The Waterways Trust Green Fund

The Waterways Trust Green Fund has been set up in association with UK Boat Hire, specifically to invest in low carbon technologies and other environmental projects which will help mitigate the carbon emissions and environmental impact of managing the waterways.

Contributions to the fund will come initially from the donation by UK Boat Hire of a small percentage of the profits from each holiday booked with them. Holidaymakers are also being invited to offset the impact of their travel to and from their boat, by making an additional voluntary contribution to the fund.

The Green Fund is not open for general applications.

Improving the wellbeing of the waterways environment

Working with British Waterways and other partners, the Green Fund will enable us to develop a wide range of projects which will have a direct and positive effect on the environment of our inland waterways.

• Ecological Developments - the new fund will allow more projects such as soft banking to encourage water voles or the creation of 'houses' - bat boxes, kingfisher boxes and otter holts. Larger habitat monitoring projects will also improve canal habitats and provide an educational resource for local people.

• Water Treatment and Sustainable Urban Drainage - we will seek to develop projects such as the creation of reed beds to treat sewage effluent or contaminated water through natural filtration, also creating valuable habitat for a variety of native species. Sustainable urban drainage can be created in place of hard surfaces such as tarmac, allowing run-off (rain) to soak naturally through the land, providing protection from contaminants including oil from cars or dog faeces.

• Renewable Energy Sources - although some solar, wind, geothermal and micro-hydroelectric energy sources are already in operation on our waterways we would like to see more. The Green Fund will enable us to develop projects such as the installation of more geothermal heat pumps which are already used to provide heat and water to sanitary blocks in two locations on the network.

Greener Holidays

The development of The Waterways Trust Green Fund in association with UK Boat Hire underlines the fact that taking a narrowboat holiday doesn't 'cost' the earth.

In fact cruising the waterways is estimated to be some 20* times better for the planet than spending two hours flying for a holiday overseas.

Now not only can you enjoy one of 'greenest' holidays around but you will be giving something back at the same time, directly impacting on the environmental wellbeing of our waterways.

*Based on flying a family of four to an average European location compared to family of four taking an average hire boat holiday.