Providing access for all for Maidenhead's restored waterway and enhancing biodiversity by building floating habitat islands
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The Pitch
Problem statement
For many years the waterways running through Maidenhead town centre were derelict. They would flood in winter, then dry up in summer. Fish became stranded. The York Stream waterway has been restored since 2014. It's bed has been lined with clay to prevent water loss. A new weir keeps the water levels stable, including fish and eel passes. The next stage is to improve access to the waterway for the public, for wildlife and river users. The waterway is currently under-used with little navigation by canoes, kayaks or small boats apart from our popular annual fun day. The clay lined bed and hard engineered banks offer limited habitat for wildlife. We want more biodiversity on the waterway.
Solution
Friends of Maidenhead Waterways the charity wants to improve access to the waterway for all, for physical fitness, mental well being and community building. This year our team of volunteers have begun: * Monthly free public boat trips * Free boat trips for local charities supporting those in need * Regular canoe and kayak paddles * Monthly free guided walking tours by the waterway For biodiversity we want to: * Build 10 floating islands to improve the habitats for fish, invertebrates and birds * Add 20 planting troughs and baskets to the channel edges to provide habitat for bees and pollinators These are volunteer led and will be open to the public to help community engagement.
Why are we best placed to deliver?
The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead (RBWM) owns the waterway, but maintenance work is undertaken overwhelmingly by Friends of Maidenhead Waterway volunteers, supplemented by contractors where necessary. Our volunteers have overseen the phased restoration of the waterway since 2014, alongside the rapid growth and ongoing regeneration of Maidenhead town centre. We now want to share this wonderful amenity with as many people in Maidenhead as we can. We have people in our volunteer teams skilled in waterways maintenance and boat handling. We also own four maintenance boats and have a container full of the aquatic tools and equipment needed to manage the waterway.
Focus Areas
Delivery plan
Budget breakdown
| Annual volunteer and boat insurance for 2025 for 4 maintenance boats for York Stream | £1,400 |
| Environment Agency 2025 boat licence x 4 @£300, fuel for boat trips and other associated ongoing maintenance costs for 4 boats | £800 |
| Building 10 floating habitat islands from coir pallets and recycled plastic @ £100 each | £1,000 |
| Building 20 planting troughs and wooden tubs including planters @ £70 each including solar panel irrigation system | £1,400 |
| Tools for building floating islands and planters and other aquatic tools for waterway maintenance | £400 |
| Materials for a canoe launching platform by the new Green Lane weir. A proper launching platform for canoes is something we have long planned to build, to overcome existing limitations with launching | £900 |
Beneficiaries
400 people
Who will benefit
Expected impact
Our project will help transform York Stream into a vibrant waterway that is at the heart of the town, active with boating activity and people enjoying the waterway. Our floating islands and planting troughs will also help provide habitat for fish, invertebrates and birds.Maidenhead is a town growing rapidly with many new arrivals living in flats. We want to give people the opportunity to enjoy the waterway, either by boat, by canoe or simply walking along the footpaths by this pleasant green and blue space. Whether living in the suburbs or the regenerating town centre areas, the waterway is important for the physical and mental well being of all.Our targets for the year are:* 200 people taking part in our free boat trips* 4 local charities supporting those with needs joining our boat trips* 60 people joining our free walking tours* 60 people taking part in our canoe and kayak tours* 40 joining our public session to build floating islands* 30 scouts canoeing
Track record
Friends of Maidenhead Waterways has a strong track record of delivering transformational change. We were the winner of the Canal and River Trust Living Waterways Awards 2019. Since 2014 we have led the project to restore Maidenhead's waterways, working with the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, the Environment Agency, developers and others to deliver an ambitious regeneration project. We have a team of dozens of committed volunteers who work around the year to keep the waterway maintained and make sure the water is flowing as it should. Our volunteers are now motivated to share the waterway with the community. We trialled our first free boat trips in April 2024 and the day was a big success with over 40 people taking part. We have also done our first free guided walk along the waterway and have organised two canoe and kayak paddles. In April 2024 our volunteers built and planted our first floating habitat island which now sits in Chapel Arches for all to see.