vegetation along a fence line beside open grassland. Trees, sports goals and a clear blue sky can be seen in the background. Volunteer wearing high-visibility clothing, helmet, ear defenders and face shield uses a strimmer to clear undergrowth and leaf litter in a wooded area. Sunlight filters through the trees, illuminating the path and surrounding vegetation. Volunteer wearing high-visibility safety gear, helmet, ear defenders and face shield uses a brush cutter to clear vegetation from the bank of a canal on a sunny day. Trees, open grassland and calm water are visible in the background.
October 18, 2026 at 6:49 AM
lhcrt.org.uk
At Darnford Moors, another task was to build over the inlet pipes from Darnford Brook. These will take take the overflow from the brook during times of flood. (As we saw recently!)

One of the many benefits of canals is their ability to help with flood attenuation.

#Lichfield #UKCanals #WeDigCanals
Construction volunteer wearing a blue hard hat and high-visibility jacket stands with a broom beside a newly built concrete block wall at a construction site, with exposed earth, building materials, and a wooden fence in the background beneath a clear blue sky.
October 17, 2026 at 10:14 AM
lhcrt.org.uk
Catch up with the naming of the lift bridge at Gallows Reach - now known as Buck's Bridge after designer, and former trustee, Peter Buck.

#WeDigCanals #Lichfield #UKCanals

youtu.be/Thwe4DWKVJY?...
Lift Bridge Naming Ceremony
YouTube video by Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust
youtu.be
October 16, 2026 at 8:09 PM
lhcrt.org.uk
A huge thank you to the six volunteers from the Tara Group who spent Thursday afternoon at Borrowcop Locks Canal Park.

The team worked tirelessly clearing around and inside the lock, cutting grass, trimming hedges, and clearing the washway. 🙏

#UKCanals #WeDigCanals #Lichfield
Six volunteers wearing high-visibility vests and Wellington boots pose together outdoors after a canal restoration work session. Several wear Noel Sweeney Foundation clothing, and one volunteer holds a pitchfork in front of a shed and trees under an overcast sky. Two volunteers wearing high-visibility vests and Wellington boots stand in a shallow canal lock, clearing vegetation and debris with shovels. A ladder extends into the lock, surrounded by brick walls, overgrown plants, and still water. Volunteer wearing protective helmet, ear defenders, visor, and a high-visibility vest uses a strimmer to cut overgrown grass and weeds along the edge of a canal. Freshly cut vegetation covers the area beside the water. Volunteer in a high-visibility vest clears cut vegetation and branches from a canal-side area beside a metal footbridge. Dense foliage surrounds the site as restoration and maintenance work is carried out along the waterway.
October 16, 2026 at 9:33 AM
lhcrt.org.uk
At Gallows Reach, the team is back to casting full-width pads, having got past the missing reinforced wall section...

#UKCanals #WeDigCanals #Lichfield
Reinforcement steel mesh positioned and ready for concrete pouring within a narrow excavated canal construction area. The site is enclosed by retaining walls and temporary fencing, with excavator tracks in the foreground and mature trees lining the perimeter. Freshly poured concrete foundation slab within a narrow excavated canal construction site, bordered by retaining walls and temporary safety fencing. Earthmoving tracks are visible in the foreground, with trees and vegetation surrounding the site.
October 15, 2026 at 6:51 AM
lhcrt.org.uk
Over at Darnford Moors Ecology Park, the Stepoc wall on the east side is disappearing behind the brickwork. The team is working on the blue bricks at the moment, with the reclaimed bricks up next. 🧱

#WeDigCanals #UKCanals #Lichfield #Bricklaying
A long Stepoc wall at Darnford Moors Ecology Park is gradually being clad in decorative brickwork. Courses of red and blue engineering bricks can be seen along the lower section, while the upper wall remains exposed. Black pipe openings project from the wall at regular intervals, and timber supports line the construction area under a clear blue sky.
October 14, 2026 at 7:07 AM
lhcrt.org.uk
Our green and grounds and DofE volunteers have been busy at Darnford Moors Ecology Park.

They cleared vegetation, trimming hedges, and preparing for new saplings arriving this month. 🌱

#Lichfield #UKCanals #WeDigCanals
Green and Grounds and DofE volunteers preparing the nursery area, clearing weeds and readying planting spaces for new saplings at Darnford Moors Ecology Park. Volunteer in protective equipment using a long-reach hedge trimmer to cut back hedgerow vegetation beside a gravel path. Volunteer wearing high-visibility clothing and safety helmet clearing vegetation along the canal bank at Darnford Moors Ecology Park on a bright autumn day. Volunteer wearing a high-visibility vest, helmet and face protection uses a brush cutter to clear vegetation along the canal bank at Darnford Moors Ecology Park, while another volunteer works further along the towpath under cloudy autumn skies.
October 11, 2026 at 6:38 AM
lhcrt.org.uk
At Gallows Reach, the focus was back on the concrete pads this week.

The team also completed a 'rough cut', removing several hundred tonnes of spoil for future base pads. They also need to dig out up to the bridge in order to set out for the surrounding brickwork.

#WeDigCanals #UKCanals #Lichfield
Reinforcement mesh and groundwork prepared for a concrete pad, with excavation continuing towards the bridge for upcoming brickwork installation. Freshly poured concrete base pad within a retained excavation, with steel piling on one side and a muddy access route running alongside. Excavation area following a rough cut, showing spoil removed along the length of the site and workers preparing the ground for future construction.
October 8, 2026 at 8:13 AM
lhcrt.org.uk
Previously at Gallows Reach...

What do you think we'll achieve this week?

#Lichfield #UKCanals #WeDigCanals
Three people wearing blue safety helmets, high-visibility yellow vests and work gloves stand in a construction site next to a large mound of excavated soil. A wheelbarrow and wooden boards are visible in the foreground, with shovels leaning against a retaining wall. Temporary metal safety fencing surrounds the site, and trees and greenery form the background. The ground is muddy, suggesting ongoing excavation or landscaping work.
October 6, 2026 at 7:19 AM
lhcrt.org.uk
For now, it’s a digger in the foreground, but look beyond the bucket… 👀

There’s the lift bridge in the frame, waiting patiently, as another piece of the canal takes shape.

One day, boats will pass through here. For now, we dig. ☺️

#Lichfield #WeDigCanals #UKCanals
Orange excavator digging and grading red soil beside a concrete retaining wall on a fenced construction site. The excavator bucket is cutting into the earth, with a large mound of excavated soil in the foreground. In the distance, a white lift bridge is neatly framed within the curve of the excavator arm, creating a striking focal point. Trees line the left side of the site, while temporary metal safety fencing runs along the right. Construction materials and equipment are positioned beside the wall under an overcast sky.
October 3, 2026 at 12:52 PM
lhcrt.org.uk
A welcome return from Natalie at Nationwide on Tuesday, volunteering through their CSR scheme.

She joined our regular volunteers and helped ready another base for concreting and saw the big strides since her last visit.

#Lichfield #UKCanals #WeDigCanals
Workers in high‑visibility clothing and helmets stand around a rectangular rebar frame set into an excavated area. The steel grid is supported on small blocks, ready for concreting. Temporary fencing and a brick retaining wall marked “18” sit behind the team. Several workers in safety gear prepare a concrete foundation. One kneels to adjust rebar inside a wooden frame while others inspect the structure. An excavator and tools sit in the background, with temporary fencing around the freshly dug site. A worker in a high‑visibility jacket stands over a rectangular rebar grid framed with timber, checking the reinforcement before concreting. The area is enclosed by metal fencing, with a corrugated retaining wall on one side and trees and construction materials behind.
September 30, 2026 at 9:40 AM
lhcrt.org.uk
Here's a sight you won't see every day!

Our 14-tonne excavator making its way under the liftbridge. Not something you see on your average canal towpath! 😄

#UKCanals #Lichfield #WeDigCanals
A 14‑tonne orange excavator is positioned on a gravel construction site, with its arm raised beneath a white liftbridge. A worker in high‑visibility orange clothing operates the machine while several other workers in safety gear stand nearby, guiding the manoeuvre. Temporary fencing surrounds the area under a bright blue sky.
September 28, 2026 at 6:19 AM
lhcrt.org.uk
The Green Team, led by Margaret with John, Jane and a dozen DofE volunteers, had a busy morning yesterday.

They made great progress bund weeding and tidying along Tamworth Road, clearing undergrowth and smartening up the whole stretch...

#Lichfield #UKCanals #WeDigCanals
A group of volunteers in high‑visibility vests gather near a green metal structure, listening to instructions. Two strimmers lie on the ground in front of them. The scene is outdoors on a sunny day with trees and a fence in the background. Volunteers in bright yellow vests work along a grassy roadside, clearing vegetation. Cars pass on the adjacent road and a brown directional sign stands nearby. The sky is clear and blue. Three volunteers in high‑visibility vests work on a grassy verge, bending to clear vegetation. Dense green trees and a lamp post frame the sunny outdoor setting. Several volunteers in high‑visibility vests work along a dirt path, cutting back vegetation beside thick woodland. The weather is bright with a clear blue sky.
September 27, 2026 at 7:27 AM
lhcrt.org.uk
At Gallows Reach, as the inclement‑weather season draws near, the team is taking no chances - they’ve built another bund as a secondary line of defence at the second headwall.

Hopefully this means they can continue to cast concrete bases, without fear of flooding.

#Lichfield #UKCanals #WeDigCanals
A canal construction site set within a tree-lined area, showing a channel excavation between two reinforced concrete walls. The ground is covered with a grid of steel rebar ready for concrete pouring, and various tools and materials - including a wheelbarrow, buckets, bags of aggregate, and ladders - are scattered around. In the distance there are two bunds across the channel, made of sand bags. Soil banks and fencing surround the site, with trees visible beyond the perimeter.
September 26, 2026 at 6:50 AM
lhcrt.org.uk
Did you know you can read all our workparty blogs on the website? They're full of technical detail and progress from the teams on the ground.

Members see them first (about a month early) in Cut Both Ways, complete with all the photos.

lhcrt.org.uk/category/blo...

#Lichfield #UKCanals #WeDigCanals
Construction volunteers in high‑vis vests and hard hats level freshly poured concrete over a rebar base. They use long‑handled tools inside a fenced work area, with trees and a brick wall in the background.
September 26, 2026 at 9:32 AM
lhcrt.org.uk
Great progress at Darnford Moors Ecolgy Park this week - they backfilled the towpath wall with concrete, and started filling the offside blocks too.

Brilliant teamwork!

#Lichfield #UKCanals #WeDigCanals
A partially built retaining wall made of grey concrete blocks runs along a towpath. A green cement mixer, wheelbarrow and a yellow construction vehicle sit in front of the wall. Wooden stakes mark the line of the wall, and behind it is a raised bank with vegetation, a wooden fence, and parked cars. A construction worker in a yellow hi‑vis suit and white hard hat stands beside a retaining wall made of concrete blocks. In the foreground are bags of building materials, cement bags, a wooden pallet and a green mixer or tank. Behind the wall is a grassy bank, a wooden fence and a red brick building. Several construction workers wearing hard hats and hi‑vis vests mix concrete at a worksite. A concrete mixer is in use, surrounded by stacks of concrete blocks, a yellow bucket and large green bags of aggregate. A partially built retaining wall and a sloped soil bank form the background. Two workers in hi‑vis vests and gloves pour and compact wet concrete into hollow concrete blocks reinforced with steel rebar. One worker uses a wooden rod to tamp the concrete. The close‑up shows the rebar grid and the wet concrete being placed.
September 25, 2026 at 7:03 AM
lhcrt.org.uk
At Gallows Reach, volunteers have had a productive couple of days.

They dug out for the next 5 m pad and concreted it, and then cleared the following 8 m section.

#UKCanals #Lichfield #WeDigCanals
A construction area with excavated ground between two concrete retaining walls. Steel reinforcement bars are laid out across the centre, ready for concreting. The soil shows fresh machinery tracks, and tools, buckets and materials are scattered around the site. Safety fencing runs along one side, with trees visible beyond the works. A freshly poured concrete slab sits between two retaining walls in an excavated section. An excavator bucket is visible to the right, with compacted soil and scattered bricks in the foreground. Construction materials and fencing line the edges, and trees frame the background. An excavated construction area with reddish soil and machinery tracks between two retaining walls. Several shovels lean against the left wall, which has “18” painted on it, and safety fencing runs along the top. Bags of materials, a wheelbarrow and trees sit in the background, with vertical reinforcement visible on the right side.
September 24, 2026 at 6:30 AM