What do the waterways mean to you? That's a question being asked in a campaign by the Inland Waterways Association. The IWA says there are about 5000 miles of navigable waterways in the UK, and there must be 5000 reasons why they should be preserved. In this episode, we hear from Tiffany Gale-Haynes tells us about an epic cycle ride she completed from Oxfordshire to Manchester, during which she spoke to dozens of people about why the waterways are special to them. And Charlie Norman from the IWA talks about the challenges facing the network, including funding shortages, water shortages, and climate change -- and what can be done to address them.

The Water Road is produced and presented by Adam Porter.

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Being a lock keeper on the River Thames must be one of the best jobs out there -- but there's more to it than meets the eye. In this episode of The Water Road, the man who looks after Abingdon Lock tells us about what his job entails, how he ensures boats get through as efficiently as possible, and how he's responsible for controlling the water level on his part of the river. Plus we find out about the pygmy goats which live in the lock cottage garden, and hear from a man who's just retired from a 40 year career on the River Thames.

The Water Road is produced and presented by Adam Porter.

If you're enjoying the series, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi.

In this episode we visit the workshop of Will Howard, a builder and restorer of traditional Thames wooden boats. We're talking skiffs, dinghies, and canoes, and find out how much work it takes to restore boats which can date back to 1900.

The Water Road is produced and presented by Adam Porter.

To see what Will's boats look like, check out his website -- or look him up on Instagram where he's @w.howardboatbuilder

We have reached the most southerly point of the connected network, Godalming Wharf on the River Wey in Surrey, and in this episode we'll work our way back to the River Thames. Along the river we hear about watersports training from Roar Outdoor who have bases in Godalming and Guildford; and we call in to the Byfleet Boat Club to hear about the history of the Wey Navigation and the background of the club itself.

The Water Road is produced and presented by Adam Porter.

If you're enjoying the series, please consider supporting me via Ko-fi.

In this extra episode of The Water Road, we hear about Caring for Carers -- a project which is planning to put a barge in a disused part of Paddington Basin, to act as a decompression space for the hard-working staff at the Emergency Department of St Mary's Hospital. St Mary's is one of London's four major trauma centres, and around 160 staff are on duty at any one time. The barge will help staff recover after demanding shifts, process the impact of traumatic experiences, and protect their own wellbeing. We hear from the Emergency Medicine Consultant, Dr Barbara Cleaver, and Nicolas Kent, a theatre producer who's been helping with fundraising. For more information or to make a donation, visit their website: https://www.caringforcarerstrust.co.uk/

The Water Road is produced and presented by Adam Porter.

We're in London, moored in Paddington Basin and exploring the history of the area and nearby Little Venice. We chat to Julian Futter and Robert Bruce from the Paddington Waterways and Maida Vale Society about the area's history, how Little Venice got its name, and how it developed into the upmarket haven it is today. Find out about the importance of pubs, the proliferation of daries, and why there are so many Welsh people in the area.

The Water Road is produced and presented by Adam Porter.

If you're enjoying the podcast, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi.

On our journey south on the Grand Union Canal we've reached Rickmansworth in Hertfordshire. Next to Batchworth Lock is the Rickmansworth Waterways Trust, and we'll find out about their work in promoting the waterways and educating people about how they work and how important they are. We'll also hear about the Trust's historic wooden narrowboat, Roger, and how a whole family lived in its tiny back cabin.

For more information about the Rickmansworth Waterways Trust, visit their website.

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The Water Road is produced and presented by Adam Porter.

The Aylesbury Arm, which branches off the Grand Union main line, is only just over six miles long but it's packed with interest. It starts at Marsworth Junction with the only staircase locks on the southern section of the GU, and it has sixteen locks in all. The Aylesbury Canal Society has spent decades promoting the arm and giving people a reason to head down it. In this episode we find out about the history of the society, and hear about the facilities at its base, Circus Field Basin, which incudes one of the best wet docks around, a dry dock, boaters' facilities, and a conference room.

The Water Road is produced and presented by Adam Porter.

If you like what you're hearing, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi.