THANK HEAVENS FOR A VERY SPECIAL DAY

The heavens finally smiled on Avon Navigation Trust’s long-planned VIP event to celebrate a very special award for both Tewkesbury’s Avon Lock and the town.

Cancelled twice because of floods and then kiboshed by Covid, the flags were flying when the Lord-Lieutenant of Gloucestershire, Edward Gillespie OBE, unveiled National Transport Trust’s Red Wheel plaque, a heritage honour conferred way back in 2019.

The Lord-Lieutenant marked a double delight for the town, when he also officially cut the ribbon to launch the Trust’s new River Avon Welcome Centre (RAWC) during Tewkesbury’s water-borne BIG Weekend.

The William James, once permanently moored up river as the Stratford Waterways Information Centre, is now based at Tewkesbury and will tour the Avon to support river towns’ events. 

“The RAWC gives us the opportunity to promote the Avon and our towns, who are eager to banner the river to visitors and their communities,” says Trust (ANT) Chief Executive Clive Matthews.

The coveted Red Wheel is the National Transport Trust’s version of buildings’ blue heritage plaques and celebrates Avon Lock’s history, engineering and importance.

The lock, nominated for the award by former Lock Keeper Nicola Lancaster, forms the junction between the Warwickshire Avon and the River Severn.

There has been a lock there since King Charles I granted the charter in 1635, whereupon it was the gateway to attempt to extend the navigation to Coventry and then to a huge 20th century engineering project to restore navigation to Stratford-upon-Avon.

“It’s a historic site of engineering prowess, a once flourishing trade route and now welcomes thousands of visitors and boats every year,” adds Clive.

The VIP party also included Clive, Tewkesbury Town Mayor Cllr Simon Raywood, Vice President of the National Transport Trust  and ANT Patron Tony Hales CBE, plus ANT’s Chairman Jack Hegarty, Director Roger Clay, Deputy Chairman Michael Hodges and Volunteer and BIG Weekend Riverside Organiser Paul Cronin.

ANT & PADDLEBOARDERS PUSH THE BOAT OUT

Paddleboarders are (not literally) pushing the boat out to help to keep the Avon riverbanks litter free and tidy.

Members of Bonkers Activities Paddleboarding School and Avon Navigation Trust’s ANT youth squad are on a plastic and rubbish clearing mission.

As soon as the last lockdown allowed, Bonkers’ Kim Bonk, in partnership with the Trust, organised a big clean up of the Pershore reach.

In May, a flotilla will launch a clear-up of Evesham’s award-winning Abbey Park.

“Paddleboards are the perfect platform for litter picking. You can ram them right into the bushes and get to the litter you can’t reach from the bank or from bigger boats,” explains Kim.

The vanguard of volunteers are a mix of Bonkers’ customers and members of the Trust’s youth squad, whose duties include keeping the Avon tidy.

ANT Squad founder members include Thomas Welland and Kai Mellor, both 18. They have already enjoyed British Canoe Rescue Training, a First Aid Course and Paddlesport Instructor schooling.

“They are a real asset to the Squad and passionate about the river,” says Trust Chief Executive Clive Matthews, who launched the youth group.

“The aim was to get the younger generation interested in the future of the river, and Thomas and Kai lead by example.”

An even younger chap enthusiastically joined in on board ANT’s River Rescue boat during the Pershore litter pick.

Six-year-old Arty Barkley, Bonkers’ mini mascot, is an avid paddleboarder alongside mum Hannah.  

“He already has a good understanding of how important it is that we help to keep our waters clean,” Hannah reports.

“He is always spotting plastics on the river and so was over the moon to be able to ride on a boat and to be able help.”

The Trust invites clubs to adopt sections of the river https://www.avonnavigationtrust.org/environment/.

Bonkers has also notched up a first by adopting the Pershore reach as part of local authority Wychavon’s Adopt a Street anti litter campaign  

Bonkers is part of the national campaign https://planetpatrol.co/ and monitors and records all the litter collected to help with the long term strategies and prevention.

 Let me at that litter. Six-year-old Artey Barkley helped his mum Hannah on the big April Bonkers Paddleboard Club and ANT Squad spring clean in Pershore.

BIG RIVERSIDE SCHEME WILL  MAKE RIPPLES IN TOURISM, HERITAGE & YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES

Public feedback is being sought for a momentous project that will rescue Evesham’s iconic former lock-keeper’s house, boost tourism and create a new riverside Volunteer Activity Centre close to the heart of the town.

Avon Navigation Trust’s (ANT) innovative plan will include the launch of a new ANT youth squad and aims to bring boat hire back to the park.

It will also provide an outdoor education area and nature trail on the wildlife haven lock island, plus deliver paddlesport tuition and boat handling courses for all ages.    

Evesham Town Council has enthusiastically endorsed The Evesham Lock House Volunteer Activity Centre scheme, which it has put forward for funding from Wychavon District Council’s Community Legacy Grant scheme, fuelled by the  New Homes Bonus payments. 

“We will be in competition with other projects across Wychavon and the more feedback we get from the public, the greater our case will be,” says Councillor Sue Amor, Mayor of Evesham.

“The scheme ticks a lot of the items on the Town Plan wish list: making more use of our river; providing health and wellbeing benefits for all ages and improving the local economy by attracting visitors, as well as protecting a landmark building.”

Councillor Mark Goodge, Chairman of the Town Council’s New Homes Bonus Working Group, is urging people to go to https://eveshamlock.uk to have their say.

The Town Council will also distribute feedback leaflets at appropriate drop off points.

“Everyone on the panel agreed that this project, one of the best to come through the system since I started, has real potential to make a big difference,” adds Mark.

“My kids are already excited about being able to hire small boats and paddleboards on summer days.”

Wyre Piddle-based charity ANT, working in partnership with Stand Up Paddleboarding experts Bonkers Activities, has already turned the historic workboat Neptune into a unique mobile volunteering activity and teaching centre.

The 60-year-old vessel will be based at the island, where work is due to start this winter if the grant is approved.

“Wychavon will make a longterm dream happen with this amazing legacy funding,” says the Trust’s Recreation Project Development Manager, and Bonkers Activities co-owner, Alex Mellor.

The project will protect the famous landmark A-shaped former lock-keeper’s cottage on stilts, which is celebrated as a waterways’ icon.

Constructed in 1972 for £8,000, it was damaged and rendered unusable by two floods. 

“Renovating and repurposing the house as our centre for adult volunteering and the ANT youth squad will open up wide opportunities for people to learn new skills and make a big difference,” says ANT Chief Executive Clive Matthews.

“Using it as the Evesham base for paddlesports and small boat activity will also gift a new generation with the chance to enjoy the river and become involved with looking after our lovely waterway.

“To help make this vision a reality and add this great facility to the town, please visit the website and complete the short survey questions.”

New independent final level in the event of river user complaints

The Avon Navigation Trust (ANT) has joined The Waterways Ombudsman Scheme to give its river users an independent final third level for complaints.

Royal smiles and much more in the latest issue of Greswolde News, which we are delighted and pleased to produce. Click on the link to discover some of the latest projects and innovation around the West Midlands from Solihull's quality building contractor Greswolde Construction.

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