Come rain or shine June is about to begin and surely that means it’s time for some waterside fun? Here are three ways to enjoy the Grand Union and nearby waterways, and welcome in the British summer this weekend.

Leicester Riverside Festival: 1st & 2nd June

Bede Park and Castle Gardens are a short walk from the city centre and will be hosting this family friendly festival at the weekend. For boating enthusiasts there’ll be plenty of colourful boats to look at, canoe demonstrations and boat trips. The rally of boats is organised in association with the IWA.

The live music will include a wide variety of artists and bands including a choir, a brass band, some soul and pop, reggae folk, Americana roots, acoustic artists and much more. There will also be an arts and craft street market, a children’s fun fair, and a selection of food stalls.

The best things in life are free, and so happily is the Leicester Riverside Festival!

Wendover Arm Trust Restoration Open Day: 2nd June

If that all sounds too busy for you and you’d rather get back to nature and revive the heritage of the waterways at the same time, then you will be very welcome at The Wendover Arm Trust Restoration Open Day.

Come along between 12:30pm and 4:00pm to see how the restoration is progressing. Volunteers will be continuing with the work and offering a guided tour of the site. Bring a picnic, or buy tea and cakes on site, and enjoy the stunning countryside that surrounds the Wendover Arm. It’s inspiring to see what the Trust have achieved here over the years.

This one is also a free day out but of course The Wendover Arm Trust would welcome any donations from visitors.

Join the Taskforce!

If you’d rather get involved, instead of watching others work why not get involved with the Canal and River Trust Towpath Taskforce? All over the canal system volunteers are clearing vegetation, painting lock gates or collecting litter; improving the waterways by working as part of a team.

Volunteering on the waterways can be fun and sociable. Find your nearest Towpath Taskforce here and see when their next event is.

Image credit: Wendover Arm Trust.

Peggy
www.narrowboatwife.com

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