This summer for the Bronze Arts Awards, we had the privilege of working with a fantastic group of students at the Winterbourne House and Gardens.

Last month the Slow Boat returned to Netherton to take part in the Bumblehole Family Fun Day. This was a one off event organised by the very welcoming volunteers of the Bumblehole Conservation Group Visitor Centre.

On Saturday Black Country Voyages made a short journey from Brindley Place, Birmingham to Kings Norton Junction to take part in the 2015 festival to celebrate 200 years of the completion of the Birmingham to Worcester Canal.

On Sunday, the boat went to its second year at Brownhills Canal Festival.

Tuesday 26 & Wednesday 27 May at the International Festival of Glass- The Redhouse Glass Cone, Stourbridge

Saturday 16 May was Black Country Voyages first event showing the Black Apotheca. Jacques Nimki worked with members of the public to discuss his ideas of adding to his archive of herbs and objects whilst we worked around the Black Country canals.

Wednesday 13 May saw the Launch of Black Country Voyages, The Black Apotheca. This was the publics first opportunity to see the newly transformed boat.

On Saturday 13th June the boat was moored up at a new location at Longwood Boat Club for their Canal Festival.

Join us at the Brownhills Canal Festival – expect stalls, music and crafts.

On Friday Ella, Kembhi, Kristina and Rohanie took part in a workshop led by artist Phil Duckworth (Juneau Projects). We worked on board the boat whilst making its way from Birmingham to Ocker Hill (approx 8 miles in total).

Saturday 1st November Black Country Voyages took part in the Annual BCNS Bonfire Rally in Smethwick.

A day spent at Saltwells Nature Reserve.

The second day the team was quite different: there were me, Kate, Duncan, Claire (Duncan’s wife and artist and producer as well), Julia, Kristina, Rohanie, Harr – Joht and the poet Elisabeth Charis who was involved by Clayground Collective to responde at the experience of the day.

July 24th – July 25th | Voyage to Saltwells Nature Reserve Dalton Clay pits

Black Country Voyages in Netherton.

Black Country Voyages disembark in Birches Green Infant School in Erdington.

We spent an evening in a friendly and informal mood talking about the Black Country Voyages project, Juneau Projects’ art works and sharing our ideas.

Kate started a special workshop for Year One children by talking about canals, boats and how people used to live on them.

We spent a lovely and sunny afternoon out on the boat in and around Birmingham city centre hosting this month’s Adult Practical Workshop.

We were delighted to welcome friends of Tipton Library on board our boat. Organised as part of the community engagement work for the Black Country Echoes Festival, local historians, archivist and library staff took part in a special workshop. The group’s cruise took place along the lush green canals of Tipton.

The boat moored up in Tipton for a workshop, encouraging those to paint or draw about nature, taking inspiration from the place we were in or from the books that we had on the boat.

Between Monday 18 and Friday 22 August we were moored alongside the Red House Glass Cone, Stourbridge.

It was the first time that we had ever been part of the Brown Hills Festival and I’m delighted to say it was a huge success!

The Rushall and Tame Valley Canals just got greener and greener and more and more beautiful as we made our way from Ocker Hill to Brown Hills.