The canal laureate, Jo Bell, has issued a plea for poems about canals – “or anything canal-related” – that could appear on a canal poetry website, or even feature in a future anthology. She said: “I'm collecting them until September 14 - it's not a competition but the good ones will appear on the Waterlines website and will, I hope, appear at some point in an anthology on the subject. If you think your poem's too good for us - we want it!” Waterlines is a collaboration between the Poetry Society and the Canal & River Trust: an online space where you can enjoy new poems inspired by waterways and find out about canal poetry events across the UK. Send your canal poems to writingonwater@poetrysociety.org.uk

PHOTOGRAPH: GREG FREEMAN