BEAR ESSENTIALS The Newsletter of : -
IWA Warwickshire Branch Issue No. 44 – December 2015.
Another Grand Union. On a fine Sunday morning in late October, another ‘union’ of volunteers, including some St.Mary’s residents, Warwick University students, the Love Leamington group, and even the local branch of Cancer Research UK, joined with our branch members to clean a further two-mile stretch of the GU in the Leamington area. Some of the 70 or so volunteers, armed with litter-pickers and black bags, scoured the towpath and hedgerows for discarded bottles and cans etc; while a group of intrepid grapplers set to work trawling the canal for the mysteries of the deep! Soon, the inevitable bicycles and shopping trolleys were lined up on the towpath – accompanied this time by road signs, a video recorder, a motorbike a machete and some large sections of wire security fencing. Meanwhile our chairman was busy extolling the virtues of this and our other branch activities live to local radio listeners on BBC Coventry & Warwickshire. Finally, of course, thanks must again go to CRT, and to Steve Lambert and his crew in particular, for their invaluable support – without which we would have certainly left the towpath in a far worse state than we found it! On both this page, and also page 3, you will see that ‘we’ have had a busy summer and autumn; and this has again given our Branch a pretty high profile within both the Association and our local communities. All of this has been achieved by the hard work of a very small Branch Committee – and the support of a relatively small number of active Branch members. In past editions of ‘BE’, in his Chairman’s column, Richard has called for ‘new blood’. However, this time you will read on page 2 that the need for such a ‘transfusion’ is now even more imperative. th January 2016 will mark the 55 anniversary of JFKs inauguration. If any of us remember just one thing from that occasion it is his immortal words: “And so fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country”. Now is the time for us to keep that sentiment but alter the words from Americans to members, and country to Association. We’ve now been producing ‘BE’ in its ‘new’ format for 6 editions (2 years), and I’d appreciate your feedback on how you think we could improve things - like its layout and/or content – after-all it’s your newsletter.
Ian Fletcher.
Editor.
Photos by Greta Russell
- And Yet More Pulling Together.
In August, 13 Branch members and 5 local residents returned to the banks of the Avon at Myton Fields, in Warwick - to continue the Balsam ‘bashing’ (more technically pull-it-up, bag it and remove it) work that they’d started in July. The morning’s ‘haul’ comprised some 70 bags – seen above awaiting removal by the District Council. This operation, not only prevented many thousands of seeds floating down stream to ‘pollute’ the banks of the lower reaches, but also contributed to IWA winning CRT’s Living Waterways Award 2015 - in their Natural Environment Category.
Bear Bones:
Bear in Mind:
An outline of upcoming activities.
Chairman’s notes.
Our New Year/Spring Programme of Activities. Unless otherwise stated all evening events take place at:
The Sports ConneXion, Ryton-on-Dunsmore, Coventry CV8 3FL All evening meetings start at 7:30 pm. Sunday, January 3rd 2016: A walk around Lapworth. Meet at 10:30am. at Brome Hall Lane car park, Lapworth, B94 5QZ Grid Ref: SP 186 710, for a 1½ - 2 hour / 4 mile, easy grade, ‘circular’ walk encompassing Packwood and The Stratford and G.U. canal towpaths.
Wednesday, January 13th 2016: Branch Annual Dinner. At: The Tom‘O’The Wood, Rowington, CV35 7DH. Although most tickets have now been sold, there may be a few places left. For the latest info. please phone Muriel Richardson, on : 01676 – 534 569.
Sunday, February 7th 2016: A Tunnel and Reservoir Walk. Meet at 10:30am at The Middlemore Farm public house, Hidcote Way, Daventry, NN11 5JZ, GR: SP 565 651, for this innovative walk alongside Daventry Reservoir and over Braunston Tunnel.
Wednesday, February 10th 2016: ‘Idle Women’ by Vince Williams & Jon Goodson. We may think that we know all about this topic, but in their talk Vince and Jon will give us some new slants on the story of these remarkable women.
Wednesday, March 9th 2016: Branch AGM: - followed by: ‘Keeping our Waterways Alive’ by Paul Birkett. The Branch AGM Agenda is shown on page 3. After these short formalities, Paul – chairman of IWA’s new Marketing Committee – will tell us how the Association is starting to improve its promotional activity, and profile; and how we can use our activities and achievements to attract new members. th
Sunday, March 20 2016: Canal Clean-up in Brownsover, Rugby. Meet - at 9:30 for a 10:00 am start (till 1:00pm) - near the A426 crossing of the North Oxford Canal, at Br 58. Post Code CV21 1AN, GR: SP 507 771 Held in conjunction with CRT, and local residents and boaters. Exact carpark details available from web-page, info.warwickshire@waterways.org.uk
Sat/Sun, April 2nd/3rd 2016: Branch work party at Luddington For our third Avon Lock-paint we visit the Stan Clover Lock at Luddington. Post Code::CV37 9SL, GR: SP 165 523. Car parking arrangements via the web-page. Meet at 9:30am each day. Come suitably dressed, and with own refreshments.
Saturday, April 16th 2016: Hatton Work Party. Sunday, April 17th 2016: Lapal Walk.
Advance notice, further details in next edition.
Additional Work Party info.* A) 1 Mon & Wed of each month - Hatton. nd B) 2 Thurs & Fri of each month - Stratford C) 3rd Thurs & Sat of each month - Lapworth. *Note: For the most up-to-date information on Branch workparties (and all other Branch activities) see our Branch page on the IWA web-site.
<< www.waterways.org.uk/warwickshire >>
I will be resigning from the branch committee at the 2016 AGM, as will Ian Jackson - who believes it is now the time for ‘younger blood’ to run the branch. This will leave a committee of just three members ! And could mean that activities for the second half of 2016 will have to be severely curtailed once the current programme ends. You will notice that the committee has planned a full programme of activities for Spring, 2016. These include two clean-ups, one in Rugby the other in Leamington / Warwick. Also painting the Stan Clover (Luddington) lock on the River Avon, and ‘gardening’ on the Hatton Flight. Please put the dates in your diary and support them. Although members are elected to the committee and not a particular job, I have outlined on page 3 the tasks that we need to cover - or delegate to active non-committee members. Please note that these tasks need not be as daunting as their jobdescriptions suggest, as we have considerable member-experience of such work within the branch - and these members will willingly offer their support and advice. This is my last opportunity before the branch AGM to reach all of our members. Please take a good look at the adjacent vacancy list and volunteer to help where you can so as to ensure the continuation of a vibrant and enthusiastic branch.
Richard Sanders.
CRT-WM Towpath task-force. st
At our branch AGM in March, I announced that this year would be my last as chairman, and I invited members to volunteer to join the committee or serve the branch by helping to organise events. I have to tell you that despite maintaining a varied programme of activities I have not had anybody express an interest in joining the committee or to act as a co-ordinator of activities - such as walking.
Thank You Many thanks to all of you who purchased your IWA Christmas Cards, and 2016 calendars, through the Branch. Our total sales will this year again exceed ..£300. This helps makes a significant contribution to Branch funds, and will again help us to maintain our support for deserving waterway causes.
Bear-faced Lines: Notice of Warwickshire Branch Annual General Meeting: The 2016 AGM of Warwickshire Branch will take place at 7:30pm on March 9th at: The Sports Connexion, Ryton – on – Dunsmore, CV8 3FL AGENDA 1. Apologies for absence. 2. Approval of minutes of the last AGM, and any matters arising from these minutes. 3. Report from the Region Chairman. 4. Financial Report. 5. Election of members of the Committee. 6. Any items requested by members of the Branch provided the Branch Chairman is notified in writing of the item at least six weeks prior to the AGM.
Random snippets from around our patch: Hatton Garden: In contrast to our summer activity of pulling up plants (see page 1); in October a group of 10 members and 3 local volunteers took a more constructive approach to gardening - on the Hatton flight. While some tackled the summer growth of brambles around locks 30 and 31, a second team prepared part of the offside embankment by the Middle Bridge to take spring flowing bulbs. The bulbs - native varieties of Bluebells, Daffodils and Wild Garlic - were planted on the embankment and in clumps alongside the main towpath. In addition, Foxglove plug plants were planted in the shaded areas alongside the towpath – to provide more colour through the summer months.
Any member, regardless of their length of membership, who feels that they can contribute to the work of the committee is welcome to volunteer for election; this is normally for a term of three years. This can either be done in advance of the meeting by contacting the Chairman or Secretary, or at the start of item 5. above when the Chairman of the meeting may seek interest from the floor. No formal nominations are required. The election is for committee membership; allocation of individual roles and responsibilities is determined by the newly constituted committee at its first meeting following the AGM.
Committee Roles & Responsibilities: The list here below shows some of the ‘job vacancies’ that need to be filled if Warwickshire Branch is to continue to be as successful as it has been in the past. Chairperson – Chairs the Branch committee, and has prime responsibility for external relations, within IWA, and with local navigation authorities and public bodies. Treasurer – Collects and distributes Branch funds, both within Association guidelines and Branch aims. Programme Secretary – Creates a speaker programme - booking and liaising with the speakers. A ‘framework’ for our 2016-17 programme already exists. Publicity Officer – Raises, within national guidelines, and where necessary with national assistance, the profile of IWA in general and the Branch in particular – this to be achieved primarily by press release or other media contact. The source of press release material should be provided by the appropriate branch activity organiser. Work Party Co-ordinator – Ensures that a varied programme of branch work parties is established – not only to improve the access and foster safe and more pleasant use of local waterway corridors but also to encourage new members and demonstrate that IWA believes in action. Walks Co-ordinator – Devises and delivers an interesting and varied walks programme – primarily, but not exclusively within ‘our patch’, If possible this should link with the speaker programme. Walk leaders should provide adequate prior- information regarding their walk and record lists of attendees.
The Hatton Flight is a popular walk for locals and visitors alike; therefore, while working, we also set up an information point where we were able to explain to visitors about the canal system and IWA’s involvement.
Barn Dance @ Rowington: As a continuation of their fund-raising activities for their new mini-buses, WRG will be holding a Barn Dance at Rowington Village Hall on Saturday March 12th. Tickets will cost £15 a head – which will include a ‘cowboy supper’. There will of course be a licensed bar. Tickets and further information from ….Emma Matthars at head office. Phone: 01494-783 453 - extension 610 - or e-mail emma.matthars@waterways.org.uk
Man of The Match: In this edition there will be no MoTM award. However – before you either groan, or breathe a sigh of relief – we’re pleased to announce that we’re making our first WoTM award. It will be going to a thoroughly deserving branch member. In fact if WRG had such an award no doubt this person would have won it so many times that she could lay claim to its outright retention. But what has prompted our ‘awards committee’ (!!) to recognise this person now is that she has been nominated as ‘Volunteer of the Year’ by Towpath Talk. Our award therefore goes to ………… Jude Palmer. Jude is one of four such nominees, and the winner will be chosen in the new-year. Should you read this before December 31st you can vote for Jude via the Towpath Talk website: www.towpathtalk.co.uk/competitions
Bear with us:
Regional Round-up.
Friends and Neighbours.
The Lapal Canal: The talk we received about the planned restoration of the Lapal Canal – formerly known as the Dudley Number 2 – way back in October 2013 awakened our interest. The route of this canal was ‘recced’ by a couple of our members in 2014 - with a view to incorporating it into our 2015 walks programme; but on reflection, walking the full length ‘at one go’ was considered too ambitious for one of our usual ‘Sunday strolls’. However, this canal and its restoration are now very much back in the news – as the first step in the restoration process is getting underway. When we undertook our ‘recce’, Harbourne Wharf, at the eastern end of the canal in Selly Oak, looked like this.
Up-Coming Events, Spring 2016: Boat Gathering at Braunston: Organised by IWA Northampton Branch, over the May Bank-holiday weekend, th nd Friday April 29 to Monday May 2 . Friday night will be welcome and a fun games night then dancing until midnight. Saturday evening entertainment with a raffle then dancing until midnight. Sunday fish and chips supper from a van on site then a quiz - with another raffle then dancing until midnight. The Real Ale Bar will be open Friday from 6pm until midnight and Saturday and Sunday from midday until midnight. Monday is take-down day and clear site.
But now, it is a hive of activity – as here below.
The booking fee is £13 per boat. Bookings through Tony Clarke tony.clarke@waterways.org.uk
BCNS Events:
Photo by Vaughan Welch
All this will add extra interest and more relevance to our planned ‘part way’ walk along the line of the canal, from Selly Oak to Woodgate Valley Country Park, on April 17th. And this is quite apart from a walk through California as well - our first ‘overseas’ trip since New Zealand in February 2014. Final travel logistics are yet to be worked out, but will be determined at Branch meetings prior to our AGM, and will be posted on our web-page by mid March at the latest, and detailed in our next BE.
nd
A/
April 2 BCNS Spring Cruise. Info via: boundarypost@gmail.com
B/
May 6 – 13th BCNS Spring Explorer Cruise. Info via: bcns.explorercruise@gmail.com
C/
May 13 – 15th BCNS Summer Rally @Titford. Info via: barryjohnson7@tiscali.co.uk
D/
May 28 - 29th BCNS 24 hour Challenge. Info via: bcnschallenge@gmail.com
E/
June 10-18th BCNS Summer Explorer Cruise. Info via: bcns.explorercruise@gmail.com Finally: Please don’t forget the IWA Festival of Water, at Pelsall, over the Bank-holiday weekend, August 27th- 29th 2016. More info next time.
The IWA may not agree with opinions expressed here in this newsletter, but encourages its publication as a matter of interest. Nothing herein may be construed as a matter of policy, or an official announcement, unless otherwise stated. The Association accepts no liability for any of the material contained herein. The IWA is a registered charity (No. 212342), founded in 1946. Supported by donations & members’ subscriptions, it campaigns for conservation, use, maintenance, restoration, & development of the inland waterways of England and Wales - for the benefit of all. Registered & General Office: - Island House, Moor Road, Chesham, Herts. HP5 1WA. Phone: 01494 - 783 453.
Website :-
www.waterways.org.uk.
Editor: Ian Fletcher, 4 Village Hall Cottages, CV47 9QH Phone :01926 – 815 413. E-mail : newsletter.warwickshire@waterways.org.uk For local contact on all other Branch activities please e-mail: < info.warwickshire@waterways.org.uk > For up to date info. between BE editions visit our web page: < www.waterways.org.uk/warwickshire > Please inform Head Office of your e-mail address changes.