About Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust

We are a volunteer‑led charity working to bring two historic canals back to life. Our goal is simple: to reconnect the Lichfield and Hatherton Canals to the Birmingham Canal Navigations and national waterway network, creating new green spaces, wildlife habitats, and places for local people to enjoy.

Canals can transform places – they bring nature into the heart of communities, create safe and peaceful walking routes, support local businesses, and protect our shared heritage.

Everything we achieve is thanks to volunteers. From construction and bricklaying to fundraising, events, and behind‑the‑scenes admin, our volunteers bring skills, passion, and a huge amount of heart. Whether someone joins us for an hour, a day, or a decade, they become part of the story.

Our history

LHCRT was founded in 1988 by Eric Wood, to restore the Wyrley and Essington Canal from Ogley Junction to Huddlesford Junction, and the Hatherton Branch of the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal. The canals were closed in the 1950s and some of the original canal routes were lost to development in the 1950s and 60s, but the line can be rebuilt.

Our aim has always been to return these waterways to navigable condition and promote their use for recreation, wildlife, tourism and community benefit.

What we’re restoring

We are working on two major projects:

The Lichfield Canal
A 7‑mile route from Huddlesford to Ogley Junction, currently being restored section by section. Key areas include Darnford Moors Ecology Park, Borrowcop Locks Canal Park, Gallows Reach, Fosseway Heath Nature Reserve and Summerhill.

The Hatherton Canal
A 6‑mile route linking the Wyrley and Essington Canal to the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal. This future project will create new wildlife corridors and open up green spaces for local communities.

Where we are now

Several sections of the Lichfield Canal are already restored and in water, including Borrowcop Locks Canal Park and Darnford Moors Ecology Park, with work underway at Gallows Reach and Fosseway.

Find out more

How you can get involved

There are many ways to support the restoration:

• Become a member of the Trust
• Volunteer on site or behind the scenes
• Join our 500 Club
• Come to our events
• Donate
• Sign up to EasyFundraising
• Join our lottery

Every contribution, large or small, helps move the canals one step closer to full restoration.