It all started a year ago when we were walking along the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal and we noticed a small group of people wearing red Waterway Recovery Group T-shirts. Most were cutting back over-hanging tree branches and one of the group, in the guise of Health and Safety, showed us around a minor obstruction on the canal path.

It was pointed out to me that I would enjoy such an experience as I was interested in canals and it would give me something to do rather than being bored during my summer holidays. I must admit it seemed a rather idyllic thought, spending time in a lovely setting, not too arduous work and a feeling of saving a part of our industrial heritage.

There was no doubt in my mind that next year I would be joining a similar group, wearing with pride my red T-shirt and helping to save our working history.

The following year arrived and the feeling that I must get involved in saving our industrial history was lost in the deep recesses of my memory, until it was resurrected during early summer with a question: Isn't it time you contacted the canal group?

It now seemed like one of those great summer ideas equating to "wouldn't be lovely if we lived here?"

It did seem a pleasant way to spend a week, and then on the other hand I could always find something else to do. However, the questions did not go away and I accepted it would be something different. A brief search of the Waterway Recovery website listed a number of canal camps with some having space for volunteers.

My search highlighted a camp near Stroud in Gloucestershire which seemed an ideal position to spend a week's holiday. The objective of the camp was renovating a lock called Gough's Orchard on the Thames and Severn Canal, which had lain disused since the 1930s.

It also mentioned in the description of the work that there was an opportunity to learn bricklaying; this appealed to me as I had attended a short evening programme a few years before on the mystery of sticking one brick to another without them falling down.

This site seemed to have all the necessary requirements and was not to be sneezed at, it was only £56 per week for food and basic (a little worrying) accommodation.

I duly signed up and received my joining instruction which included the latest copy of the "Navvies" magazine, Health and Safety requirements and general information, creating the impression this organisation knew what they were about.

Time passed and so did my enthusiasm until the Saturday arrived when I was due to set off on my trip to Brimscombe Port Mill. The morning proceeded with a mixture of "why am I doing this" and "I'll never last a week". The hamstring I tweaked playing tennis the previous evening will make me a liability before I even arrive, I thought, and what do they mean by basic accommodation? We had only just returned from a week's basic accommodation at the YHA and could I really face another week of basic accommodation?

There was nothing mentioned about guiding people around semi-imagined obstacles and where was the tree pruning?

There was absolutely no encouragement along the lines of "well if you don't want to go then it is up to you". That was what I wanted to hear, not "you will be all right, you'll enjoy it, it will be a good experience".

With all the wrong statements I set off on my drive with the car full of old clothes, a mattress and a sleeping bag. A miserable journey along the A14 before joining the required motorways added an additional hour to my journey time, and I eventually arrived with a sore leg after leaving a strapping on my thigh which got rather sweaty during the journey.

The accommodation was located on an industrial site which as someone mentioned was a rather extravagant expression for a couple of factory units. The setting was typical Gloucestershire with what looked liked like a converted mill and a stream running through it containing fish. The accommodation was an empty factory which, in terms of comparisons with other Waterway accommodations, was termed by the old hands as luxurious.

We had a choice of sleeping either in the factory area or upstairs in the vacated but still carpeted offices. I chose upstairs and found myself with two other willing and experienced hands. I could tell they were experienced as they had brought with them hi-tech camp beds which looked somewhat superior to my mattress.

The first evening was spent introducing and meeting the members of the group, in total 20 hardy souls. The volunteers seemed to be a cross- section of the population including several younger individuals who were completing their Duke of Edinburgh award, while others could be spotted on Thursdays at their local post office drawing their pensions.

With few exceptions most of the volunteers had been on other camps, some even appearing to be camp hoppers moving from one camp to another. This was somewhat encouraging – they had not just survived their first experience but actually decided to repeat the exercise.

The camp had a designated chef, which I had believed was an attempt to disguise the actual role of chief soup kitchen distributor. This was far from the truth, with a full English breakfast every morning and a well planned and enjoyable evening meal. It was claimed that the average volunteer lost half a stone in a week due to the work; unfortunately this did not apply to me and I returned in the knowledge that I had gained a couple of unwanted pounds, not as a result of shirking work but due to the meals. At least, that's what I believe.

The lock was very much a building site and with that went a high degree of concern about the safety of the volunteers.

No one was allowed to do jobs without being taught by a qualified instructor, and safety equipment which had been provided was expected to be worn when we entered the work area.

There were a variety of jobs needing to be done and the team leaders were very much concerned that everyone was given the opportunity to try different jobs and not to be left on a particular job all week.

During the week I learned how to operate a cement mixer, gained further experience in brick laying and used a drill to remove bricks to allow a ladder to be installed in the lock. I became an expert in the ratio of different sand and cement according to the job that was being undertaken, and at times felt some enjoyable pressure on muscles that had been hidden away for a number of years.

Once work had finished for the day the first goal was to have a shower; this either meant waiting for the single shower on site or being transported in one of the vans to the local leisure centre for a wash and change of clothes.

Many of the volunteers were dedicated savers of canals who had in-depth knowledge of various canal systems and enjoyed the experience of working at different locations. Fortunately this did not invade meal- times and, surprisingly, conversation did not revolve around detailed examination of different locks but was inevitably a happy time, no doubt fuelled by a satisfying day.

The teamwork was incredible and the experience of working with such an enthusiastic group was inspiring. Individuals were always willing to share their experience and encouragement was never in short supply. Equally important to the desk-bound was the work code; if you felt you needed a rest you just had to tell someone you were going to have a break. This did not result in smart comments from colleagues but simply an understanding that everyone is a volunteer and is allowed to work at their own pace.

It is a far cheaper experience for companies who wish to send their employees on a work experience programme to simply send them on a canal work camp. They will be contributing to something worthwhile and learning as much about work bonding and leadership than on the more expensive outward bound courses. They will even be able to help in repairing brick work.

Individuals thinking of such an activity holiday need not be dedicated canal savers, although an interest in canal or industrial archaeology may be an advantage. Alternatively, those simply willing to become dirty, learn new skills and enjoy working with a group that has a common goal are likely to enjoy the experience.

I left the camp proudly wearing my red T-shirt and pleased that I had in a small way helped to save a 200-year- old monument to our industrial heritage. More important was my experience of being with so many different people working as a close unit willing at any time to help and share their knowledge.

It may not be everyone's idea of a holiday but for people who are willing to sweat at times and try something different, they may well have an enjoyable time.