Lock Help leaflet

IWA Milton Keynes Branch
Want to know more?
Come and see us at our information
stand (at the waterside entrance to the
pub), where we have displays about what
we do, local waterway information, and
other leaflets to take away. Or find out
more about IWA Milton Keynes Branch
at: waterways.org.uk/miltonkeynes
If you have made a donation today,
thank you!
Pictures by members of IWA Milton Keynes Branch,
Bedford-Milton Keynes Waterway Trust, Buckingham
Canal Society and Wendover Arm Trust.
Join IWA today!
Free when you join IWA:
Waterways magazine - our unique quarterly members’ magazine, with exclusive
information, news, and features on all things waterways, sent directly to your door.
What’s more you get:
> Updates on waterways activities in your area from your local IWA branch;
> Opportunities to volunteer on real restoration projects, using and passing on
your skills or learning new ones;
> Exclusive member discounts from a range of waterways-linked partners;
> Additional local discounts (please note that all discounts and offers are
entirely at the provider’s discretion):
Three Locks Public House: 10% off food;
Willowbridge Marina: 10% off chandlery and yard services;
Wyvern Shipping Co: 10% discount on published prices.
Join IWA now! Visit waterways.org.uk/join
or phone 01494 783453, quoting “MK”.
The Inland Waterways Association is a non-profit distributing company limited by guarantee. Company registration number 612245.
150319 MK lockhelp v4
Charity registration number 212342. Registered office: Island House, Moor Road, Chesham HP5 1WA.
What’s happening?
Lock Help Weekend
waterways.org.uk/miltonkeynes
What’s happening?
We are IWA Milton Keynes Branch, part of the leading membership
charity dedicated to making the waterways better. Our volunteers are
helping boaters through the Three Locks in return for donations.
Donations from pub visitors and passers-by are welcome too! Our Lock
Help weekend is our major fundraising event. The funds go to support
waterway restoration.
Which projects will benefit?
We support these three local projects:
Wendover Arm Trust: The
Wendover Arm of the Grand
Union Canal was built as a
navigable feeder to bring water
from a spring at Wendover to the
main canal line at Bulbourne. The
trouble was it always leaked and
soon took more water from the
main line than it supplied! But
with modern materials, this
problem can be solved. The Trust
is well advanced in its aim to
restore this wonderful stretch for all to enjoy. For more information,
please visit: wendoverarmtrust.co.uk
The Buckingham Canal Society
aims to restore as much of the
Buckingham Canal as possible, from
Cosgrove (north of Milton Keynes) to
Buckingham, a beautiful rural route
for boaters, walkers and naturelovers. Two stretches have already
been re-watered. For more
information, visit:
buckinghamcanal.org.uk
The Bedford-Milton Keynes
Waterway Trust plans to build a
new waterway for the 21st
century. It will close the gap
between the Grand Union Canal
and the waterways of East Anglia.
Development along the route will
transform brownfield land into
green sites for housing, industry
and wildlife. Please visit:
b-mkwaterway.org.uk
How are the locks operated?
The locks are operated using a detachable key called a windlass. This is
used to open and close the paddles that fill and empty each lock. All our
volunteers are experienced at working locks, and there may be a volunteer
from Canal & River Trust on duty too.
We usually try to get two boats at a time into a lock and, whenever
possible, we use the locks to raise and lower boats alternately. This helps
save water. Each lock takes about 227,500 litres (50,000 gallons) to fill.
We have to watch water levels carefully, so as not to flood the pub!
Boats from Wyvern Shipping Co. at Linslade form a lot of the traffic. We
are glad to help them through, whether they are experienced hirers or not.
Our help is not obligatory. If boaters wish to lock themselves through, we
respect their wishes.
What else is on?
Buckingham Canal Society may be
here with its bookstall. Sometimes,
historic boats join us for the
weekend. The Three Locks pub
may have special events too please enquire at the pub.