About the Society
In December 1993 Mr. Paul Turner headed up a steering committee and, with the aid of a grant from Southern Derbyshire Training and Enterprise Council, launched and formed the Derby & Sandiacre Canal Company, followed shortly by the formation of the Derby & Sandiacre Canal Society. Soon after, The Derby & Sandiacre Canal Company registered as a charity and amended its title to The Derby & Sandiacre Canal Trust (registered charity number 1042227).
Mission Statement
The Trust and Society seek to:
Restore the former Derby Canal as a navigable through waterway, from the Erewash Canal at Sandiacre, to the Trent & Mersey Canal at Swarkestone via central Derby as close as possible to the original route, thereby creating a cruising ring and reconnecting the City of Derby to the national canal network.
Maximize the sustainable economic, job creation, environmental, tourism, quality of life, nature conservancy, leisure, heritage and educational benefits to the City of Derby, the Borough of Erewash, South Derbyshire and surrounding areas.
The Canal Trust's Directors together with the Management Committee and advisors have also sought to:-
- Preserve the line of the canal to ensure that the full route can be restored to create a full cruising ring with the Trent & Mersey and Erewash Canals, and to negotiate as many alternative lines as possible where the original route is blocked.
- Gather as much support for the scheme as possible, including landowners, developers and sporting/leisure/environmental groups for the mutual benefit of all parties.
- Obtain the active support and co-operation of the four local authorities and major statutory bodies and undertakings for the public benefit.
- Promote the Canal Society, thereby opening the restoration scheme to as many people as possible.
- Publicise and promote the restoration scheme and to undertake dialogue with the public generally and those living close to the line of the canal in particular, increasing awareness and addressing concerns.
About the Derby & Sandiacre Canal Society
The Derby & Sandiacre Canal Society was created in 1994 to support its parent body, the Derby & Sandiacre Canal Trust, in the restoration of the Derby Canal. It is accountable by annual audit and annual report to the membership.
The Society has over 1,600 members nationwide who pay an annual subscription, which is passed to the Trust.
The Society has an elected committee and a constitution. It holds committee and members' meetings once a month. It organises displays at shows and exhibitions, and annual road shows along the canal corridor to inform members of the public and to listen to their concerns. It produces a quarterly magazine, which is sent to every member.
The Society holds fund raising events such as boat rallies, barbecues and guided walks. It sells merchandising at events. It has produced a professionally made video on the Derby Canal with narration by actor David Suchet, a major supporter of the Derby Canal restoration.
Members are actively involved in restoration. Regular working parties are held and there is a maintenance team who look after areas of work already achieved.
Some major achievements so far:
- Full restoration of the historical Ullicker's Bridge (grade 2 listed) from dereliction.
- Full restoration of the historical Swarkestone Junction Bridge from dereliction.
- Recovery and profiling of 0.75 miles canal corridor at Borrowash.
- Recovery and near complete restoration of Borrowash Lock.
- Erection of 3 miles of fencing at Draycott.
- Planting of 15,000 tree saplings, creating new hedgerow at Draycott.
- Erection of interpretation panels along the whole length of canal.
- An extensive collection of archive material.
- Purchase of construction plant and machinery.
- Nationally recognised training certification for volunteers operating excavators and dumpers.
- Health and Safety Policy and guidelines for volunteers.
- The training of a team of hedgelayers and chainsaw operators.
- The laying of a 200 year old hedge at Wilmorton.
The Society has raised its own funds for these projects.
The Society strongly believes that it has a responsibility to the public and fund holders, and funds given for restoration should be used only for those purposes. Expenses are very rarely given to volunteers, usually only in cases where the costs would cause personal hardship.
Plant, machinery, materials and protective clothing are obtained from local companies on loan or by donation. The Society has no employees and does not have an office. However, it is the Society's aim to have an accessible base for the public to visit and to encourage employment through restoration. A very supportive farmer allows us to use secure storage space for equipment.
The Society has a policy of 'Open Access and Inclusion'. It strongly believes that the canal belongs to the 400,000 people who live and work along the 12.5 mile corridor. It also firmly believes that the restoration work itself is of enormous benefit to the local community. The reconstruction offers opportunities to local groups, for instance:
- Students with severe physical and learning difficulties were asked to plant 15,000 saplings. They did so very successfully and gained the Peak Award through a Derby College. We now have a wonderful hedgerow. These youngsters would never have had the opportunity of work experience anywhere else because of the severity of their disabilities. They were good and we want them back.
- Teams of people on Community Service orders via the Probation Service, these teams have done rubbish clearance and tree planting for us in Spondon, Draycott and Wilmorton, this contributes enourmously to the work that we do.
The Canal Society's live projects are:
- The restoration of the 200 year old hedgerow.
- Finishing Borrowash Bottom Lock.
Supported by Derby & Derbyshire Economic Partnership