DONATE
BECOME A MEMBER
BOOK A BOAT TRIP
The Basingstoke Canal Society is a registered charity and your valued donations will help us fund vital works to maintain this beautiful and valued space for us all to continue to enjoy.
Your membership will make a difference. Become a member for as little as £15 per year. Your annual donation helps us continue our work and projects to maintain the Canal.
Enjoy the Canal from a different angle. Find out more and book your tickets online to experience the Basingstoke Canal at a peaceful pace from Woking or Odiham.
DONATE
The Basingstoke Canal Society is a registered charity and your valued donations will help us fund vital works to maintain this beautiful and valued space for us all to continue to enjoy.
BECOME A MEMBER
Your membership will make a difference. Become a member for as little as £15 per year. Your annual donation helps us continue our work and projects to maintain the Canal.
BOOK A BOAT TRIP
Enjoy the Canal from a different angle. Find out more and book your tickets online to experience the Basingstoke Canal at a peaceful pace from Woking or Odiham.
Discover the Basingstoke Canal
Volunteer with us
Join over 300 other volunteers, meet new people, make friends and support this beautiful green space.
Whether you'd like to be out in the fresh air or help more behind the scenes, check out our latest openings or get in touch to find out how you could help.
Visit our online shop
If you're looking for a gift for a loved one or even yourself, take a look in our online shop for useful publications, books, tea towels, jigsaws and more!
Even better, all sales provide vital funds for us to continue our work.
Latest news
Last 2 weeks! - 2027 Calendar Photo Competition
The entry deadline is fast approaching - Thursday 31 July 2026. Just 2 more weeks to dig out your best shots or capture something new.
👓What we’re looking for:
• Colour photographs
• Landscape format
• High resolution (suitable for A4 at 300dpi – roughly 1MB JPG)
There’s no limit to how many photos you can submit, but entries must be from amateur photographers.
📧 How to enter:
Email your photos to editor@basingstoke-canal.org.uk
(Please note: entries shared on social media can’t be included.)
Top tip:
Winning images often feature a clear focal point – perhaps a boat, a person or a moment that's connected to our 60th Anniversary. If people appear in your photo, please ensure you have their written permission if they are recognisable. And don’t forget – your image must have a connection to the Basingstoke Canal.
We’ve included a few previous winners to inspire you…
Good luck – we can’t wait to see your photos!
#basingstoke_canal_society #basingstokecanal
Councillor Dan Taylor had recently posted about children jumping into the canal from Norris Bridge, Fleet.
Once again we must remind everyone that Canal Bylaws strictly prohibit any swimming in the Basingstoke Canal.
The Basingstoke Canal Authority, who manage the canal on behalf of the two owning County Councils (Hampshire & Surrey) prohibits swimming for a number of specific reasons:-
Water Quality & Disease:
The water is untreated and non-flowing. It often carries pollutants, urban runoff, & possibly harmful Blue-Green Algae that cause skin rashes and severe stomach upset. It also harbors the risk of Weil's disease.
Hidden Hazards:
The bottom of the canal contains thick silt, discarded rubbish, and deep undergrowth that can trap a swimmer.
Operational Waters:
Canals are active waterways used by narrowboats and unpowered craft. Swimmers risk being struck by propellers or colliding with submerged structures like weirs and lock gates.
Cold Water Shock:
The deep, shaded waters of the canal can cause rapid drops in body temperature, leading to Cold Water Shock even on very hot days.
If anyone is seen swimming/jumping into the canal please call the Canal Authority Rangers on 01252 370073
#basingstokecanal #basingstoke_canal_society
#bcs60⚠️ Please don’t swim or jump into the Basingstoke Canal
☀️ With the hot weather, the Basingstoke Canal can look very tempting.
I had a friendly chat today with some very polite young people who were jumping from Pondtail's Norris Hill Road bridge into the canal.
The Basingstoke Canal byelaws specifically state that people must not bathe, swim or wade in the canal without reasonable excuse. Jumping from a bridge brings additional dangers, including uncertain depths, submerged objects, weeds, boats and poor water quality.
Sadly, there have been several recent deaths involving young people getting into difficulty in open water during the hot weather. I would urge parents to remind their children that even confident swimmers can quickly find themselves in danger.
Please enjoy our lovely canal, but stay safe and keep out of the water.
Official Basingstoke Canal byelaws:
documents.hants.gov.uk/ccbs/basingstoke-canal/1995SCCbylaws.pdf
Last few places available for Liz Dodwell's 60th anniversary talk on the John Pinkerton - My Mother Bought a Canal - 2pm July 17th. Bookings close tomorrow, 16th July at 10:00pm.
Tim and Liz Dodwell have been involved with the Basingstoke Canal ever since Liz’s mother, Joan Marshall, bought the canal at auction in 1949. Liz will share memories of her family’s involvement in saving and preserving the beautiful Basingstoke Canal.
For more information and to book your place, visit basingstoke-canal.org.uk/events/cruise-and-talk-my-mother-bought-a-canal-6j17l2/
#basingstoke_canal_society #basingstokecanal #bcs60
BCS Corporate Membership Launches!
As we celebrate our 60th year of supporting the canal and continue to promote the Canal as a navigation for boaters, a haven for wildlife (a Site of Special Scientific Interest), an amenity for recreation and well-being such as walking, running and cycling, we have just launched our Corporate Membership!
A scheme especially for businesses that want to support our charitable efforts.
The Canal Society has the Queen’s Award for Voluntary service and is fully run by volunteers who contribute over 30,000 hours of work each year.
To find out more about our new membership offering and how we will recognise the support provided by our corporate members, find out more on our website or email us at corporate-engagement@basingstoke-canal.org.uk.
Corporate Volunteer days are also available to book with our friendly volunteers. What better way to connect with colleagues, build team spirit and get outside in the fresh air for charity?
To find out more click about these opportunities click here - basingstoke-canal.org.uk/corporate-membership/
A huge thank you to Stihl for donating the equipment in the photo to the BCS, helping us keep the towpaths clear.
#basingstoke_canal_society #basingstokecanal
Last weekend was a busy one for our BCS Events team (they attended two events last Saturday & Sunday) & they are doing it all again this Saturday 18th July but this time two events on one day ….. thank goodness for our wonderful & dedicated Volunteers.
Friends of Oakley Park are holding their annual Summer Fete at Burnside Fleet, GU51 3RE
Further information can be found on their website www.oakleypark.org.uk
Dogmersfield Flower Show at Pilcot Farm RG27 8ST.
This popular annual country flower show which will also have a large Classic Car display.
Please come along and visit the BCS tent/stall, where our teams of volunteers will be delighted to tell you all about the Basingstoke Canal Society, the Basingstoke Canal, answering all your questions plus they’ll have books & merchandise for sale and you can ask about our cruise boats & trips or joining as a volunteer or BCS membership.
#basingstoke_canal_society #basingstokecanal
#bcs60
We had a wonderful day yesterday celebrating our 60th Anniversary by the Basingstoke Canal in Fleet. It was lovely to see so many people enjoying themselves in the sun with lots of boats cruising by.
A huge thank you to the Fox & Hounds for hosting us with a delicious BBQ and live music. And to the Accessible Boating Association for running a shuttle service to the Reading Road site. Here the Archive team were displaying the history of our 60 years, renovating and preserving this beautiful waterway for future generations.
Our last big anniversary celebration will be in Odiham on 6th Sep as part of the Galleon Marine's Raft Race. We'd love to see you there.
www.foxandhoundscc.co.uk/
www.accessibleboating.org.uk/
galleonmarine.co.uk/raftrace/
#basingstoke_canal_society #basingstokecanal #bcs60
Come down and join us for a sunny afternoon in Fleet! Have a boat trip down the canal, meet our friendly volunteers, visit our archives display and play some games too!
We hope to see you soon, we’re here until 4pm!
Here’s another lovely video from @she walks England of the Woking to West Byfleet section of the Basingstoke Canal
www.facebook.com/share/v/1EJWMco1D9/?mibextid=wwXIfr
#basingstokecanal #basingstoke_canal_society
#bcs60
This week's Friday Find It ...
Where can you find this Buddha?
#basingstoke_canal_society #basingstokecanal
Why not enjoy a long warm Summer evening on the Basingstoke Canal?
Join us for a relaxing evening cruise along the canal on 14th July. Enjoy the scenery, watch the sun set and maybe take some stunning photographs - for our calendar competition?! The weather forecast is promising a warm, sunny evening.
The John Pinkerton II will depart from Colt Hill Wharf, Odiham RG29 1DH at 7pm. Feel free to bring a picnic - there is a licensed bar on board.
Bookings close on 13th July at 10:00pm. For more information and to book your place, visit basingstoke-canal.org.uk/events/summer-evening-cruise-theme-john-pinkerton-6j14l3/
Photo taken by Darren Gregory - 2025 calendar competition winner.
#basingstoke_canal_society #basingstokecanal
