Will you help us weather the storm?

With winter storms closing in, and after the driest summer since 1976, our canals face a perfect storm of extreme weather, expensive repairs and shrinking government support.

Protecting our network has never been tougher and without your help, the impact could be devastating.

Our much-loved network of canals and rivers is fragile and ageing, which brings challenges all year round. We're fighting to keep it safe and open – not just for people, but for the hundreds of wildlife species that call them home.

We urgently need your support to power our teams as they protect canals and prepare for the worst of the weather yet to come.

Please donate today to help our waterways hold strong this winter.

Last year’s response

Emergency repairs alone cost us £10m last winter after eight named storms. Many of our canals suffered collapsed walls, landslips, fallen trees and widespread flooding.

Storm Bert brought high winds and torrential rain that left boats adrift and caused severe flooding. Shortly after, Storm Darragh triggered a rare Red Weather Warning from the Met Office and felled over 400 trees across the network.

Our teams were always there to clear up the damage, and with your help today, they’ll be ready to respond again.

Our recovery works included restoring a 100m section of the Grand Union Canal near Leicester, where continuous storms removed part of the canal wall and towpath. Our teams restored the canal and reinforced it with new steel piling, making it safe for the public and more resilient to future storms.

The damage to canals and the impact this had on wildlife was devastating, but your support allowed us to work around the clock to remove debris, reduce flooding and reinforce damaged towpaths.

Help us to react, repair and restore

Every storm that passes without lasting damage is thanks to work most people will never see. We reinforce lock gates, keep teams on standby, and maintain a constant, relentless effort to make sure the system stays strong. This hidden work relies on your visible support.

By donating today, you're not just making sure teams are ready when needed – you're helping protect the banks, the locks, and every one of the 2,000 miles we look after. With your help, our staff and volunteers can safeguard our canals and rivers today, and for generations to come.

Together we can weather any storm.

Before and after images of the damages caused by winter storms to the Grand Union Canal near Leicester.