Waterfront

To celebrate pioneering women connected with our waterways, we pay a visit to Stoke Bruerne to find out about the Idle Women movement of the 1940s. Featuring Kate Doddington, whose great aunt was an ‘Idle Woman’, and Heather Wastie and Kate Saffin.

Spent the day with Faber New Poet Will Burns – who walks the Wendover Arm of the Grand Union Canal to nourish his sense of wellbeing – and festival director Joanna Cherry, who uses England’s longest canal as her regular “runaway spot”.

David Bramwell spends the day with angler, author and squeaky-gate appreciator Chris Yates, to talk about our very natural connection with water.

Retired carpenter Derek Keller worked on our waterways in the years before the Canal & River Trust took over their guardianship. Now a Friend of the Trust, Derek has a boatload of extraordinary stories to share. Finally, our resident gongoozler John Shuttleworth joins us for another mischievous waterway fact.

Retired carpenter Derek Keller worked on our waterways in the years before the Canal & River Trust took over their guardianship. Now a Friend of the Trust, Derek has a boatload of extraordinary stories to share. Finally, our resident gongoozler John Shuttleworth joins us for another mischievous waterway fact.

David meets up with poet and Radio 3 presenter Ian Macmillan by the Calder and Hebble canal, to talk poetry and waterways, to hear Ian read a few of his own and to learn more about work in this area from CRT volunteer, the appropriately named Hilary Brook.

David meets up with poet and Radio 3 presenter Ian Macmillan by the Calder and Hebble canal, to talk poetry and waterways, to hear Ian read a few of his own and to learn more about work in this area from CRT volunteer, the appropriately named Hilary Brook.

David spends a day on the Oxford Canal with Mark Robinson and Hugh Warwick. Both do important work for conservation groups and CRT, exploring and opening up canals as green pathways for wildlife. Together they look for evidence of different animals on the towpath and in the water, including otters, bats and leaf cutter bees.

David spends a day on the Oxford Canal with Mark Robinson and Hugh Warwick. Both do important work for conservation groups and CRT, exploring and opening up canals as green pathways for wildlife. Together they look for evidence of different animals on the towpath and in the water, including otters, bats and leaf cutter bees.

Mercury Prize-winning musician Sam Lee meets up with David to discuss the relationship between water and Britain’s folk heritage. And, of course, Sam’s more than happy to belt out a few classics by the fireside. To wrap it all up Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist Lorraine Bowen plays us out with her enchanting song, ‘Land Shanty’.

Mercury Prize-winning musician Sam Lee meets up with David to discuss the relationship between water and Britain’s folk heritage. And, of course, Sam’s more than happy to belt out a few classics by the fireside. To wrap it all up Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist Lorraine Bowen plays us out with her enchanting song, ‘Land Shanty’.

Presenter David Bramwell heads to Kings Cross St Pancras for the grand unveiling of a new pair of 2.5 tonne lock gates. This special CRT open-day offered him the chance to visit the St Pancras Water Tower, take a canalise-side historical tour and even meet some 19th century navvies!

Presenter David Bramwell heads to Kings Cross St Pancras for the grand unveiling of a new pair of 2.5 tonne lock gates. This special CRT open-day offered him the chance to visit the St Pancras Water Tower, take a canalise-side historical tour and even meet some 19th century navvies!

Alice Lapworth shares tales of her life as a bargee in the 1950s, sharing space with a family of 11, sleeping under her parents’ bed and jiving to gramophone music on the towpath

Alice Lapworth shares tales of her life as a bargee in the 1950s, sharing space with a family of 11, sleeping under her parents’ bed and jiving to gramophone music on the towpath

David heads to South Yorkshire to discover how a forest of figs came to be growing along the banks of the Don and to uncover one of the greatest river success-stories of recent times: the return of the salmon.

David heads to South Yorkshire to discover how a forest of figs came to be growing along the banks of the Don and to uncover one of the greatest river success-stories of recent times: the return of the salmon.

David and author Dixe Wills explore Kent’s Royal Military Canal, a unique waterway version of Hadrian’s Wall, built to protect Britain from a French invasion. With guest appearances from John Shuttleworth and Ken Worthington.

David and author Dixe Wills explore Kent’s Royal Military Canal, a unique waterway version of Hadrian’s Wall, built to protect Britain from a French invasion. With guest appearances from John Shuttleworth and Ken Worthington.

A former ice warehouse, the London Canal Museum is now one of the UK’s best places for exploring the fascinating history of our canal systems. David pays a visit, descends into its former ice well, meets curators Martin Sach and Cathy Simpson and takes a trip through the Islington Tunnel.

A former ice warehouse, the London Canal Museum is now one of the UK’s best places for exploring the fascinating history of our canal systems. David pays a visit, descends into its former ice well, meets curators Martin Sach and Cathy Simpson and takes a trip through the Islington Tunnel.

David explores the history of – and recent changes to – the waterways in the heart of Liverpool. Also featuring in this episode is Sheffield’s very own John Shuttleworth!

David explores the history of – and recent changes to – the waterways in the heart of Liverpool. Also featuring in this episode is Sheffield’s very own John Shuttleworth!

Recorded live at Wilderness Festival, QI author and researcher John Mitchinson shares his knowledge and passion for the strangest substance known to science: water. Woven into the episode are extracts from an evocative and exclusive water-themed set by Brighton duo Grasscut.

Recorded live at Wilderness Festival, QI author and researcher John Mitchinson shares his knowledge and passion for the strangest substance known to science: water. Woven into the episode are extracts from an evocative and exclusive water-themed set by Brighton duo Grasscut.

After their lives were ravaged by floods in the winter of 2015, Hebden’s residents decided the only thing to do was postpone Christmas until June 25th. David Bramwell dons his best Santa outfit and joins them for an alternative Christmas, and to uncover an incredible story about the power of community spirit.

After their lives were ravaged by floods in the winter of 2015, Hebden’s residents decided the only thing to do was postpone Christmas until June 25th. David Bramwell dons his best Santa outfit and joins them for an alternative Christmas, and to uncover an incredible story about the power of community spirit.