Sawley Locks Volunteers

News and information for boaters from the Volunteer Lock Keeping team at Sawley on the River Trent, East Midlands. On duty daily from 9am from April to end Oct.

[Sawley Locks Volunteers @SawleyLocks]

And we're back! It's the very first day of the 2025 season for our volunteers and today we have two of our most experienced (and loveliest) lock keepers, Adrian and Colin, on duty ready to help boaters on the Upper Trent. Happy #boating everyone! @CRTBoating @CRTEastMidlands

[Sawley Locks Volunteers @SawleyLocks]

@CRTWalesandSW Where does the sediment go?

[Sawley Locks Volunteers @SawleyLocks]

That’s a wrap! It’s our volunteer team’s final day at #Sawley for 2024. It’s been our pleasure to lock through thousands of boats, skippers and crew over the past six months or so. For those still #boating, stay safe on the water and see you next Easter. #VolunteerByWater

[Sawley Locks Volunteers @SawleyLocks]

@MrsP32233725 That’s wonderful, thank you - will pass the message on. They’re a great bunch and really enjoy what they do. Almost the end of this volunteer season but they’ll be back again next spring. Meanwhile, welcome to boating and enjoy all your adventures. #volunteerbywater

[Sawley Locks Volunteers @SawleyLocks]

Due to the reduction in boat movement and the changing weather at this time of year, our volunteers will be on duty only on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through October. The locks remain fully automated and operable by boaters at all times, as usual.

[Sawley Locks Volunteers @SawleyLocks]

@NBSeaGlass @CRTBoating Sawley locks are on red as is the entire Upper Trent. Our volunteer lock keepers are not in duty. More knitting for you today?

[Sawley Locks Volunteers @SawleyLocks]

Due to rising water levels and strong flows, the Upper Trent is on red and the @CanalRiverTrust advises users of all boats not to navigate. We therefore have no volunteer lock keepers on duty at @Sawley. For updates: https://t.co/YEc2zNgeTj. Stay safe folks. @CRTEastMidlands

[Sawley Locks Volunteers @SawleyLocks]

Congratulations to our newest qualified volunteer lock keeper, Carol, who passed her @CanalRiverTrust assessment this week and well done to those in our #Sawley team who did such a great job training her, too. #VolunteerByWater @CRTBoating @CRTEastMidlands #volunteering

[Sawley Locks Volunteers @SawleyLocks]

Here's the list of @CanalRiverTrust Winter stoppages including waterways near Sawley (the Trent & Mersey Canal & the Soar). The list is (pardon the pun!) easy to navigate by waterway name or just a whole network map view. https://t.co/fACJ2MpAGo @CRTEastMidlands @CRTBoating

[Sawley Locks Volunteers @SawleyLocks]

Another of our female trainees has just successfully passed her Lock Keeper assessment, joining our great team of volunteers here at Sawley. If you have dreamed of becoming a lock keeper or #volunteerbywater in any way you can find vacancies here: https://t.co/59In5Hud8b

[Sawley Locks Volunteers @SawleyLocks]

@mrstiggy1 @CanalRiverTrust Thank you - that’s lovely to hear.

[Sawley Locks Volunteers @SawleyLocks]

Congratulations and a huge thank you to Tina, one of our newer volunteer lock keepers at #Sawley, who was presented with her 100 @CanalRiverTrust volunteering hours award yesterday. Our 3 person team together locked through 60 boats on a beautiful boating day. #volunteerbywater

[Sawley Locks Volunteers @SawleyLocks]

@HillmortonLocks @CanalRiverTrust We’ll pass that on. The way she’s going this season, it won’t be long!

[Sawley Locks Volunteers @SawleyLocks]

In the space of a few days we’ve gone from being off duty due to high water levels to Tina and Tim, today’s volunteer lock keepers, needing the shade of a parasol to stay out the sun on the hottest day of the year. The vagaries of our Great British summers! #VolunteerByWater

[Sawley Locks Volunteers @SawleyLocks]

The gardening efforts of our volunteers were subject to a full inspection by this guy at the weekend, swanning around like he owned the place...

[Sawley Locks Volunteers @SawleyLocks]

@mrstiggy1 Thank you - we do appreciate when someone takes the time to say thank you. Safe onwards travel. See you next time.

[Sawley Locks Volunteers @SawleyLocks]

@mrstiggy1 Hi - yes, both our colleagues at Cranfleet and members of the team here at Sawley will be on duty on Sunday. We look forward to seeing you and helping you through. Safe travels.

[Sawley Locks Volunteers @SawleyLocks]

@nboatSerenity @Goldilocksboat @CRTEastMidlands Fab - we have folks on duty all weekend and look forward to the DMBC events, as usual. In case our volunteers don't get time to take photos, anything you can snap and share with us would be very much appreciated. Have fun!

[Sawley Locks Volunteers @SawleyLocks]

Volunteer Barrie was very happy to help @Goldilocksboat through again today, especially as she was double-breasting, helping another boat off the river. Boaters are a lovely mutually supportive community and that's one reason why we like to #VolunteerByWater @CRTEastMidlands

[NB Goldi-Locks @Goldilocksboat]

@SawleyLocks A big thank you to Barrie for penning us into the lock today. Invaluable.

[Sawley Locks Volunteers @SawleyLocks]

Thank you @MarkLastMiner for the lovely tweet earlier - looks like the lovely Andy was your volunteer lock keeper this morning and we've passed your thanks on. Safe onward journey. See you next time. #VolunteerByWater

[🇺🇦🇺🇦Mark ⚓ NB Last Derbyshire Miner @MarkLastMiner]

Big thanks to @SawleyLocks

Lifesaver for solo boaters

Keep up the good work

🤠🤠💙❤️👍👍

#boatsthattweet

[Sawley Locks Volunteers @SawleyLocks]

@MarkLastMiner Thank you - I’ll pass it on.