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 Wilts & Berks Canal Trust
 
   

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Work parties and Restoration
 
Work parties are held on second and last Sundays
For Dates and Location click "What's On " link
 
Additional work parties may be held as required.
 
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Click here to see Latest  Work Party Report

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Or here to see Annual Review 2009/2010
 
Please see "What's on" link for Work Party Dates
 
 
 
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  Working Party Report — March 2010

We have held 5 working parties since the last Branch Meeting—all at Pewsham.

The main thrust has been the clearing of the large trees growing out of the canal structures that are the subject of the restoration planned for this year.

The large Ash tree by the spill weir finally was removed on the 28th February when we had our maximum attendance so far - 21 volunteers. Needless to say not all 21 were employed at the Spill Weir and several other small trees that were in the canal or interfering with passage along the towpath were also removed. Other work included digging of trial holes in the in-filled section of the canal north of Double Bridge which is also scheduled for re-excavation.

The removal of the Ash tree now clears the way for us to start the Spill Weir restoration.

Re-puddling work on the Triangle Wood culvert depends upon the successful removal of the Oak tree standing alongside which hopefully will be achieved this coming Sunday.

During the whole of February our volunteers, worked a total of 386 man-hours which amounted to £4799 in volunteer value matched funding.

In future the matched funding hours will be identified with the work associated with its respective funding.

 

Douglas Harris

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Annual Review of Working Party Activity for 2009/2010

Pewsham

The work party year started unremarkable on the 11th January when we worked on frozen ground clearing scrub from Messrs Doel’s land at the Reybridge end of the cut. We made a concerted effort to complete the clearance throughout February as we had made plans to finish Double Bridge by mid-May starting as soon as the cold weather broke.

Work on the bridge started on 8th March with a splendid turnout of 18 volunteers but the weather deteriorated to a point where it became too slippery to work safely. It became evident that completion of the bridge to schedule would not be possible without a detailed plan and a more intensive working approach. Working to a master plan drawn up by Martin Stubbs we started a work programme of at least two work parties each week. Often the whole weekend was worked and when plant was hired the whole week was spent on the bridge. One of the tasks essential to the completion was the re-watering of the section that passed under it. This involved the sealing of two culverts using tonnes of imported blue clay which had to be compacted over the culverts using a remote controlled sheep’s foot roller.

Our efforts were rewarded with the completion of the Bridge on time with clear water under it lapping the newly rebuilt wing walls. The opening by our Patron HRH the Duchess of Cornwall on the 26th May was a wonderful event and will be long remembered. Grateful thanks must go to the team of up to 26 volunteers who worked some 1300 man-hours over 30 days during the final two months to complete the project on time. This achievement alone made 2009 a memorable year.

As a short diversion from the bridge work we managed to provide boat trips on Easter Saturday in Calne for CARP’s Bunny Hunt. Unfortunately the work party were unable to help at the Chippenham Folk Festival because the Royal Visit was on the very next day. This was much to our regret as this festival is a major local public attraction of the year and the Trust, sadly, were not represented.

Other achievements this year was the signing of the lease for the canal on the Weinstock estate which will enable us to spend charitable funds on its restoration. Planning is now well underway for the dredging of the remaining section from Double Bridge up to Pewsham Bottom Lock which we hope to achieve this year

During the first week of July we had a visiting work party from Waterways Recovery Group (WRG) to start work on clearing the locks at Pewsham. A great start but progress was hampered by the excess of ground water coming out of Top Lock. Good progress was made on Middle Lock however and our team are still working on this lock. Which indicates the amount of work that has to be done.

In October we had tree surgeons on site to fell three trees that were growing out of or near to canal structures. This was undertaken with minimal collateral damage and the substantial amount of timber that arose has only just been removed from site.

Forest & Queenfield Farms

The whole canal at Forest & Queenfield Farms was mowed at the end of September. This has much improved the canal’s appearance and was the first for a couple of years. We should try to mow this stretch at least once a year in the future.

Calne

Interest in partially restoring Town Lock has been shown by the good people of CARP who are working hard to secure funds for the lock rehabilitation. This will be a cosmetic repair as the lock cannot be fully restored while there is a 36”storm drain passing through it. However it will look like a lock with gates at both ends. But although it will be back filled and turfed, for safety reasons, it will have a 250mm dia pipe laid along the length of the chamber floor to take water from the River Marden when permitted by the Environment Agency. This will greatly improve the water quality at the lock end of the section and provide water for any extension of the cut.

On the weekends of 7th & 8th of November and 5th & 6th December we had a visiting teams from Kent & East Sussex Canal Recovery Group (KESCRG) to work on the canal bed belonging to Mrs Sutton. The thick scrub on the canal bed and north side has now been cleared and all that remains is the overgrown towpath on the south side of the canal.

Attendance at work parties has remained high at a steady 15 on major events, with a maximum of 18 on some occasions. Recruitment has also remained good with several promising volunteers joining us over the past year.

We have held over 90 work parties since the beginning of the year and clocked up 5,587 man-hours of work and travelled over 10,500 miles to attend the work.

This activity is evaluated as £73,872 in Volunteer Matched Funding. This is a staggering increase on that of past years which I hope will encourage our funders.

Well done everybody.

Douglas Harris

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