The Basingstoke Canal Society is a registered charity and relies on donations to continue its work and many ongoing projects.
The free accessible and varied outdoor space right on our doorstep is valued by communities across Surrey and Hampshire. In recent years, we have all noticed the number of people enjoying the Canal as a place to improve their physical and mental wellbeing in nature, whether to exercise or simply enjoy the quiet spaces.
The Basingstoke Canal not only has a rich history but is an important nature site, with the classification of a Site of Special Scientific Interest from Natural England. There is also a strong desire to improve the Canal and help it develop as a leisure destination for individuals, clubs, families and nature enthusiasts to enjoy.
It is part of the mission of The Basingstoke Canal Society to ensure that the Canal remains navigable and accessible to all. Recently we have suffered from a dramatic drop in funding from County and Riparian councils, making it even more important to raise funds to maintain the Canal and prevent potential breaches which would impact the nearby communities. Our fundraising projects help to bridge the gap, providing the means by which we can continue to preserve the canal.
Current Project Details
Kitty II
We hope to have our new electric trip boat, Kitty II up and running for the 2025 Summer Season. Part of the funding for this project was provided through a grant of £75,000 from Your Fund Surrey. We at The Basingstoke Canal Society are very appreciative that such a programme exists to support community projects and initiatives.
The Basingstoke Canal Society would also like to thank the many individual contributors who have made acquiring our new boat possible.
The Shanley Foundation and the Syder Foundation awarded grants for our project, and many locally based businesses also supported our fundraising with corporate donations from Waitrose, Lansbury Estates, AECOM, The Ion Group, Tim and Liz Dodswell and SC Johnson. This is in addition to generous legacies from the estates of Joyce Keep and Peter Harman.
Brayzel Narrowboats are building the new Kitty trip boat, which will be based at Woking
At the same time as launching our new trip boat, we will install charging points to kick-start the electrification of the Basingstoke Canal. The work will include installing three charging points, one of which will be dedicated to Kitty and the other two open for public use. The Basingstoke Canal is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) so it’s particularly important to protect its environment with this new ‘greener’ trip boat and charging points for other boaters too.
The new electric Kitty will also be designed to be better adapted for wheelchair use and have better facilities for all users.
Dredging
Like many waterways, the Basingstoke Canal requires a regular programme of dredging to keep it navigable for boats. If we don’t regularly dredge the Canal then silt will build up and boats will become restricted from moving freely.
Regular dredging also allows for nature to flourish, which makes the Canal far more appealing for us all. We are planning to carry out spot dredging over winter 2025-26 where specific locations that we know silt up will be pinpointed.
Towpath Repairs
We recognise that many users of the Basingstoke Canal enjoy the freedom to walk, run or cycle along the Canal. They rely on well cared for towpaths to make this as easy and pleasant as possible. We prioritise areas where the canal path has fallen into disrepair to keep them accessible for as many local people as possible to enjoy.
Bank Repairs
Maintenance work is required to ensure that the structural integrity of the canal bank is maintained. There are many things that can cause the canal bank to need repair, many of which are natural, unavoidable and easily fixed with small remedial works in many cases. Repairs can provide benefits to those using the Canal in many ways (walking, running, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, navigating) in addition to animals, plants and fish that live in and along the canal.
