Canal Life (Now and Future)

Send us Fan MailThe failure of the Whitchurch embankment offered sobering viewing for those on and off the canal. This episode responds to listeners’ concerns and questions and then reflects on the wider implication of incidents like these on the future of life on the canals. *Spoiler -it is not all doom and gloom!*Journal entry:6th January, Tuesday“Colder nightBut slightly milder dawnA few desultory snowflakes fallFlightless feathersWith no windUpon which to danceWill these small flakesEver get the chanceTo find the sea?”Episode Information:For a video diary of the Whitchurch Breach see Paul and Anthony’s Narrowboat Life Unlocked. For Prof Tim Wilson’s comment on canals in Britain, see The Sinkhole in Shropshire.I also refer to Skempton’s (1996) article on construction of early embankments and cuttings (railways), and the 2025 report by Whitfield Consulting Services.With special thanks to our lock-wheelersfor supporting this podcast.Susan WestAna McKellarSusan BakerMind ShamblesClare HollingsworthKevin B.Fleur and David McloughlinLois RaphaelTania YorgeyAndrea HansenChris HindsChris and Alan on NB Land of Green Ginger Captain Arlo Rebecca Russell Allison on the narrowboat Mukka Derek and Pauline Watts Anna V. Orange Cookie Mary Keane. Tony Rutherford. Arabella Holzapfel. Rory with MJ and Kayla. Narrowboat Precious Jet. Linda Reynolds Burkins. Richard Noble. Carol Ferguson. Tracie Thomas Mark and Tricia Stowe Madeleine SmithGeneral DetailsThe intro and the outro music is ‘Crying Cello’ by Oleksii_Kalyna (2024) licensed for free-use by Pixabay (189988).  Narrowboat engine recorded by 'James2nd' on the River Weaver, Cheshire. Uploaded to Freesound.org on 23rd June 2018. Creative Commons Licence.Piano and keyboard interludes composed and performed by Helen Ingram.All other audio recorded on site.Support the showBecome a 'Lock-Wheeler'Would you like to support this podcast by becoming a 'lock-wheeler' for Nighttime on Still Waters? Find out more: 'Lock-wheeling' for Nighttime on Still Waters.ContactFacebook at https://www.facebook.com/noswpodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/nighttimeonstillwaters/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/noswpod.bsky.socialMastodon: https://mastodon.world/@nosw  I would love to hear from you. You can email me at [email protected] or drop me a line by going to the nowspod website and using either the contact form or, if you prefer, record your message by clicking on the microphone icon. For more information about Nighttime on Still WatersYou can find more information and photographs about the podcasts and life aboard the Erica on our website at noswpod.com.