Welcome to The Worcester-Birmingham & Droitwich Canals Society. Originally formed in 1969 to protect and restore the 30-mile Worcester & Birmingham Canal, our mission expanded in 2010 to proudly include the beautiful, historic Droitwich Canals following their successful reopening.
As a registered charity (No. 500159) affiliated with the Inland Waterways Association, we are dedicated to promoting, restoring, and conserving these vital blue spaces for the use and benefit of the public.
What We Do
While our canals are in a much better state today than they were in 1969, our role as guardians of these historic waterways is as critical as ever. We work passionately to balance heritage conservation with modern community improvements.
Exploring the Waterway
The Worcester & Birmingham Canal is a magnificent 30-mile journey of engineering and natural beauty. Starting at the River Severn near Diglis Basin in Worcester, the canal traverses unspoilt countryside, passing through the Dunhampstead Tunnel and Hanbury Wharf Junction (where it connects to the Droitwich Canals).
From there, it climbs the world-famous Tardebigge flight of 30 locks onto the Birmingham plateau, navigating through the Shortwood and Wast Hills tunnels.
As it enters the city, it passes the historic junctions at Kings Norton and Selly Oak (where our friends at the Lapal Canal Trust are working to restore the Dudley No. 2 Canal). Running through the Birmingham University grounds, it finally concludes at the historic “Worcester Bar” in the very heart of Birmingham—widely celebrated as one of the finest stretches of urban waterway in the UK.
Celebrating Our History: We love honouring our roots. In 2015, we celebrated the bicentenary of the canal’s 1815 opening with three major festivals and cathedral bell-ringing across the region. In 2021, we proudly commemorated the 250th anniversary of the Droitwich Barge Canal.
Get Involved
We are a friendly, welcoming group of enthusiasts, volunteers, and community members—and we would love for you to join us!
Monthly Meetings
We meet on the first Tuesday evening of every month (except July and August, when we swap the meeting room for our summer walks).
- Location: The meeting room behind The Weighbridge pub, Alvechurch.
- Who can come? Everyone! You don’t need to be a member to attend.
Membership & More Information
Membership is open to all at very reasonable rates. Whether you want to volunteer, join our social walks, or learn more about our very own society narrowboat, Cecilia, you can find everything you need on our website and active Facebook page.