It’s one of the most beautiful areas in the whole of Birmingham, and it’s right here in the middle of Westside.
But if you‘ve ever wondered how the historic Gas Street Basin is kept so clean and tidy, our video below will reveal all – to the sound of a boat gently chugging along.
The Canal & River Trust uses nets on long poles to scoop up anything in the water that shouldn’t be there. It looks like one of the most fun jobs in the city, removing everything from litter and plastics to branches and leaves from the water – helping to keep all boats moving smoothly along the bustling canal network.
Gas Street Basin is now more than 250 years old and originally marked the end of the first Birmingham canal from Newhall, reached via the Famers Bridge Locks, opposite where The Flapper pub now stands. In the opposite direction, the Worcester and Birmingham Canal opened in 1795.
Today, the basin is home to various hospitality venues from the Tap & Spile to the Gin Vault, and from Pierre Victoire to The Canal House – formerly the James Brindley pub.
Other Broad Street venues including The Walkabout and Barajee offer bird’s-eye views of the water.
Next weekend, the former Bobby Browns nightclub building will spring back as Verve – it will be canalside as well as directly opposite the Gas Street Church, which has also breathed new life into the area in recent years.
For some 20 years, ‘Litter Boat’ volunteers have been setting sail a few times a week to remove litter and plastic from the canal. Any rubbish from the water is then carefully recycled where possible.
A Canal & River Trust spokesperson told Westside World: “As a charity, we spend more than £1 million a year helping to keep our canals free of plastics and other discarded waste.
“Birmingham’s canals are amazing places for both people and wildlife, so it is a real shame that some people don’t take their litter home with them or put it in a bin.
“At the Trust, we’re on a mission to eradicate litter and plastics from our beautiful canals for the benefit of local people but also for the wider planet.
“If you want to make new friends, spend time on Birmingham’s waterways and do something amazing for the local community, we’d love to hear from you. Ideally we need volunteers who can dedicate a few days a week to help. So, if this is you and you want to get involved, please get in touch.”
To find out how to volunteer with Canal & River Trust, visit its website here.
