Making Waves is the evocative title for a programme of events which will take place along the canal, spanning spring and summer 2015. 

Announcing Making Waves at this year’s Maesbury Canal Festival, Michael Limbrey, chairman of Montgomery Waterway Restoration Trust said: “Over the past few months we have gathered an energetic team from local canal organisations to put together a programme of events that will bring the Montgomery Canal in Wales to life.

“We will be showcasing the canal, its history, culture and opportunities along the whole length of the waterway in Wales. There will be boats of many different shapes and sizes and we are planning a variety of opportunities for the public to experience the canal. We have invited a number of boating groups to a special weekend of events on 4/5 July 2015, and are delighted with their enthusiasm for coming to join us. 

“The canal in Wales has not seen much use in recent years so our event will reawaken interest and stimulate activity along the canal. In the run-up to our event we are seeing a concerted effort by the Canal & River Trust and volunteers to ensure that the canal is in a good condition.

“Making Waves has received an enthusiastic response from the Canal & River Trust and the local authorities which represent the communities that live along and benefit from the canal,” he added. 

Making Waves is supported by the Montgomery Waterway Restoration Trust, the Friends of the Montgomery Canal, and the Inland Waterways Association’s Shrewsbury, District & North Wales branch.  Discussions are in progress with other potential supporters and it is hoped they will be joining the event: details will be announced in due course.

 Details of Making Waves events will be announced on the website MakingWaves2015.co.uk, and those interested can also follow on Twitter @MakingWaves2015.

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The Montgomery Canal runs from Frankton Junction near Ellesmere, through Welshpool to Newtown. It was closed after a burst bank in 1936. Restoration started in 1969 and since then hundreds of volunteers of Shropshire Union Canal Society and the Inland Waterways Association’s Waterway Recovery Group have spent thousands of days working to restore locks, bridges and weirs on the canal. 

The Montgomery Waterway Restoration Trust - a registered charity - was formed in 1980 to promote the restoration of the canal. Members include Shropshire Council, Powys County Council, Shropshire and Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trusts, the Inland Waterways Association, Waterway Recovery Group and Shropshire Union Canal Society.

The Friends of the Montgomery Canal is the membership section of the Trust. The Trust is part of the Montgomery Canal Partnership which includes the Canal & River Trust (which owns the canal), Shropshire Council, Powys County Council, Shropshire and Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trusts, Severn Rivers Trust, Natural Resources Wales, Natural England, English Heritage, Cadw, the Inland Waterways Association and Shropshire Union Canal Society.