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Dairy farm welcomes narrowboats

15th Sep 2006

A rural dairy farm on the banks of the Llangollen Canal in Cheshire is opening its gates to narrowboats on 24 September 2006.

Swanley Bridge Marina, part of Swanley Hall Farm, will provide moorings for over 300 boats and will support the canal’s increasing popularity for leisure and tourism. To mark the official opening, historic wooden narrowboat Lilly, built in 1914, will sail into the new boating facility echoing bygone days when the canals were built to transport freight.

The £2 million marina has been built by dairy farmer Michael Cope in response to the remarkable renaissance in the UK’s canals which are attracting ever increasing numbers of boats, waterway visitors and tourists. The marina also represents a diversification away from farming and declining milk prices which has forced a number of Cheshire dairy farmers out of business.

Dairy farmers forced out of business

A third generation dairy farmer, Michael Cope comments: "Each summer for the past ten years I’ve noticed that the canals are becoming more popular. From the milking sheds I can hear more and more boats passing through the nearby canal lock.

"Unfortunately many farms in the area that were solely reliant on milk production have been forced out of business. Opening a marina is our answer as it will provide another source of income that will allow us to carry on other farming activities."

The number of boats using the Llangollen Canal has increased dramatically over the past decade and there is a shortage of available marina moorings. Even before the official opening some 40% of Swanley Bridge Marina’s moorings are already booked by boat owners eager to find a permanent place to moor their boats.

More boats on the canal network

The situation on the Llangollen Canal is reflected nationally where there are 29,000 boats on the UK’s canal network, more than at the height of the Industrial Revolution. British Waterways estimates that some 11,700 new marina berths are needed over the next decade to meet the growing demand and popularity for boating.

Swanley Bridge Marina is the first major marina to be built since British Waterways published a guide in Spring 2006 outlining the attractive development opportunity for canalside farmers and land owners. In its Inland Marina Investment Guide, British Waterways sets out the marina business opportunity, including the continued projected growth in boating, construction costs as well as possible investment returns for marina developments.

Nigel Sheppard, general manager of British Waterways New Marina Unit comments: "British Waterways is investing lots of money in improving and restoring the canals. The resultant waterways renaissance is creating more and more demand for marina moorings and opportunities for land owners such as Mr Cope to benefit from the UK’s waterway network.

"We are delighted that Swanley Bridge Marina is opening for business. Having historic boat Lilly at the opening is a reminder of how the canal has changed over the years. The boats and tourism that the new marina will attract to this rural economy have become the canal freight of the 21st century.”

Further info

In addition to a rural setting and great base for exploring Cheshire’s canals, Swanley Bridge Marina boasts state-of-the-art facilities and a range of services for both moorers and passing boaters. For further information about Swanley Bridge Marina, telephone 01270 524571 or visit the Swanley Bridge Marina website

Last updated: 22/10/2008