Cotswold Canals Connected is encouraging families to get out on Stroud’s waterways this Easter with its new family activity trail booklet. From nature walks to weaving, in this booklet you can find lots of activities to enjoy on the canal itself, or from the comfort of your own home.
The booklet has been delivered to primary schools closest to the canal, however you can download a copy here www.stroud.gov.uk/activitybooklet/ or pick one up at the Cotswold Canals Trust Visitor Centre in Wallbridge or at its bookshops in Stonehouse or Brimscombe.
Below is a list of activities you can find in the booklet, along with some added suggestions to keep your Easter break egg-citing:
1. Create a journey book – Stroudwater Navigation Archive Charity has a fascinating selection of historical stories preserved on their website www.stroudwaterhistory.org.uk, but why not record your own history by making a simple book which you can illustrate with pictures inspired by your walk along the canal? For older children there is a Ghost Hunters trail, following on from the successful event the audio and map can now be accessed at www.stroudwaterhistory.org.uk/they-got-involved.
2. Take a nature walk with your senses – A sensory walk outdoors where you take in what you see, smell, feel, and hear can be beneficial for all ages, encouraging a sense of calm and clarity. Being by the water promotes mindfulness, however if you can’t get to the canal why not check out one of Gloucester Wildlife Trust’s local reserves by visiting www.gloucestershirewildlifetrust.co.uk.
3. Go bird spotting – Grab a pair of binoculars and see which birds you can find by the water. Wrens, grey wagtails, and dippers are often seen along the canal and streams nearby, but if you’re lucky you might even spot a kingfisher! Local charity, Stroud Valleys Project is dedicated to maintaining and restoring green spaces across the district, why not show your support by visiting its shop in Stroud where you can find all your twitcher gear – from bird guides to feeders.
4. Try your hand at weaving – Follow the instructions in the booklet to create your own piece of artwork using different types of grasses, leaves and sticks you find along the towpath. If you fancy a more insightful experience into the world of weaving, visit one of the Stroudwater Textile Trust’s mills, where Stroud’s rich textile history is kept alive. Secure your place at www.tickettailor.com/events/stroudwatertextiletrust.
5. Go back in time – Visit the Museum in the Park to view the wonderful painting ‘A View of Wallbridge,’ and see if you can recreate the original as well as an updated version showing how it would look today. The Museum in the Park is free to enter and has family-friendly events running throughout the holiday, find out more at www.museuminthepark.org.uk/calendar.
6. Make a boat with windows – The activity booklet contains instructions for creating your own paper boat with transparent windows where you can display the natural treasures you find along the towpath. Or why not experience the real thing by taking a boat trip with Cotswold Canals Trust from Wallbridge or Saul? Visit www.cotswoldcanals.org/canals/boats-and-charters for dates and times.
7. Play word & spotting games – Get creative by playing one of the many games in the booklet. Local accessible boating charity, Cotswold Boatmobility runs regular boat trips and kayaking sessions, providing an ideal environment for you to enjoy these games with friends and family, all whilst exploring the canal! Visit the charity’s Facebook page to see how you can be part of their next trip – www.facebook.com/cotswoldboatmobility.
8. Enter a competition to win a boat trip and a nature-discovery kit – Create a piece of artwork showing your appreciation for the canal in the form of a poem, a painting, a photograph – whatever you like, and you could win a prize! Submit your entry to canalvolunteering@stroud.gov.uk or drop it off at one of the Cotswold Canals Trust Visitor Centres or bookshops. Deadline for the competition is 1 June 2025. Terms and conditions can be found at www.stroud.gov.uk/canalcomp.
9. Use your ‘canal passport’ & collect stamps – Visit some of the great canal-side locations Stroud district has to offer and record your journey by collecting stamps. These stamps can be found at Cotswold Canals Trust visitor centre and bookshops, Museum in the Park, Stroudwater Textile Trust mills, and Stroud Valleys Project Eco Shop.
10. Clean up our towpaths – Help us keep the canal paths clean by doing a spot of litter picking. Check out the new Litter Champion Hubs with litter pickers available in a number of locations including The Long Table (Brimscombe), Wallbridge and Saul Junction.
Don’t forget to share the ways you’re discovering the canal this Easter by tagging @cotswoldcanalsconnected on Facebook and Instagram.
Cotswold Canals Connected is a partnership of organisations led by Stroud District Council and the Cotswold Canals Trust which are restoring the canal network, enhancing and creating new wildlife habitats, and helping local communities to connect with heritage and nature.
