Shroppie Fly Paper - December 2025 The Newsletter of the Shrewsbury District & North Wales Branch
Hello, and welcome to Shroppie Fly Paper It’s our end-of-year round-up issue, in which we visit IWA’s newly-launched Risk Index, bring greater clarity to Trevor Basin and Nantwich Embankment, and take a walk on the Monty’s wild side from Garthmyl to Dolfor. There’s lots more as well, so we hope you enjoy the read. All of us on the Branch Steering Team would like to wish you the best possible Christmas and a Happy New Year. Thank you for your support.
IWA Introduces The Risk Index Early November saw a major milestone in IWA’s campaign to champion Britain’s canals and rivers to the larger world. The Guardian newspaper gave exclusive coverage to the launch of The Risk Index – IWA’s new nationwide map revealing that no part of the 5,000-mile navigable network will escape increased winter rainfall and summer drought. This year’s closures and breaches are already showing how vulnerable our waterways are after decades of underfunding.
[Bridgewater Canal Breach. Credit @TaylorsAboardANarrowboat] Our research reveals that 75% of Britain’s waterways face financial insecurity, while 99% are likely to experience heavier winter rainfall and more frequent droughts in the coming decades. These factors threaten not just navigation and heritage, but also wildlife, tourism, and the communities and businesses that rely on these blue-green corridors. Yet, behind the headlines, there’s a positive story to tell. The Risk Index gives waterways campaigners, and government, a clear picture of where the problems lie. It is the first step toward a national plan to safeguard the waterways that cool our cities, connect wildlife, and simply bring happiness to users.