Meeting Notes - June 2014

Stoke Bruerne Canal Partnership – Notes as published in Grass, August 2014 The Partnership supported the Friends of Stoke Bruerne Canal Museum at the recent Family Festival by hosting a series of heritage walks over the weekend. Although not oversubscribed, those who took part found them interesting and enjoyable.

The Partnership is delighted that the whole event was so successful and congratulates the Friends on organising such a well received and profitable event.

Another benefit from developing the Heritage Walks programme has been a new link with the Towcester branch of the Northants, Beds and Cambs Wildlife Trust who have been very supportive in promoting the Brick Pits Wildlife Reserve. During August there will be two more heritage/wildlife walks open to all to join in and enjoy: On 7 August a Heritage Walk aimed at families, especially grandparents and grandchildren, will explore the canalside and the nature reserve, leaving the Museum at 2.00 pm and on 28 August there will be a Wildlife Safari based mainly in the Nature Reserve, again meet up outside the Museum at 2.00 pm.

In the autumn we plan to extend these Heritage Walks to interest groups like Brownies, Cubs, WI, History Groups etc, so if your club is planning its autumn programme and you think you might be interested, contact me, Helen Westlake on 01908 542414 now.

Wonderful photography skills have also been highlighted at Stoke Bruerne Primary School, where one of the Partnership’s consultants has been working with the children on composition and camera techniques. Marvellous shots of little noticed details and unusual views of the canalside are being collected through the seasons with the long term aim of creating a special calendar. Meanwhile details of the interpretation panels and signs which are the flipside of the Heritage Lottery award continue to be confirmed and it is hoped that planning permission for these will be sought very soon.

The monthly working party of volunteers continues with more than enough to keep it occupied as the grass, weeds and hedges continue to grow apace! A particular focus of late has been the area near the tunnel entrance, including removing ancient spider webs and forests of ivy from the horse shelter! This is in readiness for a special ceremony planned for 22 August, to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the tunnel’s reopening.

The Transport Trust has awarded the Blisworth Tunnel its Red Wheel special status as a feat of remarkable historic engineering and a plaque to mark that award will be unveiled

by Lord McAlpine in the presence of guests.

The next working party will be on Wednesday 13 August starting at 9.30 am and volunteers old and new will be most welcome. If you would like more information, please contact David Blagrove on 01604 862174 or just turn up!

Helen Westlake, Chair, Stoke Bruerne Canal Partnership