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OxfordBoaters

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Caring for the Oxford community, a space for all boaters both Spiky and Fluff.

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News from OxfordBoaters

Updates on our activities and progress.

Documents (only logged in people can read this document)

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Published on May 8, 2026 by hamishcampbell

Minutes of Media & Web Working Group, 4th May, 2026

Minutes: Media & Web working group - 04-05-26 Attendees: Hamish Campbell, Scott Gordon https://opencollective.com/oxfordboaters/projects/media-and-web # Disc...
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Published on May 7, 2026 by Blackball

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Published on May 4, 2026 by hamishcampbell

Conversations

Let’s get the discussion going! This is a space for the community to converse, ask questions, say thank you, and get things done together.

The litter picks

Published on April 27, 2026 by hamishcampbell

This was intended to be more of a deep clean than a simple surface tidy - and in many ways, it showed bot...

Forming an Environment Group

Published on April 13, 2026 by clkane

In our last meeting, we organised ourselves into different working groups. Some of us chose to be part of the environment group, part of the wider collective driving positive environmental action. We boaters want to make sure we're doing ev...

 2
Life on the water: what Oxford's boating community means to the city

Published on April 10, 2026 by hamishcampbell

From the towpath at dawn to the moon-lit moorings at dusk, the people who live on Oxford's rivers are woven into the city's soul and have been for generations. Community, heritage, river lifeWalk along the Thames or canal on any morning in...

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KEEP OUR RIVER COMMUNITY DIVERSE 

Oxford’s river spaces are under pressure. Boaters, landowners, rowers, and towpath users are not talking to each other - and that puts our shared river culture at risk. 

 The Best Outcome: Cooperation & Community Trust between boaters and landowners Boaters taking responsibility for self-management A living, diverse river culture that stays open to all

The Worst Outcome: Control & Exclusion More static, paid moorings Existing boaters priced out, replaced by “posh houseboats” Loss of community, diversity, and access

A Practical Middle Path 

 We suggest a simple, voluntary agreement, a voluntary boater covenant of boater behavior:

A SHARED BOATER COVENANT 

•Leave at least 2 metres between boats for safe water access 

• Keep boats and towpaths tidy and welcoming 

• Respect visitor moorings - don’t overstay 

• Avoid leaving empty boats unattended over winter 

• Share the river - move when needed for rowing and events 

Simple, no complex rules or heavy enforcement.
 Community-led, not imposed from above.
 Open, flexible, and easy to follow. 

It is not legally binding - encourages good behaviour and shows responsibility, builds trust, and helps reduce pressure for strict regulation from authorities (like the EA). 

Why Act Now? 

Right now, we’re stuck in a cycle:
Pressure → Complaints → Regulation → Community squeezed 

This proposal helps break that cycle by giving everyone something positive to work with. 

T o Make This Work, We Need: 

• A clear, shared public statement 

• Better visibility for good practice 

• A stronger sense of community as river stewards 

LET’S ACT TOGETHER BEFORE DECISIONS ARE MADE FOR US.
Keep the river open, shared, and alive.