Navvies 292 December - January 2019

navvies volunteers restoring waterways

2019 Camps preview: North, south, east and west issue 292 December-january 2 0 1 8-2019

Intro Reunion

Pictures by Martin Ludgate

A selection of views of wall-building, towpath-laying, scrub-bashing and hedge-laying during our annual Bonfire Bash on the Lichfield Canal. See page 22

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In this issue Contents For latest news on our activities visit our website wrg.org.uk See facebook group: WRG Follow us on Twitter: @wrg_navvies Production Editor: Martin Ludgate, 35 Silvester Road, East Dulwich London SE22 9PB 020-8693 3266 martin.ludgate@wrg.org.uk Subscriptions: Sue Watts, 15 Eleanor Rd., Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21 9FZ Printing and assembly: John Hawkins, 4 Links Way, Croxley Green, Rickmansworth, Herts WD3 3RQ 01923 448559 john.hawkins@wrg.org.uk Navvies is published by Waterway Recovery Group, Island House, Moor Rd., Chesham HP5 1WA and is available to all interested in promoting the restoration and conservation of inland waterways by voluntary effort in Great Britain. Articles may be reproduced in allied magazines provided that the source is acknowledged. WRG may not agree with opinions expressed in this magazine, but encourages publication as a matter of interest. Nothing printed may be construed as policy or an official announcement unless so stated - otherwise WRG and IWA accept no liability for any matter in this magazine.

Waterway Recovery Group is part of The Inland Waterways Association, (registered office: Island House, Moor Road, Chesham HP5 1WA), a non-profit distributing company limited by guarantee, registered in England no 612245, and registered as a charity no 212342. VAT registration no 342 0715 89.

Directors of WRG: Rick Barnes, John Baylis, George Eycott, Helen Gardner, John Hawkins, Dave Hearnden, Jude Palmer, Mike Palmer, George Rogers, Jonathan Smith, Harry Watts.

ISSN: 0953-6655

Š 2018 WRG

PLEASE NOTE: Navvies subs renewal cheques MUST be made payable to The Inland Waterways Association

Contents Coming soon BCN Clean Up 6-7 Camps preview far-flung camp sites 8-11 Camp reports Grantham, Wey & Arun and an unorthodox Forestry report 12-21 Reunion report from Lichfield 22-23 WRG BC news from our Boat Club 24-25 Diary WRG, IWA, CRT, canal societies 26-31 Harry Arnold an appreciation 32-33 Progress roundup 34-39 Camp report Mon & Brec 40-43 Tree surveys and how to make one 44-47 News 48-49 Infill including Dear Deirdre 50 LWRG/KESCRG Xmas dig in pictures 51

Contributions... ...are welcome, whether by email or post.

Photos welcome: digital (as email attachments, or if you have a lot of large files please send them on CD / DVD or to contact the editor first), or old-school slides, prints.

Contributions by post to the editor Martin Ludgate, 35, Silvester Road, London SE22 9PB, or by email to martin.ludgate@wrg.org.uk.

Press date for issue 293: 1 January.

Subscriptions A year's subscription (6 issues) is available for a minimum of ÂŁ3.00 (cheques payable to The Inland Waterways Association) to Sue Watts, 15 Eleanor Road, Chorlton-cumHardy, Manchester M21 9FZ. This is a minimum subscription, that everyone can afford. Please add a donation.

Cover Picture: Work continues on the new towpath wall during the WRG Reunion on the Lichfield Canal. See report, p22-23 (picture: Martin Ludgate). Back cover: One to watch.

Lapal Canal under construction under a supermarket yard at Selly Oak (above) and flashback to our camp in 2016 in nearby Selly Oak Park. We will return! See progress report, page 38.

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chairman’s Comment “When we worked on that lock 20 years ago it was in the middle of nowhere with little option of any connection... but fast forward to now...”

Chairman’s Comment I’m writing this as I contemplate unpacking from the recent excellent Reunion weekend on the Lichfield & Hatherton Canals. A thoroughly enjoyable time with good varied work, that carried on from the summer Canal Camps and uncovered a lock that we last worked on about 20 years ago.

Back in issue 278 our editor wrote a piece discussing the view of “What’s the point of all this ‘little work’ we do – will it ever make a difference?” And his answer was that you could never really tell, and that actually all that ‘little work’ adds up to quite a lot: well, when we worked on that lock 20 years ago it clearly was in the middle of nowhere, with little option of any connection to more channel. But fast forward to now and there is rapid progress driving the channel towards it, as recent Canal Camp reports show. When we worked on the lock did we know that the opportunity for restoring the channel would arrive in a decade or two’s time? No, not really, but the opportunity just to restore the lock seemed good enough. And now 20 years on it will soon be part of some very impressive engineering works that are an integral part of the overall credibility of the Lichfield and Hatherton restoration.

It was a great weekend, well organised and populated by great people, many of who were new to me as they had all arrived into the restoration scene this summer. During the weekend we also managed to plan next year’s Canal Camps programme (thanks to Alex and Mikk for all their preparation work) and you should be able to see what 2019 holds for us all in the brochure that accompanies this magazine. Looking at the enthusiasm of all these volunteers, new and old, as they surveyed the draft* programme was hugely reassuring for me as the work we do seems just as important as ever.

In fact what I probably should say is that “the work we do and the way we do it seems as important as ever”. This is why this enthusiasm is as important as anything else in our arsenal. I wrote in the last Navvies about how vital it is that WRG is an organisation shaped by its people. The waterways are ‘people things’ and it’s important that they are rebuilt by individuals who can put their passion and enthusiasm into a living network. Yes, you are correct – that is a complete ‘cut and paste’ from the last edition but I passionately believe it and so make no apology for saying it again.

Similarly I have often said that, despite all our past glories and achievements, there is nothing quite as important as the work we are about to do. The number of bricks you laid yesterday is not as important as the number you lay tomorrow.

And so from my point of view all the wonderful newcomers I met last weekend are as fundamental to the success of WRG as anyone else. I am truly grateful for the time you are giving, it was a pleasure to meet you all and I look forward to meeting you all on site somewhere soon.

So what are we doing to try and make sure that all this enthusiasm is successfully turned into good, safe, rewarding work? Well I mentioned last time about how we are having a bit of a focus on planning for the next few months and here are a few more details: the Project Planning video I mentioned in the last edition is now complete and live on our website. It’s full of useful tips and encouragement and has been even more volunteer-led than our other videos.

Also, in association with CRT, Mikk and I have been running some planning workshops with local societies to try and make sure that any site you arrive on is better prepared than ever. It’s important to understand that we haven’t just plucked these ideas out of the ether – it really is in response to feedback from our local society hosts, camp leaders, staff in Head

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Office and lots of volunteers. If this work stops an incorrect concrete pour, or a day wasted waiting for the materials to turn up, or an error in the finished water level or maybe even a serious injury then it will be very worthwhile.

Secondly to turn to Planning (with a capital P) there has been a new development in our parent body the Inland Waterways Association that warrants mention as it may (and should) have a significant impact on the work we do. IWA has formed a Planning Advisory Panel where the aim is to provide a point of contact so that all IWA members and affiliated bodies can obtain professional advice on planning-related issues and problems. That service had been available previously but was little known and fragmented. The establishment of this Planning Advisory Panel will give structure to the service.

Now there is no suggestion that this means any of the fantastic work done by the Planning Officers in the IWA branches is now not required, indeed because the word ‘waterway’ may not appear in the title of a Planning Application and a high degree of local knowledge is essential when monitoring development proposals, that work is as vital as ever.

But the intention is that the Panel will function much like the Restoration Hub. Yes it’s a central enquiry point for anyone who has a planning question, but much more crucially it will be able to spot trends across the country that individual local officers might not spot.

This will then give IWA an opportunity to address these issues centrally and in a more strategic manner. They have already provided input to recent reviews of the legislation by both the Town & Country Planning Association and the Welsh government.

I realise that sometimes when you are up to your elbows in silt (I think that’s the phrase) it is difficult to imagine how something as ‘office bound’ as Planning can make a difference to you. But it’s those planning applications that win (or lose) all those planning deals that give us partners, permissions, funding, materials, profile and all the other things that mark out a successful restoration.

I’m also very pleased to say IWA has also decided to take on an extra member of staff to help this work, and many more things, along. Tara (see page 49) joins us as Restoration Campaigns Officer. This role is crucial to IWA’s more strategic support of restoration so, on behalf of WRG, I would like to welcome Tara and look forward to working with her on some of the thornier issues affecting all restoration projects.

However despite the enthusiasm, fun and laughter of the Reunion Weekend there was sadness. It was my sad duty to tell everyone that, just a few days previously, Harry Arnold passed away. Now many things will inevitably be written about Harry but I think I am entitled to add a few.

I have known Harry all my life and if I close my eyes I can picture him in a hundred different working parties / meetings / rally sites / pubs. Different hats, different T-shirts, different decades but in every one he is telling somebody off, usually me. Whilst much will quite rightly be written of Harry’s photographic skills or his journalism or his talent at backroom politics it is this tenacity that is our true loss – Harry never ever let anybody get away with anything! He was always dedicated to exposing incompetence, injustices, stupidity or things that were just plain wrong.

It is this amazing determination to not give up on anything and to keep making sure every last detail is dealt with properly that we need to learn from Harry. Crucially, when things are not right, to make sure those at fault get a proper bollocking. It’s what kept British Waterways on their toes, it’s what kept IWA on their toes and it certainly kept WRG on our toes.

I’ve written above about how no one person is fundamental to WRG (or perhaps I mean everybody is fundamental to WRG) and I still believe that. But Harry was, quite literally, foundational to WRG and, if we in WRG know anything, it is that for all the fancy stuff above ground, it is the foundations that count.

You have given us deep and strong foundations Harry, and we will continue to build on them.

Our thoughts are with Beryl and family.

Mike Palmer * A reminder that it was a DRAFT programme on display that night, there have been a few significant changes so take care when booking!

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Soon

coming

Last call: WRG Christmas camp on the Cotswold Canals 26 Dec - 1 Jan All being well you should receive this copy just before Christmas, which means that the Christmas Canal Camp on the Cotswold Canals will be just a few days away. As we went to press the numbers were getting a little bit close to the maximum that we can take, but feel free to contact leader Dave ‘Moose’ Hearnden by email to moose_dave@hotmail.com to check if there’s any space left for you. We’ll be scrub-bashing (with bonfires!) on the length of the Stroudwater Navigation just west of the A38. And we’ll be welcoming 2019 in with some appropriate festivities on the final night of the camp.

BCN Clean Up 30-31 March 2019 Send your booking form (below) in now for our annual weekend spent throwing our grappling hooks into the murky depths of the less charted reaches of the Birmingham Canal Navigations, helping to keep this fascinating (but sometimes unkempt) network of industrial navigations open and usable. For this year’s event, we’re heading for an area we haven’t worked on for 15-20 years, the Dudley No 2 Canal from Gosty Hill Tunnel via Windmill End to Blowers Green, and possibly on to Merry Hill. The date is 30-31 March, and we have our usual overnight accommodation at the Stables at Tipton.

Save the date...

Leader Training Day: 18 May. Training weekend: provisionally 22-23 June. More next time.

BCN Clean Up 2019 Waterway Recovery Group in association with BCNS CRT IWA DCT CCT I would like to attend the 2019 BCN Canal Clean Up on 30 - 31 March Forename:

Surname:

Address: email: Phone:

Any special dietary requirements?

I require accommodation Friday night / Saturday night / both nights I enclose payment of £

(pay 'Inland Waterways Association') for food (£13 for weekend)

Do you suffer from any allergy or illness, such as epilepsy or diabetes, about which we should know, or are you receiving treatment or under medical supervision for any condition? YES / NO (If yes, please attach details) In the unlikely event that you should be injured, who should we contact?

Name:

Phone:

Signed: Please send this form to: National Cleanup bookings, WRG, Island House, Moor Road, Chesham HP5 1WA

You can also book online via the WRG website wrg.org.uk

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The 2019 BCN Clean Up: the boater’s view...

Those who help every year on the BCN Clean Ups may be pleased to know their efforts are appreciated by boat users. Also that boaters anticipate the Clean Ups dealing with problems. John Dodwell, who owns the 3 ft draft old BCN tug Helen, has sent us this report...

The BCN Clean Ups are a great way to helping to keep the channel clear. In 2018, I went along the Dudley No 2 Canal between Park Head and Windmill End four times and twice along the section from Windmill End and Hawne Basin. I know it was a dry summer with its effect on the water levels but the news that the 2019 Clean up will be in this section is very timely.

Navvies wanting to have a productive time might wish to concentrate on these hotspots.

.

Gosty Hill – western entrance. The approach channel from the bridge is narrow, has black mud and has lots of nasty things lurking under the water, seeking out boat propellers. You should get a rich harvest here.

Wrights Bridge. Helen comes to a halt here. We have to back off and charge through. Try especially on the eastern side.

Totnall Bridge – another boat stopper – try on the towpath side under the bridge and just to the east.

Powke Lane Bridge – we hit hard stuff on the bottom.

Hollis Bridge – same again.

. . . .

We frequently had to put the engine into reverse to throw rubbish off the propeller. After Windmill End and along to Park Head, have a go at:

. Primrose Bridge – lots of plastic bags etc on the off side on the Beech’s side . Along the reservoir as you approach the opened out Brewin’s Tunnel – sometimes, we came stop and had to power through .to a complete About 100 yards before Blackbrook Bridge – we always bounced over something horrid.

It’s a shame we had trouble as almost all of the Dudley No 2 has attractive features. One of my favourites is the views of Netherton Church perched up on the hill which you can see for ages as this contour canal winds around. Then there’s the area around Windmill End Junction overlooked by Cobbs Engine House. The Canal down to Hawne Basin is now yet another green finger of the countryside, snaking its way through urban areas and bringing a sense of well being to the locality.

So more power to your elbows, you BCN Cleaner Uppers, and here’s hoping you glean a big harvest!

Helen on the Stourbridge Extension Canal...

...and some of what came off her propeller

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canal camps Preview Looking forward to some of our more far-flung canal camps this year, in the North, South, East and West parts of the England and Wales...

Canal Camps 2019 preview part 1: the further reaches...

Enclosed with this Navvies you should (all being well) receive a copy of the WRG Canal Camps brochure giving details of over 20 week-long canal camps taking place during 2019.

As usual there’s a cluster of sites in the Midlands (Grantham, Derby, Lichfield etc) which we hope to bring your more details of in future issues, but for this time we’d like to draw your attention to four interesting project at the more far-flung extremities of the waterways system...

North: the Lancaster Canal One of the first sites we visit in 2019 is the Lancaster Canal, where once again we will be supporting Lancaster Canal Trust’s ‘First Furlong’ scheme.

The background: the Lancaster Canal originally ran from Preston all the way to Kendal, but in the 1960s the canal’s only flight of locks at Tewitfield and the length north from there to Kendal were abandoned and blocked by the M6 motorway which was then under construction. Other road construction has since caused further blockages, and the length from Sellet to Kendal has been allowed to run dry and filled in in many places. Despite this, there are important historical remains which survive including aqueducts, bridges and a tunnel at Hincaster, and the Lancaster Canal Trust’s long-term aim has always been to get these ‘northern reaches’ restored and reopened to navigation.

It might seem that the obvious way forward would be to start at Tewitfield and work northwards, but one of the most serious M6 blockages (which will cost millions to fix) comes right near the start. Meanwhile, some years ago it looked likely that local authorities and other organisations would be supporting reopening of the northern end in Kendal, but these plans have not materialised. So the Canal Trust decided that one way to achieve something concrete to show the way forward would be to re-water the first short length of the dry section north from Bridge 172 at Stainton to Bridge 173 at Sellet Hall. This is one eighth of a mile long, which equals one furlong, hence this is the First Furlong project. That might not sound a lot, but it all needs to be re-lined to make it waterproof.

The Canal Camp work: Last year we installed two-and-a-bit of the seven sections of lining that make up the First Furlong. LCT have since carried on the work, leaving us just two sections still to do at this year’s camp. We’ll be installing a waterproof membrane and then laying concrete blocks on top. LCT also plans to work on restoration of stonework on the nearby Hincaster Tunnel (and the associated horse path leading over the top of the hill), which celebrates its bicentenary this year, and we are likely to be helping with this too.

Installing the Lancaster’s waterproof liner The date: 19-27 April

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South: the Wey & Arun Canal An old favourite where we have held many canal camps in the past, the Wey & Arun has seen increased WRG support in recent years as the Wey & Arun Canal Trust has built up the humber of different sites along the canal where it is carrying out restoration work - and we’ll be working on one of these new sites in 2019 at Birtley.

The background: Abandoned as long ago as 1871, the route which once formed the only through link between the national waterways network and the south coast had been closed for a century by the time WACT first began restoration work in the 1970s. Although its largely rural route meant that parts of it had survived with surprisingly few physical obstructions to reopening, one issue was that the land had been sold off to many different landowners - so in the early days it was a case of ‘work anywhere that we’re allowed to’, rather than being able to follow a logical plan. During the 1990s and 2000s a lot of the restoration effort was concentrated on what the Trust has christened the ‘Loxwood Link’ section, which now extends to several miles of restored waterway, including seven restored (or new) locks, two new road bridges and a new aqueduct, with public trip-boats operating both north and south from Loxwood village.

Several years ago the Trust launched its ‘Three Sites’ plan, aiming to spread work along more of the route - one of the three sites would be at the north end of the canal, a difficult section (requiring whole new sections of route) but a crucial one where it will one day link to the Thames; a second would be on the canal’s summit at Dunsfold (where the new Compasses Bridge and a slipway for trailboats have been completed in the last couple of years); the third would involve extending the existing Loxwood length.

The Trust has now started work on yet another length, roughly mid-way between the Shalford and Summit lengths - it’s a relatively well preserved length, but suffering from almost 150 years lack of maintenance...

The Canal Camp work: In October NWPG held a camp carrying out initial towpath work on this section (see report in this issue). The path will not only an important part of the reopened waterway one day, it will in the meantime form part of a network of local walks - but to do so, two new liftbridges will have to be created to replace missing bridges and link the paths up across the canal.

Our volunteers will spend three weeks creating the concrete foundations for the bridges, installing the piling channel walls, and continuing with the towpath work.

The date: 6-13 July, 13-20 July, 20-27 July

The new Wey & Arun towpath - canal on the left. Next year we’ll help build a liftbridge over it

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East: the Waveney and the Chelmer Our featured project in the East was going to the Geldeston Lock on the River Waveney, where the historic lock at the head of navigation of the river (part of the Broads system) was in danger of collapsing and is being rebuilt as a place where a historic wherry (sailing barge) can be moored up on public display. We are returning to a project that we’ve supported with one camp in each of the last two years, dismantling and rebuilding the brickwork of the lock chamber walls. But as we went to press it appeared that the spring camp was already fully booked, while it hadn’t been possible to plan a camp for the summer (although that could change - in which case we’ll mention it in Navvies).

But there’s another East Anglian waterway that we’re supporting in 2019, the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation, not a restoration but a working waterway which depends on volunteers to keep it running, so we’ll mention that here instead...

The background: The Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation wasn’t connected to the national canal system, it was built as an isolated waterway connecting Chelmsford to the top of the Blackwater estuary at Heybridge (near Maldon) and thus to the North Sea. It was still carrying freight until around 1970, and when that finally finished the owners (the original navigation company - unlike most rivers it never came under either the Canal & River Trust or Environment Agency) kept it open (apart from the top lock and last section in Chelmsford which fell derelict) and started encouraging leisure traffic. That top section was restored in the early 1990s, the restoration being led by the Chelmsford branch of WRG’s parent body the Inland Waterways Association. But then in 2003 the Company went bankrupt, and there was a real danger that the navigation would be closed, the locks abandoned, and the river would be allowed to revert to being a free-flowing unnavigable stream. To prevent this, IWA set up a subsidiary Essex Waterways Ltd to take over the running of the navigation. But with no regular public funding, and very little other income to suppliment what it gets from boaters for moorings, it has had to rely heavily on volunteers to maintain and run the waterway, and return it from its run-down condition to a decent state.

Martin Ludgate

The Canal Camp work: Our work is likely to include clearing overgrown vegetation from the towpath to keep it clear for walkers and other navigation users - or other jobs inolved in running a working waterway.

The date: 24-31 August

Heybridge Basin entrance lock, where the Chelmer & Blackwater meets the Blackwater Estuary

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West: the Swansea Canal The work for the Swansea Canal camp follows on from last year’s camp at Ynysmeudwy Upper Lock, moving on from repairing the overflow channel to working on the actual lock.

The background: The Swansea Canal originally extended from Swansea Docks all the way to Abercraf, a total length of 16 miles with 36 locks as it climbed up the Tawe Valley. But following abandonment, with space on the valley floor at a premium, lengths of canal have disappeared under new roads and under the expanding Swansea urban area, leaving just five and a half miles of channel still in water and capable of being restored (and that will involve reinstating several missing lengths) and ultimately re-connected to Swansea Docks and the Neath and Tennant canals via a new route making use of the river, a stream, and a lake.

Five of the former eight locks on the surviving length are still standing and capable of being restored. WRG has worked with Swansea Canal Society on upper and lower Trebanos locks in the past, the Canal Society has funding to repair Clydach Mond Lock, and that leaves Ynysmeudwy upper and lower locks which form the current restoration project.

The Canal Camp work: In 2018 WRG’s volunteers worked on the bywash (the overflow channel running around the lock) of Ynysmeudwy Upper Lock, not just because it’s in integral part of the lock and will eventually be needed for its original function, but also because it allows water to be diverted around the lock so that the lock chamber itself can be worked on - and that’s what we’re doing this year. Volunteers will clear the lock chamber walls of vegetation growing on the stonework, then re-point and repair the walls.

There will also be work clearing vegetation (including invasive non-native species) from the length of canal between the two locks.

Above: repairing the bywash last year The date: 31 August - 7 SeptemBelow: now for the lock chamber itself ber, 7-14 September

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camp report Grantham Carrying on where the series of summer camps left off, dismantling Woolsthorpe Lock 14 as “the structure was doing a Pisa impression” Grantham October camp report We few, we happy few, we band of brothers and sister(s).

We came, we saw, we demolished.

We kept our peckers up, and down and sideways.

Bricks to the left of us, bricks to the right of us, into the valley of Belvoir rode the eleven (hundred). Noooo, stop it, that’s too much. It sounds like an old Austin!

What a week we had! Given the list of tasks on Friday, the fear of too little work was not realised. Most of it was out on ‘big yellow toys’ and hand breakers. Brick cleaning came in as a supplementary. Some even cleaned some while waiting for the dumper to be loaded.

Eleven assembled on Sunday morning for a briefing and tour of the site. Since the last camp in August, considerable progress had been made – more material bunds

made, lock chamber wall on the cabin side (offside) reduced, together with loads of soil removed and dumped on the towpath side (nearside) and the area tracked in by ‘360’ (360 degree excavator). The bywash pipe was working well with little seepage through the upper dam. Oh, and the bottom dam was in place.

The pecker was already ready on the 360 and Pete started work on the concrete dam demolition. The three new boys – Ian, Geoff and Steve - joined him together with Rex (not known as Robert) and Tony. Concrete chunks were hand balled into buckets and volunteers made a chain to get them out and poured into the dumper.

The MD got the other 360 on the cabin side removing portions of the wall and freeing large blocks of masonry (later pecked into pieces). There was a ramp down to an intermediate level some 7ft above the invert level. The plan was to remove the masonry right down to the bottom and clear the lock.

Bev drove the dumper and gingerly crept up and down the ramp until she gained experi-

Length: 33 miles Locks: 18 Date closed: 1936 The Canal Camp project: Removing a concrete dam which had been inserted across Woolsthorpe Lock 14 after the canal closed, and continuing dismantling the lock chamber walls.

fact file Grantham Canal

Why? Having completed the first stage of Grantham Canal Society’s Heritage Lottery Fund backed project by reconstructing Lock 15, volunteers have moved on to Lock 14. Before repair can begin, unsound masonry and leaning walls on the badly decayed structure need to be taken down and materials reclaimed.

The wider picture: As well as being an important restoration task in itself, the work is being used as a heritage skills training exercise for the Society and CRT to help provide a pool of volunteers for the next stage, locks 12-13. With locks 16-18 and the canal from there to the edge of Grantham already restored, it’s also a step To Newark Proposed diversion Nottingham towards creating a 10-mile Woolsthorpe Trent to Restored restored length from Locks 12-18 Shardlow length Redmile Grantham to Redmile, and Grantham Cropwell in the medium term, completing the Long Pound to Cropwell Bishop. Get Original route Bishop The Long that open, and someone might just find Canal Camp Restored obstructed Pound the cash to create the diversion needed to site: Lock 14 length connect the canal back to the Trent.

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Pictures by Geoff Moody

ence and later skipped up and down. ’Twas a bit slippery as some black goo was spilt, but no challenge for this team. Local volunteer Geoff carried on with this work on Mon and Wed and made steady and sure progress.

Breakers were used on the towpath side of the lock to lower the wall, preferably brick by brick. Quantities of saved bricks in various states of cleanliness emerged from the week – we ran out of pallets to stack them on, so a big lorry with a dozen or so turned up. Plenty of “exciting” brick cleaning work for the future. Let’s hope they are all really wanted. This work was shared amongst us all, and the locals.

The debris, sludge, slurry, poo and goo at the bottom of the lock was removed by 360 plus a little spade and rake work. We left it with about 6 inches still there, with a nice free channel down the middle of the invert for the little water that seeped through the dam to be pumped out via the submersible pump to a sump, Dismantling of the chamber wall continues where the big pump took over and discharged below the lock. was indescribably gorgeous like all the meals Limb alert! One branch of an oak had on the camp. been blown sideways and split and was hung Time was found to give initial training up. We monitored it all week but apart from on machines for the new boys and the cook, the leaves going brown earlier than the main and others gained further experience towards trunk, it stayed in place. Another little limb their tickets. on an oak by the upper dam was trimmed by

By Thursday afternoon the dam demolithe locals using a whizzy pole saw. tion and removal had been completed and Accumulations of roots, branches and Pete’s Pecker Posse moved on to address the other burnable stuff was assembled near one cabin side quoin block, as the structure was of the big stumps and a small controlled doing a Pisa impression. The archaeology bonfire was lit. Lawrence made and monipeople came and saw, capturing evidence for tored this over three days and this work rebuilding by photographing everything that nicely tidied up this aspect of the site. And didn’t move. Their intention is to make a 3D we all should know what a tidy site is. model of the bottom of the lock. NB no There’s tidy. But I defy you to take the Mikk Sellotape, sticky backed plastic or glue will out of the Welsh accent – we had two hard be used making this model – it will be made working volunteers originating from the by the magic of modern technology. We Principality. Mikk came and worked on Sunhope to see it when completed. day but left before dinner. What he missed The Posse carefully removed the quoin

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blocks and started taking down the masonry. By Friday afternoon they moved to the other side and had time to remove those quoin blocks too. Steve was slinger - an important member of the posse (deputy sheriff, but oh dear I feel a song coming on. But nobody was shot during this camp.) Large stone blocks were transported to the storage area all week, and carefully lowered onto bits of wood to enable easy re-slinging later when they are re-inserted into the lock.

There were Above: the team. Below: the former concrete dam at the lock twelve of us on the head almost completely removed, and the top cill area cleared camp: seven seasoned WRGies, (five of whom were on the late August camp on the Grantham), Mikk on Sunday, the three new boys and Suzanne as cook. She was new to WRG and made us some great food including blueberry pancakes with maple syrup, pineapple upside down cake as an on-site cake, apple crumble, cheese biscuits grapes and celery, and lots of other memorable and unforgettable dishes.

A surprise celebration for Pete was organised for the anniversary of his 30th year of volunteering with WRG. He started on the Mont all those years ago, on the same week. You may well have seen the video of the cake and singing on social media.

What a good team we made over the week, achieving lots and having a good time.

Thanks to Chris Blaxland (TC) who changed his half-term plans at short notice to be available to lead the camp for the entire week.

Martin Danks (MD) assistant

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camp report Wey & Arun There were two camps on the W&A in October - we’ll start with the ‘normal’ one run by our friends in NWPG, and then we’ll follow it with... err...

Wey & Arun WRG/NWPG Camp Readers will probably be tiring of me going on about the Wey & Arun Canal after the lengthy report in the last Navvies – so I will try and keep this report short. In one part of the last missive I referred to the new section available to the Trust at Birtley and that “All being well, work on fencing off the canal and establishing a proper towpath will have started this year on the WRG/NWPG October Camp.” Well it was touch and go, with the necessary permissions only falling into place just in time for the NWPG preparatory dig the weekend before.

This is an attractive length of canal with great potential. However, it does have a significant disadvantage in that it lies between the former Guildford to Horsham railway (now the Downslink Path) on one side and the Cranleigh Waters stream on the other. We therefore had to find some way of getting from the A281 to the canal. The solution was to borrow the access and overflow car park of the Birtley Courtyard Busi-

ness Park. From there we reckoned that there was enough room to run a temporary access road – wide enough for the plant we were planning to use – to a point where a bridleway dives under the Downslink. The owners (we think) of the Downslink , Surrey County Council, had fortunately agreed our plan and we set to work...

Not wishing to build a temporary access out of hardcore for nearly 200m and then take it up again at the end of the camp, the powers that be at Wey & Arun Canal Trust were persuaded to let us buy sufficient plastic road sheets (like those used at festivals etc) to surface both the temporary access and the site compound. Before you all rush to do the same, I would warn you that the cost was a substantial five-figure sum – with the hire for a week coming at half the purchase cost. It took a day to put down and bolt together and about the same to take up.

Come next summer and the summer camps the first job will be to relay the sheets ready for the dumpers to start rolling again. We should be able to use it again and again on River Wey to the Thames Shalford

fact file Wey & Arun Canal Length: 23 miles

Locks: 26

Date closed: 1871

Bramley

Birtley

The Canal Camp project: Creating a temporary access track then laying a towpath surface and installing a towpath fence on a length near Birtley.

Dunsfold

Why? This is an attractive length of canal with potential for opening up the towpath as a walk, and as part of a network of footpaths Canal Camp site: which will also include the Downs Link old railway path. Surfacing Birtley towpath the path and replacing missing liftbridges (likely to be work for forthcoming camps) are important parts of this.

Summit 9 length Loxwood

Restored Loxwood The wider picture: Having spent some years concentrating on the Loxwood Link length, a few years ago the Canal Trust adopted a ‘three Link section Newbridge sites strategy’ aiming to spread activity onto the northern sections too, as part of the long-term aim to open the whole route. One of the new sections is the Summit, where Compasses Bridge and a slipway have been built; the other is at the north end where the canal leaves the River Wey Tidal River Arun Pallingham near Shalford. The Birtley length is a new site between these two secto the coast tions, and a first step towards eventually closing the gap between them.

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our sites and projects.

OK this is already getting too long! The Camp – comprising 15 well-honed and mainly experienced navvies, arrived from their first night at the comfortable Plaistow Village Hall on the Sunday morning to be split into two main teams. The plant team’s first task was to complete the temporary access so that dumpers and the Trust’s 6tonne digger could reach the towpath.

The fencing team under Assistant Leader Graham Hawkes set about working out where the new boundary fence was to go. We thought that the first section would be the easy bit to plot – just follow the existing fence. Wrong! Working from the land transfer plans it was clear that new boundary ran through the woods and over undulating terrain requiring both tree and scrub clearance as well as working out how you make a fence go up and down hills whilst keeping in a straight line! Credit to the team they did it and reached the end of the first wooded section by Tuesday afternoon (being the end of October there’s no evening working on site – although the Supreme Leader has threatened lights…).

I may stand corrected, but perhaps for the first time in the WRG Camps programme there were two WRG Camps running on the Canal during the same week and staying in different halls. We decided that it would be a bit antisocial if we didn’t try and meet up

with the other camp and so we challenged WRG Forestry to a round of skittles. Wonersh Memorial Hall have a skittle run that they can set up easily on request and the Bramley Fish and Chip shop do pretty good F & C’s – although as I found out to my cost they don’t take debit or credit cards! They were unfazed by my order for 32 portions and amazingly got every order spot on!

The first round of skittles and home advantage went to NWPG. When it came to ‘Killer’ we were both out smarted by local WACT Northern Team stalwart Roger Beazer who went away empty handed as Champion.

Later in the week both camps finished a little bit early to enjoy a boat trip up to Southlands Lock courtesy of the Trust’s boat group who do sterling work raising funds for the canal. Thanks to them for turning out on a cool autumn evening.

Back at Birtley, the plant team were making good progress with constructing the new towpath. This has to be substantial enough to give access to the site of the proposed lift bridge we plan to build next summer - including three weeks of WRG Camps. The path construction involves scraping off the top layer of compacted sandy soil and mud, setting down a layer of Terram geotextile with a second layer of plastic gauze on top (the latter reduces the amount of hardcore that disappears into the earth) and then tipping a layer of hardcore

Another dumper load of hardcore is tipped on the towpath

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Pictures by Bill Nicholson

200mm thick on the top. A final layer will be placed when we have finished our construction activities on the section. Varying amounts of fill are required as the old towpath has subsided significantly in many places.

The path team reached the overhead power lines by the end of Thursday and could go no further without a special height-restricted excavator. This was about 300m (50%) of the section leading to the lift bridge site and was what we had hoped to achieve. As there were animals in the field a new gate was erected across the track.

By Thursday, the fencing gang had passed the power lines and were buoyed by the arrival of a WACT member’s tractor complete with post thumper. This meant that another 100m of fence posts were driven and a third section of post and wire fence erected along the new boundary. We stopped at this point as we were never going to reach the end by the end of the week and there was that temporary plastic road to take up and return to Dunsfold. We will continue the fencing work during the winter months when we won’t need plant access to the canal.

That everything progressed so well was down to the hard work of our very experienced team. The plant team, comprised Adrian (‘Velcro’) Sturgess & Pete Bunker on diggers with Ted Monk, Anne Hornsby and Pete Jewell on the three 3tonne dumpers working the ever increasing distance from the compound. Duncan (CCT) Robertshaw took the lead on the sit-on roller and spread an awful lot of hardcore by rake!

We did manage to get Adrian and Pete onto dumpers later in the week to let Ted onto the digger - on which he was unsurprisingly expert given that he owns a private museum of vintage tracked machines! More next time I promise Ted! The unsung heroes were of course the fence gang – Graham I’ve mentioned, plus NWPG stalwarts Mike Fellows and Steve (Pugwash) Saunders; the excellent Scottish Antipodean Michael O’Driscoll (no surprise that he was good at fencing!) and not forgetting Phill Cardy and Tony Unseld who did a great job putting up a post and rail fence on both sides of the bridleway where it crosses the canal. Other day visitors came and went and helped to take the pressure off those in

Fencing in progress for the week. I also should not forget Rob Nicholson and Sam Doe who spent two days clearing the undergrowth so that the fence could go through. Overseeing the whole operation was our Supreme Leader KJD Dave Evans without whose input in setting everything up, preparing the project plans and showing us how to actually erect a fence, the camp would never have happened. Last, but certainly not least thanks to Claire Sawyers who kept us so well fed during the week (whilst both keeping her sense of humour and within the budget) and whose puddings are legendary in the WACT canal camp world. Claire also managed to find time to join the fence gang on site and keep them on the straight and vertical.

A great week with excellent autumn weather and much more to come next year.

Fancy building a lift bridge from scratch? Why not book onto one of the July Camps and help us achieve another important milestone in the restoration of the Wey & Arun Canal.

Sorry it wasn’t very short was it?

Bill Nicholson

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Camp report Wey & Arun As mentioned earlier there were two W&A camps - you’ve read the ‘normal’ camp report, so here’s something else from the Forestery Team’s camp WRG Forestry Team Wey & Arun Camp Report 2018 “What happens on Forestry Camp stays on Forestry Camp. Except the logs, last seen heading up the M6 in an unfeasibly small van.”

searching for a mobile phone signal.

Yours still a bit dizzy, Nigel Lee WRG FT Co-ordinator and Leader WRG FT Camp 2018

Dear Martin I was very disappointed with the Camp Report on THE END the Forestry Camp. The writer (whoever he is) didn’t make any sly reference to my dinner plateful Mark Antony ‘Mk2’ Richardson of sugar on the Friday night. I mean, all I wanted was a sprinkle of salt.

And now, the letters of complaint... Yours ever, David ‘Campervan Dave’ Joyner Dear Martin I really don’t want to knock others’ hard work, but as a regular Navvies reader, I feel Dear Editor the Camp Report (Navvies, issue 292, page Well, that was the first time I’d done the 18) on the WRG Forestry Team’s annual WRG Forestry Camp and I must say that the mega scrub bash rather lacking in detail. Mk2 Camp Report (Navvies, issue 292, page 18) has, for example, omitted to tell those of us was well dull. I wanted more details, not who love all the anecdotes, in-jokes and least as I wasn’t there for several days and tongue-in-cheek references, all the juicy before that I was so spaced out on painkillers details, which I missed due to spending the that one night, one of the Tweedles (not the entire week 30ft up in the air in a MEWP, fireman one though) had to give me fire-

fact file Wey & Arun Canal Length: 23 miles

Locks: 26

Date closed: 1871

The Canal Camp project: Clearing trees (including using climbing gear and a workboat) from sections of towpath either side of Brewhurst Lane bridge on the restored Loxwood Link length of the canal (worked on by WRG in the 1990s-2000s), logging the timber, chipping the smaller branches and spreading the chippings.

Why? To maintain public safety on a restored length of towpath used by walkers, including felling some trees which were dead or suffering from ash die-back, and as part of Wey & Arun Canal Trust’s commitment to maintaining the lengths that it has already restored to a good standard while continuing to restore new sections of canal.

The wider picture: This is WACT’s showpiece length, seen by trip-boat passengers, walkers and other visitors: keeping it in good condition can boost support for the canal restoration in general, and improve prospects for restoration elsewhere.

See also the Fact File on Page 15 for a map and more information on how it relates to work along the rest of the canal.

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man’s lift into my bed.

Laters, Karen ‘Captain’ Cook Biff Chit

Dear Martin Barry Arthurs (Navvies, issue 292, page 19) mentions the evil, rough-riding tracked chipper. Yep, he’s spot on. I’m writing this from the front seat of the WRG van and certain bits of me (mainly internal organs) are still shaking up and down! Very uncomfortable, but it has at least taken my mind off my bad back. Can’t believe Mk2 didn’t tell you this, either!

Pete Fleming Sent from my iPhone

Pictures by John Hawkins

Hello Martin moy loverrr Just read the Forestry Camp report (Navvies, issue 292, page 18). All I can say is that the reporting quality’s gone right down the tubes since I was Coordinator. Us, the eldest and the dogs had a cracking weekend and the best bit is that everything that happened is now Nigel’s fault.

Ta Me (Clive Alderman) and Jo Heyup Martin mi dook Another fabulous Camp and a fabulous report Dear Martin from Mk2, accurate as ever. However, how could I always look forward to the Canal Camp he forget the fact that I had a complete Busman’s Reports, just in case there are any references Holiday, providing coughing casualties with pato sheep or maybe even goats. I though that tient transport?

Mk2 would at least mention (Navvies, issue Cheers 292, page 18) that one about when I was A Tweedle looking for the esteemed chainsaw bits supplier Honey Brothers online and accidentally Hello Martin got Lovehoney instead.

I couldn’t help but put pen to paper having Yours affectionately, read me brother’s recent letter (Navvies, Alan ‘Useful’ Lines issue 292, page 19) to you. He doesn’t know he’s born. I had to go back to work and Hi Martin because I came back to the Camp wondering Considering how much he normally goes on, Mk2 what they were all sniggering about, I’m a was strangely brief in the report on the Forestry bit sad that Mk2, of all people, didn’t let us Camp (Navvies, issue 292, page 18). For the know. record, I operated the Wey & Arun’s newly-acCheers, quired but slightly evil tracked chipper all week L Tweedle and whilst it was a pretty rough ol’ ride, it reduced my ‘moobs’ by at least 50%.

Dear Martin Sincerely from Exeter I must add a little extra detail to Mk2’s otherwise Barry Arthurs comprehensive report (dunno about you but I love

The MEWP: useful for working out over the water...

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in Navvies. Thank you and all for your hilarious and fun Canal Camp reports. Anyway, the reason I’ve got time to jot down a letter to you is that I’m sitting on my own in a car park, out the back of the Onslow Arms, wondering where all the WRGies, chainsaws, Land Rovers and vans have gone. I think they’ve left me behind. And I tell you something: I bet they don’t mention it in the Canal Camp report!

Yours in hope that someone comes back to collect me, Susan from Scotland Woof, Martin Mk2 (nice guy, always good for an ear scratch, doesn’t share his cheese sandwiches much though) didn’t bark much about our Camp. Diesel and I had such a great time and I was kinda hoping he’d tell you about that time I drank the slop trays under the beer barrels in the accomm and woke up in the caravan the next morning with a right old hangover. I wanted to accept Mark’s offer of being “taken to the Foresters’ Arms for a hair of the dog” but man, I was battered!

Solo the dog Dear Martin I’d hoped that Mk2, whom I understand to be somewhat detail-oriented, would have written rather more about our Canal Camp (Navvies, issue 292, page 18). It was difficult as Assistant Leader to remember ...or getting high up into the trees everything that happened, what with spending most of my time Canal Camp reports) on the recent Forestry Camp. trying to get Nigel on the phone and finding It’s amazing what a MEWP (Mobile Elevating that even when he was sufficiently high up in Work Platform or as Nigel would have it, Mobile the air to get a signal, his number was going Extra Wavelength Provider, given its amazing through to messages. What with all the propensity for providing his old-hat phone with external pressures on my life on the Tuesday, signal) can do. I used it to help conquer my dislike I would have had a typical “Assistant Leader’s of heights, something which itself is strange, given Wednesday” had it been Wednesday. I must that I hold a private pilot’s licence. therefore take this opportunity to thank Mk2 Yours, glad to be on terra firma himself for pointing out that it was, indeed, Paul Shaw Wednesday.

Yours lying down in a dark room (but still aDear Martin glowing orange) I thought I would drop you a line as I really Gordon Brown enjoy Canal Camps and reading about them (the other one, from St Neots)

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Dear Martin I enjoyed Mk2’s succinct report on the 2018 WRG Forestry Camp (Navvies, issue 292, page 18), especially as I had to miss it, what with being in China. Although I’ve ended up in Qincheng Prison, due to a slight misunderstanding regarding Google Translate’s interpretation of my demand for “a half-decent cup of tea and a Tunnock’s Caramel Wafer for the wife” in a maximum-security café in the Changping district of Beijing, the weekly or monthly allowance of a shower, depending on prisoner behaviour, is most welcome.

The incredibly arrogant guards have goaded me with comments such as “enjoy it as it’s warmer than that apology for a shower van on the Wey & Arun.”

See you soon (hopefully… please send bribe money) Martin ‘Americano’ PS. Please send the Caramel Wafers in the form of a Red Cross Parcel.

Hello Martin I enjoyed the Canal Camp report (Navvies, issue 292, page 18) from Mk2 on our Forestry Camp. Thing is, I reckon he’s had too many of my amazingly filling Dutch waffle biscuit things as he’s completely forgotten The Breakfast already! The undoubted highlight of the week was my temporary promotion to Actual Breakfast Chef in the temporary absence of The Hawk. It was most successful and I’m just sorry Mark did not choose to give me the hon. mention I deserve for producing “nearly as good a brekkie as John’s.”

Yours chowing down the last of the breakfast sandwiches, David ‘Evvo’ Evans Hey oop Martin I liked the report on the WRG Forestry Camp (Navvies, issue 292, page 18) as it didn’t mention my little incident. It seems my having a sleep-in and its attendant snoring may have been mistaken for the sound of a coffee machine doing its thing.

Anyway, I quite like my new nickname.

By ecky thump, Tracy ‘Tassimo’ Howarth

very, very enthusiastic with every dog which came in. It seems that whereas most pubs have Happy Hour at about 6 o’clock, the Foresters’ in Kirdford has Dogs O’Clock around the same time so quite frankly, I found myself in a target-rich environment which I’m sure you can understand.

Yours wishing Solo could handle his beer, Diesel the Dog Hi Martin I’ve just got home after an epic 3-day journey back to Oop North (I mean, have you tried driving a stacked-to-the-gunwhales Citroen Nemo in any kind of a hurry?) only to find that our mention in Navvies (Issue 292, page 18) is sadly limited. Oh well, at least I enjoyed the crisps that fell out of the envelope the Navvies was in.

Yours from Yorkshire Stephen Kennedy Dear Martin I thought the Camp Report on our Forestry camp (Navvies, issue 292, page 18) was a bit minimal! Anyway, one thing Mk2 did mention reminded me of this one time... on a BITM Camp... but since Navvies is just so full of wonderfully detailed, warts-and-all Camp Reports, you’ll all have already read it so I needn’t mention it now.

All the best Ian ‘Mini-Moose’ Rutledge Dear Martin May I take this opportunity to inform Evvo (Navvies, issue 292, page 21) that I’ve been digging since approximately forever and to steal my Head of Breakfast badge is going to take a lot more than handing out a few Dutch waffles whilst my back is turned!

Yours unusurpably (no, this is a word!)

John ‘The Hawk’ Hawkins

Dear Martin I must express how glad I am that Mk2 kept the Forestry Camp report (Navvies, issue 292, page 18) so mercifully brief. Something I learned once, which might be relevant here, is that anything you say might be taken Grrr wuff Martin down and used as evidence against you. Just I wish Mk2 had told the full story in his saying. report on the WRG Forestry Camp (Navvies, Missin’ ya already! issue 292, page 18). He managed to avoid ‘Mitch’ Gozna mentioning my contribution towards bonding Head Chef, WRG Forestry Team with the locals, which was going to the pub with Mark and Tracy and proceeding to get “This correspondence is now closed” ...Ed

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dig

report

Reunion

...in which we demonstrate that it is probably unwise to ask the volunteers for their comments after a certain time on the Saturday evening...

Lichfield WRG Bonfire Bash At some point during the Saturday evening of the weekend, in among the Navvies editor’s efforts to persuade somebody to volunteer to write a report from our annual Reunion / Bonfire Bash dig (hosted this year by the Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust on the Lichfield Canal), and the dig leader’s protestations about not being any good at writing reports, somebody hit upon a ‘bright’ idea. “Let’s ask everyone to write a one-line impression on a piece of paper” - which was then folded over to hide it before the next person added their comment, and so on.

We probably shouldn’t have left it until quite so late on the Saturday night party before we asked people. Some of the comments are a little random, to say the least. But while the editor has no intention of breaking his promise to include all of the comments (see opposite), perhaps we should have some serious stuff first...

The site was to the west side of Lichfield city centre, around an area called Fosseway Heath. This is where a length of derelict canal currently under restoration will meet up with a brand new section of canal to be built alongside the new Lichfield southern bypass, as a way of avoiding a length that has disappeared under the expansion of the city’s housing estates.

And this new length will in turn link up with the section we’ve worked on for many years at Tamworth Road, via a new tunnel under the Lichfield to Birmingham railway line that the Canal Trust are currently in the process of trying to raise a million quid to pay for. Oh, and at the other end of the length we were working on is Fosseway Lock, which we helped LHCRT restore some 20 years ago, and which has been waiting to be linked up (and getting a little overgrown again) since then. So all in all, it’s a pretty critical length of canal. And even though it might not have boats on it for a while, the towpath will be opened up as a local walk, and the channel will be turned into a nature reserve in the meantime.

That’s the site: what of the work? Well, there were four jobs, as the volunteers found when they arrived on the Friday night and were invited to add their name to one of four lists. Firstly carrying on building the towpath wall (replacing the old one which has (a) collapsed and (b) disappeared under the adjacent fields as boundaries have shifted) - where we did a great deal of work on our summer camp (see report, issue 290). Secondly backfilling the wall and surfacing the towpath. Thirdly clearing all the undergrowth from the lock and surrounding length of channel. And finally hedgelaying on the former towpath hedge which has gone rather wild over the six decades since the canal shut.

And the good news is that we made excellent progress on all four of these tasks. The lock and hedge are looking far less unkempt, the wall has moved on quite some distance, the towpath looks like a towpath, and LHCRT were pleased with our work. We also had a great time, and at the WRG meeting on the Saturday afternoon we planned next year’s Canal Camps programme for the whole country - and spent the Saturday night nobbling people to lead camps. I know, I was nobbled! (Seriously, we have a number of leaders who have already volunteered to lead camps in 2019, a number of whom offered their services during the Reunion dig, but we’re still recruiting - contact Alex at head office if you’re interested).

So thanks to Bex and everyone who helped her organise the weekend and who led the teams, Jude and her kitchen crew for the delicious food, all the van drivers, LHCRT for keeping us busy with good work, all the volunteers for turning up and working (and playing) hard, and everyone else I’ve forgotten.

And despite the nasty rumours that there would be no bonfires - there were.

Note the date in your diary for the next Reunion: 2-3 November 2019.

Martin Ludgate

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fact file Lichfield Canal

Length: 7 miles Locks: 30 Date closed: 1955

The Reunion work: Building a towpath wall, path laying, scrub clearance, hedge laying To Fradley Diversions to be built to bypass obstructions to restoration

A3 8

Why? Initially to create a nature reserve and public path; eventually as part of the Lichfield Canal route.

LICHFIELD A4 61

To Coventry HS2

The wider picture: See opposite page for how it fits in A51 Byp ass with other work around Lichfield, but ultimately it’s about recreating a missing link which opens up access from the busy Coventry To Anglesey Canal via historic Lichfield Basin Tamworth Road A5 to the sadly underused work site Ogley Junction canals of the Northern Wyrley & M6 Toll Reunion site: Birmingham Canal Summerhill Essington Canal Fosseway Heath Navigations. work site To Wolverhampton

Coverntry Canal

Darnford Lane work site

Martin Ludgate

In their own words...

“The pepper grinder exploded all over the stew, the crumble all went, and the cooks celebrated with wine when it was all over” [followed by “Jude folded it wrong”, suggesting perhaps an enthusiastic celebration...]

“The reunion was fantastic. Jude’s peppery beef stew was lovely! I also loved being with likeminded others, scrub-bashing and bonfiring. Here’s to next year!”

“I got told to paint the container on site. I was given emulsion paint. I’m glad it doesn’t rain here.”

“I strimmed. I was ill.”

“My elbow is resting – but I didn’t do it on site. I led. I walked 20,590 steps on site on Saturday.”

“I made it to site and nobody died.”

“Wolves did it.”

“I *love* baked apples!”

“What happens on site stays on site” “That Martin Ludgate – what’s that all about?”

“And if only Amanda had been here, I might have had coffee in bed.”

“Nobody died. Yet.” “Why are the dumpers / excavators so shagged?”

“Lots of yummy cake!”

“Bring on the dancing vicars.”

“Significant blood loss.”

“The bidding war for next year’s camp leaders.

Alex Melson taking bids on the phone...”

“Battling brambles and nipping nettles.”

“Reunions are great places to re-kindle and make new friendships.”

“It’s so much nicer than being paid to work...”

“How much nicer the accommodation smells than...” [couldn’t read the rest] “Intriguing November event that certainly attracts a great amount of people!”

“Paul the van driver....”

“You stick your head up above the lock wall and find that it is bloody cold and windy.”

“Lovely company, lots of work supplemented with copious amounts of fun and alcohol...”

Work in progress on the lower concrete block courses of the new towpath wall. See front cover and Page 2 for more Reunion pictures

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Boat club

News

“Isn’t it cold in winter?” As the days get chillier, our very own Boat Club has some advice for WRG boaters on how to keep warm safely afloat...

WRG BC News Waterway Recovery Group Boat Club – motto “INCOMPETENCE AT ITS BEST!” (The reason I’ve put the club motto at the top of this offering will be very clear to members who have received strange communications etc of late!)

More on fires...

As the nights draw in and British Summer Time has ended, we all need a fire. Mostly these are solid fuel types. There is a campaign to make carbon monoxide detectors compulsory on boats.

In fact they will be on the Boat Safety Certificate lists soon; all they need to do is decide which types are the safest and most suitable for boats.

Your boat can become full of dangerous fumes through no fault of your own, for example when you are moored next to a boat running an engine that emits lots of fumes or is running a generator that similarly belches fumes out of the exhaust.

Mike Daines

I’ve just come back from a week on narrowboat Straw Bear at Market Bosworth, of course I managed to pick a very cold spot of weather, when there were frosts overnight and in the boat all was damp. As I have a diesel fire, and they are notoriously difficult to light, I was resolute that if the darn thing wouldn’t co-operate, the dog and I would move into the town to a hotel in Market Bosworth. Luckily it lit. Most lucky because I

don’t know if there is a hotel in Bosworth that would take the dog, or me!

IWA 2018 campaign cruise reaches Welches Dam - but restoring the lock awaits EA consent

page 24

Here is a check list for those that use a multi-fuel stove, but don’t get complacent if you have a diesel stove please!

.

. . . . . . . .

All paid up members should have received their new membership cards by now, also Firstly, and you should have done this the last Christmas card from me! Included before you light the stove for winter, was an appeal, from Lynne, for new club sweep the flues! Do this regularly. officers. Please consider if you could fill one Burn the right fuel for the stove. House of these posts, it would be such a shame if coal is cheaper but not suitable for a the club had to fold due to lack of support. closed stove. Buy quality smokeless There is no need to be secretary as before, a fuels from a reputable supplier. If you clean sweep would be favourable. use wood, make sure it’s seasoned and Please note, if you haven’t paid dry, or even kiln dried. Do not use YOU’RE TOO LATE and will have to rejoin damp wood picked up on foraging what is possibly the best club on the cut. We trips, get it dry first. never have work parties to tidy the moorOn the stove, ensure that the seals and ings, no one complains about their mooring glass are in good condition. or that the bar isn’t open on time, there is no You should have adequate high and low problem with the bar rota etc etc. Our club level ventilation on your boat. DON’T has many advantages and membership to BLOCK AIR VENTS. the AWCC which represents boaters throughDon’t bank up the fire and then leave it out the system. Altogether a wonderful boat to draw. Keep an eye on it. club!

The main door on the fire should only We decided at the AGM to send a donabe opened to load with fuel. Keep it tion for the re-opening of Welches Dam and closed at all other times. the channel between there and Horsways Empty the ash pan outside of the cabin Lock. However until the Environment Agency and into a heatproof container. If left allows the work to commence they haven’t a inside they give off carbon monoxide fund. Any ideas gratefully received. for hours! xxx Sadie Heritage sadieheritage@gmail.com 07748186867 Make sure that your two escape exits (there should be one each end of the boat, though we never had two on PS Please let me know of any news, what Lynx!) are not blocked, locked from the you are up to, where you’ve adventured to outside or jammed shut. and any future plans.

Be familiar with the location of fire extinguishers. They are tested at BSC time but it’s your life, so ensure they’re up to date.

Finally, please don’t store ‘combustibles’ near the fire, or round the chimney on the roof! Fred and I once saw a boat roof on fire because the occupants had tried to dry damp wood by the chimney. Imagine us knocking on the boat to say, ‘Excuse us but do you know that your roof is on fire?’

Before we all cleared the burning wood off Check the stove seal is in good condition, replace it if it isn’t the roof!

Martin Ludgate

.

Have a warm, but not too exciting, winter!

page 25

navvies

diary

Canal Camps cost £70 per week or as stated. Bookings for WRG Camps with Moor Road, Chesham HP5 1WA. Tel: 01494 783453, enquiries@wrg.org.uk. Di Dec 26-Jan 1 wrgBITM Dec 26-Jan 1 CC201827 Jan 4-10 WAT Jan 6 Sun wrgNW Jan 12/13 London WRG Jan 12/13 wrgFT Jan 19/20 wrgBITM Jan 19/20? wrgNW Jan 26/27 NWPG Feb 1-7 WAT Feb 2/3 KESCRG Feb 2 Sat WRG Feb 3 Sun? wrgNW Feb 3 Sun WRG Feb 9/10 London WRG Feb 15-17 wrgFT Feb 16/17 wrgBITM Feb 16/17? wrgNW Mar 1-7 WAT Mar 2/3 NWPG Mar 2-10? wrgNW Mar 9/10 London WRG Mar 16 Sat WRG Mar 16/17 KESCRG Mar 16/17 wrgBITM Mar 16/17 wrgFT Mar 17 Sun WRG Mar 20 Wed wrgNW Mar 30/31 London WRG Apr 3-9 wrgNW Apr 5-12 WAT Apr 6/7 KESCRG Apr 13/14 wrgBITM Apr 19-27 CC201901 Apr 19-27 CC201902 May 3-10 WAT May 4/5/6 NWPG May 11/12 London WRG

Wilts & Berks Canal: Christmas Camp at Dauntsey. Leader: Rachael Ban Cotswold Canals: Christmas Camp Wendover Arm: Stage 4 excavation Fri-Thu Hollinwood Canal: One-day dig Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation: Joint dig with WRG Forestry (but dif Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation Wessex Waterways: Hedge planting at Foxham Lancaster Canal?: Jan 5/6 or 12/13 or 19/20 TBC Wey & Arun Canal: Birtley fencing Wendover Arm: Stage 4 excavation Fri-Thu Basingstoke Canal: Scrub bashing & chipping at Fleet Leaders Thank you meal Sankey Canal: One-day dig, date TBC Committee & Board Meetings: Rowington Village Hall Shrewsbury & Newport Canals: Scrub bashing at tunnel portals Uttoxeter Canal: Friday to Sunday Grantham Canal: Cropwell Bishop (scrub bashing) Lancaster Canal or S&N?: Feb 2/3 or 9/10 or 16/17 TBC Wendover Arm: Stage 4 excavation Fri-Thu Cotswold Canals: Stroudwater - Whitminster?

Montgomery Canal: Rolling mini-camp at Redwith Wey & Arun Canal PAT Testing: Rowington Village Hall Cotswold Canals: Stroudwater - joint dig with WRG Forestry To be arranged Cotswold Canals: Joint dig with KESCRG Committee & Board Meetings: Rowington Village Hall Ad Hoc Meeting BCN Clean Up: Dudley No 2 Canal Cromford Canal: Rolling mini-camp at Sawmills Wendover Arm Cotswold Canals: Inglesham To be arranged Lancaster Canal: Easter Camp Cotswold Canals: Easter Camp (Weymoor) Wendover Arm Wey & Arun Canal: Birtley fencing Buckingham Arm: Brickwork at Bridge 1

For details of diary dates beyond the end of this list ple

page 26

WRG and mobile groups

h number e.g. 'Camp 201901' should go to WRG Canal Camps, Island House, iary compiled by Dave Wedd. Tel: 07816-175454, dave.wedd@wrgbitm.org.uk

nyard

fferent sites)

Dave Wedd Roger Leishman Ju Davenport Tim Lewis Nigel Lee Dave Wedd Ju Davenport Bill Nicholson Roger Leishman Bobby Silverwood Mike Palmer Ju Davenport Mike Palmer Tim Lewis Nigel Lee Dave Wedd Ju Davenport Roger Leishman Bill Nicholson Ju Davenport Tim Lewis Bungle Bobby Silverwood Dave Wedd Nigel Lee Mike Palmer Mike & Liz Chase Tim Lewis Ju Davenport Roger Leishman Bobby Silverwood Dave Wedd

Roger Leishman Bill Nicholson Tim Lewis

07816-175454 01494-783453 01442-874536 07808-182004 07802-518094 07802-854694 07816-175454 07808-182004 01844-343369 01442-874536 07971-814986 01564-785293 07808-182004 01564-785293 07802-518094 07802-854694 07816-175454 07808-182004 01442-874536 01844-343369 07808-182004 07802-518094

bookings@wrgbitm.org.uk enquiries@wrg.org.uk rwleishman@gmail.com nw@wrg.org.uk london@wrg.org.uk nigel.lee@wrg.org.uk bookings@wrgbitm.org.uk nw@wrg.org.uk bill@nwpg.org.uk rwleishman@gmail.com bobby@kescrg.org.uk mike.palmer@wrg.org.uk nw@wrg.org.uk mike.palmer@wrg.org.uk london@wrg.org.uk nigel.lee@wrg.org.uk bookings@wrgbitm.org.uk nw@wrg.org.uk rwleishman@gmail.com bill@nwpg.org.uk nw@wrg.org.uk london@wrg.org.uk

07971-814986 07816-175454 07802-854694 01564-785293

bobby@kescrg.org.uk bookings@wrgbitm.org.uk nigel.lee@wrg.org.uk mike.palmer@wrg.org.uk

07802-518094 07808-182004 01442-874536 07971-814986 07816-175454 01494-783453 01494-783453 01442-874536 01844-343369 07802-518094

london@wrg.org.uk nw@wrg.org.uk rwleishman@gmail.com bobby@kescrg.org.uk bookings@wrgbitm.org.uk enquiries@wrg.org.uk enquiries@wrg.org.uk rwleishman@gmail.com bill@nwpg.org.uk london@wrg.org.uk

ease contact diary compiler Dave Wedd: see top of page

page 27

navvies

diary

Canal societies’ regular working parties 3rd Sunday of month ACA Every Sunday if required BBHT Every Tuesday BCA Once per month: pls check BCNS 2nd & 4th w/e of month BCS Thursdays Sep-Apr BCT 2nd Sun & alternate Thu BuCS Every Mon and Wed CCT Every Mon am Thu pm CCT Various dates CCT Every Sunday ChCT Every Tue and Thu CSCT Every Tue & Wed C&BN Every Friday ECPDA Most Wed and Sun DSCT Second Sun of month FIPT Every Mon to Fri GCS Every Fri and Sat GCS Tuesdays H&GCT Weekends H&GCT Wednesdays H&GCT Thursdays H&GCT 3rd Wed and last Sat K&ACT 2nd Sunday of month LCT Every Wed/Thu/Sat/Sun LHCRT 3rd Sunday of month LHCRT 2nd full weekend of month MBBCS Alternate Saturdays MWRT Two Sundays per month NWDCT Weekly PCAS Every Wed and 1st Sat RGT 2nd Sunday of month SCARS 1st Sunday of month SCCS Last weekend of month SCS 2nd Sunday of month SNT Every Thu and Sat SORT various dates SRL 1st weekend of month SUCS Every Tuesday morning TMCA Most days, please contact WACT 1st w/e of month (Fri-Thu) WAT Every Sun WBCT Every Wed WBCT 2nd and last Sun of month WBCT

Snarestone Peter Oakden Bugsworth Basin Ian Edgar Basingstoke Canal Chris Healy BCN waterways Mike Rolfe Basingstoke Canal Duncan Paine Aqueduct section Tim Dingle Buckingham area Athina Beckett Cotswold (W depot) Reg Gregory Cotswold (E end) John Maxted Cotswold Phase 1a Jon Pontefract Chesterfield Canal Mick Hodgetts Chichester Canal Malcolm Maddison Chelmer & Blackwater John Gale Langley Mill John Baylis Derby Canal Keith Johnson Foxton Inclined Plane Mike Beech Grantham Lock 14 Ian Wakefield Woolsthorpe depot Ian Wakefield Oxenhall Brian Fox Over Wharf House Maggie Jones Over / Vineyard Hill Ted Beagles Herefordshire Wilf Jones East Kennet & Avon Mike Bennett Lancaster N. Reaches Robin Yates Lichfield Hugh Millington Hatherton Denis Cooper Nob End Ian Astbury Maidenhead w/ways Ian Caird N Walsham Canal David Revill Pocklington Canal Richard Harker Stowmarket Navigtn. Martin Bird Sankey Canal John Hughes Combe Hay Locks Derrick Hunt Stover Canal George Whitehead Sleaford Navigation Mel Sowerby Sussex Ouse Ted Lintott Baswich, Stafford John Potter Montgomery Canal David Carter Thames & Medway Les Schwieso Wey & Arun Canal Northern office Little Tring Roger Leishman Swindon Oliver Gardiner Wootton Bassett John Bower Pewsham Ray Canter

01827-880667 0161-427 7402 01252-370073 07763-171735 01252-614125 01288-361356 01908-661217 01452-614362 01285-861011 07986-351412 01246-620695 01243-775201 01376-334896 01623-621208 07845-466721 0116-279-2657 0115-989-2128 0115-989-2128 01432-358628 01452-618010 01452-522648 01452-413888 0118-969-9861 01539-733252 01543-251747 01543-374370 07855-471117 07581-092001 01603-738648 07702-741211 01394-380765 01744-600656 01225-863066 01626-775498 01522-856810 01444-414413 01785-226662 01244-661440 01634-847118 01483-505566 01442-874536 07785-775993 01793 636297 01249 659111

Please send updates to Navvies diary compiler Dave Wedd (see previous page)

page 28

Canal societies and CRT Canal & River Trust ‘Towpath Taskforce’ regular working parties 2nd Saturday of month Audlem 2nd Saturday of month Aylesbury Every Thursday Bath 1st Wednesday of month Birmingham Alternate Thursdays Blackburn 1st Thursday of month B&T 1st Sunday of month Burnley Alternate Tuesdays Caldon Last Saturday of month Chester 1st Saturday of month Colne/Nelson Alternate Thursdays Coventry 3rd Thursday of month Devizes 1st Saturday & next Tue Fradley 4th Thursday of month Gailey Every Wednesday Gloucester 1st Wed & Fri of month Hatton Last Sunday of month Hawkesbury 1st Saturday of month Hemel Hemp.

2nd Friday of month Huddersfield 1st Thursday of month Knottingley Alternate Thursdays Lancaster 3rd Thu & Sat of month Lapworth 3rd Friday of month Leeds Alternate Tuesdays Leicester 1st Tuesday of month Littleborough 2nd Sat of month London Cent.

1st Wed & 3rd Sat of month London East 1st Sat 3rd & 4th Wed London West Last Tuesday of month Mirfield Every Tuesday Mon & Brec 2nd Thursday of month Newbury Alternate Thursdays North Warks 4th Saturday of month Oxford 3rd Wed of month Perry Barr 2nd Wednesday of month Preston Every Friday Sefton 3rd Saturday of month Selby 2nd Wednesday of month Skipton Alternate Fridays South Derbys 2nd Thursday of month Stratford Alternate Wednesdays Tamworth Every Tuesday Turnerwood Alternate Thursdays Walsall Every Tuesday Wigan Every Thursday Worcester

Abbreviations used in Diary: ACA BBHT BCNS BuCS BCS BCT ChCT CBN CCT ECPDA FIPT GCS H&GCT KACT KESCRG LCT

Ashby Canal Association Bugsworth Basin Heritage Trust Birmingham Canal Navigations Soc. Buckingham Canal Society Basingstoke Canal Society Bude Canal Trust Chesterfield Canal Trust Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation Cotswolds Canals Trust Erewash Canal Pres. & Devt. Assoc.

Foxton Inclined Plane Trust Grantham Canal Society Hereford & Gloucester Canal Trust Kennet & Avon Canal Trust Kent & E Sussex Canal Rest. Group Lancaster Canal Trust

Shropshire Union Aylesbury Arm Kennet & Avon Bimingham & Fazeley Leeds & Liverpool Bridgwater & Taunton Leeds & Liverpool Caldon/T&M Shropshire Union Leeds & Liverpool Coventry Kennet & Avon Coventry/ T&M Staffs & Worcs Glos & Sharpness Grand Union Coventry/Oxford Grand Union Huddersfield Broad Aire & Calder Lancaster Canal Stratford Canal Leeds & Liverpool Soar/Grand Union Rochdale Regents/Docklands Lee & Stort Paddington/ GU Calder & Hebble Monmouth & Brecon Kennet & Avon Coventry/Ashby Oxford BCN Lancaster Canal Leeds & Liverpool Selby Canal Leeds & Liverpool Trent & Mersey Stratford Canal Coventry/ Fazeley Chesterfield BCN Leeds & Liverpool Worcester & B’ham LHCRT MBBCS NWPG NWDCT PCAS RGT SCARS SCCS SCS SNT SRL SORT SUCS TMCA WACT WAT WBCT

Jason Watts Sonny King Steve Manzi Sue Blocksidge Alice Kay Steve Manzi Alice Kay Andy Whitehouse Jason Watts Alice Kay Sue Blocksidge Steve Manzi Sue Blocksidge Sue Blocksidge Caroline Kendall Sue Blocksidge Sue Blocksidge Sonny King Becca Dent Becca Dent Alice Kay Sue Blocksidge Becca Dent Wayne Ball Andy Whitehouse Debbie Vidler Debbie Vidler Debbie Vidler Becca Dent Caroline Kendall Steve Manzi Sue Blocksidge Sonny King Sue Blocksidge Alice Kay Alice Kay Becca Dent Alice Kay Wayne Ball Sue Blocksidge Sue Blocksidge Wayne Ball Sue Blocksidge Alice Kay Caroline Kendall

07824 356556 07876 217059 07710175278 07917 585838 07825 196 365 07710175278 07825 196 365 07789 982392 07824 356556 07825 196 365 07917 585838 07710175278 07917 585838 07917 585838 01452 318028 07917 585838 07917 585838 07876 217059 0113 2816811 0113 2816811 07825 196 365 07917 585838 0113 2816811 01636 675704 07789 982392 07825 099167 07825 099167 07825 099167 0113 2816811 01452 318028 07710175278 07917 585838 07876 217059 07917 585838 07825 196 365 07825 196 365 0113 2816811 07825 196 365 01636 675704 07917 585838 07917 585838 01636 675704 07917 585838 07825 196 365 01452 318028

Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Rest'n Trust Manchester Bolton & Bury Canal Society Newbury Working Party Group North Walsham & Dilham Canal Trust Pocklington Canal Amenity Society River Gipping Trust Sankey Canal Restoration Society Somersetshire Coal Canal Society Stover Canal Society Sleaford Navigation Trust Stafford Riverway Link Sussex Ouse Restoration Trust Shropshire Union Canal Society Thames & Medway Canal Association Wey & Arun Canal Trust Wendover Arm Trust Wilts & Berks Canal Trust

page 29

navvies

diary

Inland Waterways Association and other one-day working parties Every Sat IWA West Country Bridgwater & Taunton Canal: Taunton area 10am-1:30pm Every Tue/SatIWA West Country Bridgwater & Taunton Canal: Bridgwater area 10am-1:30pm Every Fri IWA Lichfield Trent & Mersey Canal: Offside Veg clearance with CRT 9:30-3:30 Jan 6 Sun IWA Northants Northampton Arm: 10am-2pm. Painting, vegetation & litter Jan 8 Tue IWA BBCW Staffs & Worcs Canal: Kidderminster. Plastics clearance, Br 17 Jan 9 Wed IWA PeterboroughHorseways Channel: Horseways Lock and Channel. 10am-3pm Jan 10 Thu IWA NSSC/CUCT Uttoxeter Canal: Work party at Bridge 70, Crumpwood. 10am-3pm Jan 13 Sun IWA Lincs/SNT Sleaford Navigation: Various work on navigable section Jan 15 Tue IWA Northants Northampton Arm: 10am-2pm. Painting, vegetation & litter Jan 17 Thu IWA NSSC/TMCS Trent & Mersey Canal: Cheshire Locks. 10am-3pm. Meet at locks 47 Jan 19 Sat IWA Chester Shropshire Union Canal: Chester area, painting & veg clearance. 10amJan 19 Sat IWA Manchester Venue T.B.C.: Greater Manchester area. Veg clearance, etc. 10amJan 22 Tue BCP/IWA Oxford Oxford Canal: Banbury Canal Partnership, 9am-1pm Jan 22 Tue IWA NSSC/BPT Burslem Arm: Luke St, Middleport, Stoke on Trent. 10am-3pm Jan 23 Wed IWA PeterboroughHorseways Channel: Horseways Lock and Channel. 10am-3pm Jan 29 Tue BCP/IWA Oxford Oxford Canal: Banbury Canal Partnership, 9am-1pm Every Fri IWA Lichfield Trent & Mersey Canal: Offside Veg clearance with CRT 9:30-3:30 Every Sat IWA West Country Bridgwater & Taunton Canal: Taunton area 10am-1:30pm Feb 3 Sun IWA Northants Northampton Arm: 10am-2pm. Painting, vegetation & litter Feb 10 Sun IWA Lincs/SNT Sleaford Navigation: Various work on navigable section Feb 12 Tue IWA BBCW Staffs & Worcs Canal: Kidderminster. Plastics clearance, Br 17 Feb 13 Wed IWA PeterboroughHorseways Channel: Horseways Lock and Channel. 10am-3pm Feb 14 Thu IWA NSSC/CUCT Uttoxeter Canal: Work party at Bridge 70, Crumpwood. 10am-3pm Feb 16 Sat IWA Chester Shropshire Union Canal: Chester area, painting & veg clearance. 10amFeb 16 Sat IWA Manchester Venue T.B.C.: Greater Manchester area. Veg clearance, etc. 10amFeb 19 Tue BCP/IWA Oxford Oxford Canal: Banbury Canal Partnership, 9am-1pm Feb 19 Tue IWA Northants Northampton Arm: 10am-2pm. Painting, vegetation & litter Feb 21 Thu IWA NSSC/TMCS Trent & Mersey Canal: Cheshire Locks. 10am-3pm. Meet at locks 47 Feb 26 Tue BCP/IWA Oxford Oxford Canal: Banbury Canal Partnership, 9am-1pm Feb 26 Tue IWA NSSC/BPT Burslem Arm: Luke St, Middleport, Stoke on Trent. 10am-3pm Feb 27 Wed IWA PeterboroughHorseways Channel: Horseways Lock and Channel. 10am-3pm

IWA branch abbreviations BBCW = Birmingham, Black Country & Worcestershire; Other abbreviations: BCN = Banbury Canal Partnership BPT = Burslem Port trust; CUCT = Caldon TMCS = Trent & Mersey Canal Society; CRT = Canal & River Trust

Mobile groups' socials:

The following groups hold regular social gatherings

London WRG: 7:30pm on Tues 11 days before dig at the 'Rose & Crown' Colombo Street, London NWPG: 7:30pm on 3rd Tue of month at the 'Hope Tap', West end of Friar St. Reading.

page 30

IWA and partners For WRG, canal societies and CRT working parties see previous pages

& 48 4pm 4pm

4pm 4pm

& 48

Steve Bulgin Mike Slade Neil Barnett Geoff Wood David Struckett Roger Mungham Steve Wood Chris or Steve Hayes Geoff Wood John Lawson Jason Watts

07855-794256 07977-263840

01945-773002 07976-805858 01522-689460 07940-878923 07710-554602

Colin Garnham-Edge Steve Wood Roger Mungham Colin Garnham-Edge Neil Barnett Steve Bulgin Geoff Wood Chris or Steve Hayes David Struckett Roger Mungham Steve Wood Jason Watts

07976-805858 01945-773002

07855-794256 01522-689460 01945-773002 07976-805858 07710-554602

Colin Garnham-Edge Geoff Wood John Lawson Colin Garnham-Edge Steve Wood Roger Mungham

07940-878923 07976-805858 01945-773002

stevebulgin@icloud.com mike.slade@waterways.org.uk neil.barnett@waterways.org.uk geoff.wood@waterways.org.uk david.struckett@waterways.org.uk roger.mungham@waterways.org.uk steve.wood@team.waterways.org.uk workparties@sleafordnavigation.co.uk geoff.wood@waterways.org.uk john.lawson@waterways.org.uk jason.watts@canalrivertrust.org.uk secretary@manchester-iwa.co.uk bcpontheoxford@gmail.com steve.wood@team.waterways.org.uk roger.mungham@waterways.org.uk bcpontheoxford@gmail.com neil.barnett@waterways.org.uk stevebulgin@icloud.com geoff.wood@waterways.org.uk workparties@sleafordnavigation.co.uk david.struckett@waterways.org.uk roger.mungham@waterways.org.uk steve.wood@team.waterways.org.uk jason.watts@canalrivertrust.org.uk secretary@manchester-iwa.co.uk bcpontheoxford@gmail.com geoff.wood@waterways.org.uk john.lawson@waterways.org.uk bcpontheoxford@gmail.com steve.wood@team.waterways.org.uk roger.mungham@waterways.org.uk

MK = Milton Keynes; Mcr= Manchester; NSSC = North Staffs & South Cheshire & Uttoxeter Canal Society;

RGT= River Gipping Trust; SNT = Sleaford Navigation Trust;

in pubs.

Please phone to confirm dates and times

SE1 8DP.

Contact Tim Lewis 07802-518094 Contact Phil Dray 07956-185305

page 31

Harry arnold Obituary Mike Day and John Felix remember a man who may never have been seen picking up a shovel, but had an incalculable impact on canal restoration volved in much canal activity for over fifty years. Sometimes only peripherally, but time We realise, with regret, that we have reached after time his address book and the use of an age when if we write for Navvies it must the contacts within made things either possibe to compose another obituary. This one is ble or at least much easier. We always said about a very important waterways man but, that Harry knew everybody and in canal it must be said, we never saw him pick up a terms that was true. It included British shovel. He was, however, via his pen and his Waterways Board (as was) engineers and camera, his contacts and amazing depth of managers, hire boat operators, MPs and knowledge, a quiet mover & shaker promot- councillors, as many voluntary canal societies ing the use of canals and thus the necessity as you could shake a stick at, plus the comto restore and maintain them. mercial waterway press, many of the magazines he had had a part in starting – the list For everyone, WRG, local volunteer is endless. groups and the Inland Waterways Association too, for that matter, he had to be the It is no accident that the waterway most beloved by Harry – and Graham too, for that most important man since Robert Aickman. matter – was the Montgomery Canal. It was Harry, it was, who advised Graham Palmer about setting up the organisation that grew the canal Harry put the most effort into and no with and from Navvies Notebook (as it was doubt his records of this cut must be far and until issue 30) – and which became WRG. away more extensive than anyone else’s. AlWhen they got together for this we cannot say, because Mike’s connection and memories only go back fifty years.

However, he remembers one evening in 1970, a manic drive from David Martin’s home in Northampton to Harry & Beryl’s place in Alrewas.

David drove like a lunatic, because they were late, Mike following with his passengers: the meeting they were going to being the start of what became the Narrow Boat Trust. Just one of the many meetings held in the Arnolds’ front room, so typical of waterway business in those days. All a bit ad hoc, on the hop and the more so because all had a living to make as well.

Harry was inPictures by Waterway Images

Harry Arnold 1937-2018

page 32

Harry (right) at Fradley in 1981 with WRG founder Graham Palmer (left) and IWA’s John Gagg though, there was one photo he did not shoot and that was the only one we can think of with him in the frame – a small group of friends at the interment of Graham’s ashes at Graham Palmer Lock, around the memorial stone.

What makes Harry’s passing particularly sad is that the Waterway Movement has now lost its memory. He went back so far, to managing a hire boat fleet at Norbury in the early 1960s, when Thomas Clayton’s and other working boats were still passing. We are amused and irritated in equal measure by some current canal writers who tell us what it was like to go boating in 1970 or how much/little was achieved at a dig or what was a success or a failure, when they were never there. Harry was there and he made a good fist of photo-journalism and other writing to accurately record what had actually happened.

Every occasion you care to mention.

‘OpAsh’, ‘Ashtac’, Droitwich and Deepcut Digs, the Marple flight, Welshpool, the Stratford maintenance programmes – he helped organise and was at every one of them.

(With seeming omnipresence, he would be at IWA Council, other meetings, rallies, press conferences, drinks in the pub, etc., etc., as well, but we are primarily concerned with restoration here.)

And he was lucky, always at the right place at the right time! If something hap-

pened, he was there to ‘snap’ it. If something was being thrown into a skip, he was there to rescue it. Company record books and a complete set of Shropshire Union horse harness comes to mind and once he met Isaiah Atkins – of Lee & Atkins, the Polesworth boatbuilders – then long into an obscure retirement. He persuaded Mr. Atkins to decorate a boatman’s stool for him and that stool must undoubtedly be the last piece the old boy painted and is possibly the only example of his work outside a museum.

The award of an MBE was just recognition of his work for waterways and the greater environment besides. He recently told us of the ceremony and said he only represented many others who had contributed. An award winner saying that “the award was not just for them, but for the whole team” is a cliché and true to a point, but if Harry had not done so much to set projects in motion, there would have been a lot less to do for the many teams who followed behind him. Certainly the list of achievements over the past seventy odd years, since Rolt and Aickman started it all, would have been a lot shorter without his interest and effort.

Harry leaves behind Beryl and his children Julie and Mike and an incalculable number of friends, including:Mike Day and John Felix

page 33

Progress Lancaster Canal Our roundup of progress begins this time with the Lancaster Canal Trust carrying on the re-lining work that our Easter canal camps started...

Lancaster Canal northern reaches owner a large part of the material was lifted

Pics by LCT

into the adjacent field to form a large pile. It After the heroic efforts of WRG over the will be used for the re-filling of the bank Easter canal camps working on lining the profiles. first lengths of the ‘First Furlong’ section of An extended working party in August canal from Bridge 172 to Bridge 173 (in laid the lining for length 4 and jointing was terrible weather), Lancaster Canal Trust were done on the Saturday. This was made easier left on our own to complete length 3 and the by a newly designed ‘pasting table’ that went remaining four lengths by the end of the all the way across the bed. The Sunday was year. meant to be the day that the lining was Finishing length 3 started in May and ‘pulled out’; to enable jointing there has to was complicated because the banks to the be surplus material to avoid straining the joint. The whole length of lining has then got previous length had been left undone. Once to be pulled along a couple of metres or so. we’d finished the towpath bank joint we completed the block laying on that side. The This is not easy when covered with water. As it happened there was heavy rain on the off side proved much more difficult, compliSaturday night and next morning found the cated by the water in the bed (over and under the lining) which just pooled in the length under water. It took all day to get the wrong places. After one attempt, in early water down to a reasonable level.

June, the joint was finally completed in early Final water removal and pulling out was July and block laying completed by the mid- carried out with the help of a group of engidle of the month. Although the weather had neers from British Gas on a volunteer day. decided to be a lot kinder to us there was still water underneath the lining which made walking on parts of it like being on an inflatable.

At the end of July we started clearing the bed for length 4 and profiling the rest of the length.

The latter was done professionally with a large excavator and resulted in a lot of stony earth being accumulated near Bridge 172. With permission from the This view shows how the new lining is made from sheet material and blocks

page 34

They then laid blocks at an amazing rate and by mid- afternoon they had largely completed the work. This included a competition to see who could move the most (16Kg) blocks in a barrow. The winner managed about 12, 192 kilos, the loser was the barrow. N.B. mere mortals can move about 5.

The outstanding blocks were laid by a small working party at the end of the month.

A further set of volunteers from Calor Gas was scheduled to come and assist us on 17th September so we had to get the lining for length 5 laid by then.

We received and moved 3 truckloads of blocks in the first week of September. This time we tried moving all the forty-odd pallet loads onto the blocks of the previous length.

We then used an all-terrain pallet truck to move complete pallets to the laying position as work progressed. This was largely successful but not enough manoeuvring space had been allowed.

Then there was the usual length clearance and laying the under geotextile and the EPDM (rubber lining). Rolling out the latter proved very strenuous with 4 pushers and 4 pullers, the normal weight of the roll (over half a ton) being made worse by the roll being misshapen after handling. It was also noted that there was damage to the roll that had to be subsequently repaired with

patches. Jointing was started on the Sunday, despite intermittent rain but not completed on the towpath bank because the required alignment and flat overlap could not be obtained.

During the week another jointing table was brought into use, shorter than the first so that it would remain flat up the bank. This enabled the lining to be clipped into the correct position for jointing on the following Saturday. The lining was then ‘pulled out’ as far as possible by two people. Final pulling out and adjustment was carried out at the start of the main volunteer day with Calor Gas who then laid about 2,500 blocks in a similarly efficient way to the British Gas guys except that use of the pallet truck reduced the amount of barrowing needed. Thanks to these guys (and gals) as well!

Plans were well under way for length 6, to start with block movement on Wednesday 10th October for lining at the weekend’s working party. However there had been heavy rain and a lot of water to be pumped out. But on arrival at our site on Monday 1st it was found that there had been a break-in and the items stolen included our main pump.

Towards the end of the week we realised that, despite the hire of a pump and its subsequent replacement by a new purchase we could not remove the water in time for the planned works so they were cancelled. As it happened things got worse with the storm over the next Friday/ Saturday, work would not have been possible and even more water would have to be pumped out.

We will be considering our options, including whether to call it a year and restart work next spring.

Watch our web site lctrust.co.uk for details.

Peter Jones Meanwhile in this picture the original unlined channel can be seen

page 35

Progress Wendover Arm Meanwhile down on the Wendover Arm, Trust’s volunteers are carrying on re-lining the channel, with some help from our BITM regional group have helped us so well over the years.

To finish the great effort of these work Great progress was made during the Wendo- parties, in October the newly blocked length ver Arm Trust’s August and September work- was completed with spoil on both banks and ing parties, bringing us within spitting disthe bed lining completed with the last 20 tance of the end of Stage 3 of our longmetre roll getting very close to the end.

A day was spent at each of the working running project to rebuild the dry section of the canal from Aston Clinton to Tringford. At parties, when there were good numbers of the working parties a great effort was made volunteers present, cutting rolls of Bentomat (waterproof bentonite clay lining material) to prepare as much bank lining complete with hollow concrete blocks as possible in both for bank and bed lining. This took preparation for a WRG BITM working party advantage of the good weather and ensures in mid-September. By the end of the Septem- that we have a good supply of Bentomat ready for future lining of Stage 4. The area ber working party 64 metres of both banks had been lined of which 14 metres were on the offside just past Whitehouses belonging to Herts County Council who allowed us completed with solid blocks and coir rolls to tip spoil against the high bank was leaving 50 metres of both banks for WRG BITM to complete with solid concrete blocks trimmed off with berms (shelves) to ensure and coir rolls. good stability.

WRG BITM then all but completed the Meanwhile CRT clearance of the aquatic solid blocking on the Saturday finishing off vegetation in the canal between the sump at complete with coir rolls on the Sunday morn- Drayton Beauchamp and the old A41 Bridge ing. But this was not the end of the WRG is now under way and it is being done very BITM work over the weekend. It had been thoroughly. agreed with the Canal & River Trust that the Roger Leishman, Restoration Director old coal bunkers at Whitehouses that once 01442 874536 rwleishman@gmail.com had a brick arch over them needed to be made safe.

The brick arch had been broken in the past, probably when the former cottages were demolished and was recently removed as it was liable to collapse.

The bunkers were to be filled with brick rubble and pea shingle to fill in all of the voids.

This work was done by WRG BITM on the Saturday. Many thanks Completed section of reconstructed channel to WRG BITM who WAT

Grand Union Wendover Arm

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Progress Burslem Branch Next, updates on a few projects that WRG looks like it will be involved in in the not-too-distant future, starting with the Burslem Branch Canal...

Burslem Branch Canal

ploratory dig in which the remains of the towpath wall were uncovered and confirmed to have sunk about 1.5m as a result of mining subsidence since the canal closed. The work to reinstate the towpath will involve raising the canal bank back to its original level and will therefore be a significant step towards reinstating the canal. Burslem Port Trust’s volunteers are likely to be looking for support from WRG – either canal camps or regional groups. Contact Steve Wood steve@bream.org.uk to find out more.

Restoration of the Burslem Branch Canal (a short arm of the Trent & Mersey Canal in Stoke-on-Trent) has taken a major step forward with the launch of a project to construct a new towpath.

The project is led by volunteers from the Burslem Port Trust, and backed by the Canal & River Trust, Stoke-on-Trent City Council, Stoke and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership and a number of voluntary groups – with £50,000 of funding agreed.

The plan is to construct a well-lit, all weather footpath, following the line of the former canal towpath for the length of the Branch, which may later provide an off-road route from Middleport right into Burslem Town Centre.

Funded by grants of £45,000 from the Council’s Community Investment Fund and £5,000 from the Canal & River Trust, the project will be led by Burslem Port Trust volunteers and work is expected to start in the New Year.

At the same time a long term strategic action plan, proBurslem Branch today, and after the breach that shut it duced by Peter Brett Associates, is being presented to key stakeholders and local businesses.

This report concludes that restoration of the arm, closed in 1961 as a result of a breach and since filled in, would result in the creation of 133 new jobs, 270 new canalside homes, 6,500 extra annual visitors and up to 2,300 boat movements per annum, with the arm used for moorings and a wharf with facilities.

The restoration of the Burslem Branch Canal was first proposed by the Trent & Mersey Canal Society about 30 years ago.

More recently WRG held an ex-

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Progress

Lapal Canal

The Lapal Canal Trust has to raise much of the £2m to reopen the canal into Selly Oak Park - and WRG is likely to provide some of the labour Lapal Canal

£700k. This won’t just complete the length through the supermarket site, but also the section beyond which runs along the edge of Selly Oak Park. Between them these two lengths would create a half-mile branch off the W&B leading to an attractive mooring site (and the first stage towards reopening a twomile route to a potential marina site at California – yes, really! - which in turn will be a step towads reopening the through route).

The length in the park basically still exists, and restoring it will be a suitable job for volunteers.

WRG has already worked on this length in the past – it includes a rare surviving 18th century hump-backed canal bridge (the only one left in Birmingham city?) where WRG ran a canal camp in 2016. It isn’t in the 2019 canal camps programme, but WRG hopes to support it either with weekend working parties or with an extra camp. Watch this space!

The Lapal Canal Trust’s plan to eventually restore the Dudley No 2 Canal from the Worcester & Birmingham Canal at Selly Oak, Birmingham, through to Hawne Basin has made some real progress recently with the creation of a new route for the canal as part of a supermarket development. But that’s only the start of work.

The development is at the Selly Oak end of the canal, in a formerly industrial area known as the Battery Park, and has done the groundwork for getting the first section from the W&B open. The developers have reserved a strip of land (the ‘greenway’) for the canal, created a path alongside it, and built a new concrete channel through a tunnel (the ‘undercroft’) under the supermarket goods delivery yard. But under the terms of the planning agreement they haven’t needed to See also pictures on back cover of this issue. go as far as shifting the earth out to create the open-air canal channel or various other works needed to open the canal: such as channel lining, creating a liftbridge for the W&B towpath, and moving buried services.

So LCT has launched a campaign to assemble a £2m package to complete the job.

A sizeable proportion of the work will be funded by the developers under a Section 106 planning agreement, but LCT New ‘greenway’ (actually looking rather brown) needs turning into a canal needs to raise

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Progress here and there...

The Buckingham’s new bridge has a deck on it, planning for the Mont’s new bridge is under way, and Blists Hill looks like it’s happening soon...

Buckingham Canal Last time we reported on the Buckingham Canal Society’s progress in Navvies 290, they were in the early stages of starting to rebuild the demolished Bridge 1 at the start of their canal at Cosgrove. Since then, work to level off the surviving parts of the original stone springings of the arch (which will form the abutments of the new flat deck bridge) has been completed. Pads of brick have been built on each side (London WRG laid 1060 bricks in one weekend) to support the new deck (which needs to be capable of carrying a combine harvester). In early November the steel beams of the bridge deck were craned into place, followed by the concrete cross beams, and the concrete block surface was laid in early December, as shown in the picture. Now there’s the side walls and the facing brickwork of the abutments to do.

Montgomery Canal Plans for the next stage of the restoration of the English length of the Montgomery Canal and what is likely to be the next major volunteer project on the canal - have taken a step forward recently with trial borings for Schoolhouse Bridge.

The current project supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund (and carried out by Shropshire Union Canal Society volunteers as well as engineering contractors) is completing the canal to Crickheath Wharf, allowing the canal to be reopened to that point from the existing limit at Gronwen Bridge. But meanwhile on the next section, the Restore the Montgomery Canal! appeal is promoting restoration of the last bridge blockage on the English side of the border, Schoolhouse Bridge between Crickheath and Pant. It is anticipated that (like Compasses Bridge on the Wey & Arun, a major worksite for WRG and other mobile groups a couple of years ago) this will be a contractor job for the main structure, but with pretty much everything else done by volunteers. In advance of this, contractors have begun a ground investigation with boreholes to establish the soil conditions for the foundations of the new bridge.

This will enable the volunteer restoration team and their professional consultants to finalise the design for approval by highway and canal authorities before construction starts.

Blists Hill: Shropshire Tub-boat Canal Following on from a WRG visit in 2016, the industrial museum at Blists Hill is looking for WRG help to carry our more work on this historic canal length within their site. Watch this space.

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camp report Mon & Brec A very different camp in South Wales, carrying out an archaeolocical excavation of the remains of a former lock keeper’s cottage at Ty Coch ing the excavated area.

On most WRG canal camps, one welcomes a group that is a mix of keen newbies I can imagine what was going through the and old-hands, the latter including volunteers minds of my motley crew of volunteers that who are experienced and skilled bricklayers, first morning. Bleary-eyed after their first or excavator drivers, or who simply know night spent on the hard floor of Crosskeys vastly more about canals than I do. Existing Methodist Church Hall, stepping warily after knowledge and skills are cheerfully shared. two safety inductions in which they’d been However, at Ty Coch, almost everyone was grimly warned of the thousand ways one can new to archaeological excavation. So I faced die on a canal camp, and after I’d repeatedly the challenge of training everyone in artold them what fun they were going to be chaeological excavation techniques in a very having, they faced the work-site – a lumpy short time. By default, an archaeological tangle of damp, stained plastic sheeting excavation destroys the evidence that it digs flapping at the bottom of a large hole just through – it’s an unrepeatable experiment. about visible in a sea of tall grasses and This means that I had to keep an even closer thistles. At least it wasn’t raining…yet. eye on what’s going on, because if I wasn’t But, a few hours later, the week one 100 percent present, a feature could vanish team had transformed what had started out forever in a few strokes of a mattock! I had looking like a garbage tip into an archaeoto answer every question, not just to ensure logical site, and the sun had come out. that the work continues smoothly, but to In August I led two canal camps at Ty avoid the loss of irretrievable information.

Coch, on the Monmouthshire and Brecon It speaks highly of all the fantastic Canal, west of Cwmbran. This flight of nine volunteers who’ve worked on the Ty Coch locks has been worked on continuously for excavations that they have, without excepseveral years, and six locks are pretty well tion, climbed a very steep learning curve, ready for their first boats. For the moment, worked hard, safely and effectively, but most funding has run out, but the Monmouthshire, importantly, have thought and acted arBrecon and Abergavenny Canal Trust is chaeologically. Their commitment has meant actively seeking further support in order to that the story of the cottage has emerged finish the job. This year was extra special for from an unprepossessing patch of waste me, because it marked the 10th anniversary ground in a total of just 20 excavation days.

I’m going to lump August 2018 two of my first-ever canal camp – in 2008 I had volunteered on a camp on the Mon & Brec weeks’ achievements into a single narrative, led by Rob Daffern, and thanks to his inspibecause as leader of both camps that’s what ration I was immediately hooked. it felt like to me. Three volunteers – Matéa th th In summer 2018, for my 15 and 16 Nargy, Ben Thompson and Filippo Zaraga, canal camps, I had planned to complete the also bridged the gap between week one and excavation of Ty Coch lock-keeper’s cottage, two, which added to the feeling of continuaor should that be lock-keepers’ cottage, for it tion. would have been lived in by a series of canal The deposits overlying the cottage employees over the 100 years or so that it remains were a tough mix of loam, clay, stood beside Shop Lock. We’d begun the gravel and stone, beneath a surface packed excavation in 2017, and had revealed enough hard by several years of restoration activity. of the buried structure to make it worth Our first challenge was a great chunk of returning to (see https://tinyurl.com/ 2014 concrete, which was sitting right on the y8ph8bca). So, having made the site look north west corner of the building. We atmuch more respectable, we set about enlarg- tacked this with a jackhammer, wielded by

Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal Ty coch Archaeological Camp

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several volunteers, including Christian, Huw and the diminutive Marie, but the final demise of the concrete block was mostly the work of Dave Burdett, who stuck at it until the scaffold pole cemented deep in its centre was finally removed.

Thanks to everyone’s hard work, we reached the south edge of the cottage, to find that its front wall was almost completely missing, along with a chunk of floor. We also exposed the entire east wall. Both of the cottage’s chimneys, which unlike it’s ashlar masonry walls had almost certainly been constructed using bricks, had been robbed.

But it was obvious that the hefty east wall of the cottage had featured a cooking range, and in front of where that had been we found a surviving patch of red floor tiles.

At the east end of the narrow room on the north side of the building, which I’ve identified as the scullery, we discovered the brick base of a ‘copper’, a small fireplace that would have been used to heat water in a tub, more likely made of galvanised iron than copper and used for boiling laundry.

On the west side of the building, we found that the passage located in 2017 extended all the way to the south west corner, and it seems to have continued southwards as a path constructed of large flagstones. A glazed terracotta pipe beneath the passage runs at least to the south west corner, where a second drain joins it, presumably collecting rainwater from a gutter downpipe. The west

wall of the passage, however, appears to be too flimsy to support a hefty superstructure, so perhaps there was a wooden lean-to.

Outside the opposite east wall of the cottage a surface of cement laid on bricks, with patches of flagstones, extends as far as and over the bywash culvert. It’s been damaged by tree roots, but there are signs of a wall of some sort at its northern edge. As yet it’s not clear what this surface represents.

Just as on every archaeological site, the 2017 spoil heaps had accumulated in the wrong place, and had to be moved. This year’s gang roundly cursed last year’s bunch for creating so much soil and so many chunks of sandstone, as they long-sufferingly heaved the spoil into (thankfully) motorised barrows. My repeated cheerful, and truthful, assurances that this was an absolutely realistic archaeological procedure wore pretty thin by the second week! Everyone shifted so much spoil that Philip had to spend most of his week on site operating the Trust’s miniexcavator (I think he enjoyed it really). Indeed, we worked the digger so hard that we broke its bucket! But we managed to move enough spoil to improve the safety of the excavation, and also to expose a number of features on the eastern side of the site – well done people! However, there is still a little more spoil left to move…something to look forward to next year!

We now are able to draw a complete plan of the building, minus its front wall, but

fact file Monmouthshire & Brecon Length under restoration: 15 miles Locks: 50 Date closed: 1930-1962 The Canal Camp project: continuation of archaeological excavation of the 5 site of a former lock cottage at Ty Coch Locks, south of Cwmbran.

Why? To find out more of the history of an interesting canal location, so that the information learnt can go on display by the restored locks, which are likely to become a major local attraction.

Navigable to Brecon 35 miles Five Locks 3 Cwmbran 3 Road built 4 on canal line

r Usk Rive

Canal Camp The wider picture: There are proposals to Cwmcarn site: Ty-Coch reopen south from the navigable limit at Five New link Locks into Cwmbran town centre. Opening proposed that length as well as Ty Coch locks (and turning Ty Coch into a local attraction as described above) Malpas Cr will bring pressure to bear on the authorities to reinum Fourteen lin state the intervening (very.tricky) one mile section where Ar Locks m a road was built on the route. This in turn would make the Newport case for opening the Crumlin Arm to Cwmcarn and creating a Original route through new route to the River Usk. Newport obliterated

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Pictures by Ralph Mills

the area around it is still puzzling, and we didn’t achieve a conclusion, because the external features just kept on going…There are surfaces constructed using huge flagstones, small flagstones, bricks and cement above bricks. One area extends over the top of the bywash, which here runs in a culvert. Another appears to run in front of the cottage, again utilising a mix of materials. We have yet to find the privy!

Like every General view of the excavation, looking north west archaeological excavation, our efforts left some questions I’m hoping that in 2019 we can return unanswered, simply because we ran out of to answer this series of questions, consolitime: date the structure and landscape the area so the cottage can form part of a public display, 1: Where does the drainpipe end? Is there a along with the nearby workshop and saw pit. soakaway, and if there is, why, considering Our collective achievements wouldn’t the cottage is close to a canal pound? have been possible without the commitment and hard work of the management team. My 2: Where does the path heading southwards Assistant during the first week was Dave go and does it connect with any other Burdett, who was the perfect right-hand feature(s)? person: proactive, cheerful, a perfectionist, quick to learn and slow to let go! For week 3: Why is there a large hole on the south two Ruth Hardern acted as the eyes in the side of the building? back of my head, encouraging everyone and proving a dab hand with a mattock. My great 4: What was the function of the paved area cook in week one was Ann-Marie Burdett, above the bywash culvert? first up in the mornings, last to leave the kitchen in the evenings, providing fantastic 5: What was the passage for, and was it food in between. In week two Sophie Smith roofed? filled us up mightily (even in her absence), and also made vegan garlic bread!!

6: Why were so many huge flagstones used People power: all my volunteers were around the cottage, and where did they wonderful, in a project that demanded hard come from? physical effort and patience, attention to detail and sheer resilience. They were a 7: Where did all the clay roof tiles that we cosmopolitan lot – four from France, two found originate, and do they indicate an from Italy, four from Wales… Ben Thompson earlier building? returned again, quietly and cheerfully working away, latterly making a huge personal 8: Where is the privy? dent in the spoil heap. Filippo Zaraga spent

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two weeks adding his good humour and while tackling not only the spoil heap but loyal efforts to the mix. I also benefitted also the puzzles above the bywash; Shifani hugely from two weeks of Matéa Narcy’s Passap (a future leader I’m sure) for her energetic input. She always seemed to be at mastery of the motorised barrows, for her the sharp end of whatever was going on, ever-cheerful commitment, and for being swinging a mattock, and had to be dragged there right to the very end, brandishing the out of the trench on the last day, so detervacuum cleaner in the church hall; Peter mined was she to find the outer limits of the Wrighton for doggedly hacking away at the never-ending flagstones. sanguinary spoil heap; Philip Penten for his Matéa was also the heroine of the low patience during all those hours spent in the point of the two weeks, when bags belongmini-digger and, of course, Bev Hansen, who ing to me, Elise Naly and Filippo were stolen can’t stay away! from one of the vans by sneak thieves while So what did we find? Nothing spectacuwe were enjoying a tea break. It was Matéa lar, because this wasn’t the home of specwho waded deep into the dank waters of a tacular people. That doesn’t make the arcouple of the locks to rake the bags from the chaeology any less important. We learned depths into which the thieves had thrown that the house walls were painted, that there them. Although, sadly, our phones and were decorated tiles around the fireplace(s), cameras were lost, Elise’s and Filippo’s ID that they used linoleum (invented 1860) and and cash were recovered from the canal. I Formica (invented 1912), that they washed also witnessed, for the first time in my WRG their clothes in a copper, that they cooked on career, a ‘keb’, that long rake-like tool that I a range, that the house was almost certainly usually get entangled with in the back of the damp and cold (no damp course, and walls van, being used for its intended purpose – backed by earth), that they crossed the gardragging stuff from the canal! den on paths made from huge flagstones, I’ll remember Marie Bodin for her radithat the first floor was probably reached via a ant smile and her role as my photography ladder or very steep set of steps (no obvious assistant (slightly tempered by the fact that sign of a staircase). These aren’t earth-shatshe takes better photographs than me); tering things, but they mean we can begin to Ester Luconi for her bravery in tackling the visualise the lives of those who lived and giant church hall arachnid; Stephen Jones for worked at Ty Coch. quietly and happily volunteering for the Ralph Mills heavy jobs; Stephen Malarby for his enthusiasm and his occupation of the crypt sofa; Huw Evans for his energy; Christian, a welcome returnee, for his hard work; Samantha Demmon for radiating some Australian sunshine; Evelyne Laveaux, who I met at the Stover canal camp in 2016, for making sure that I adhered to the highest standards; Michal Bochjenek for telling the most groan-invoking jokes and for his great music entertainment; Elise Naly for calmly surviving the trauma of the theft of her belongings and for her digging skills; Rachel Harvey for her quiet and much appreciated leaderEast side of scullery showing position of ‘copper’ (water heater) ship input (I noticed!)

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tech tips

Tree surveys

We spend a lot of time cutting them down, but for canal restorers it’s also important to know the condition of the trees that are still standing... from the appropriate landowner, lease holder or navigation manager prior to surveying the A basic tree safety survey is undertaken to trees, a number of trees that could affect a site may well not be on your land and could assess potential hazards to people or structures from trees. This guidance is aimed at require closer inspection on another landproviding our volunteers with a very basic owners land. Setting guidelines with the site manager will help determine the criteria in understanding of the processes involved when conducting tree surveys. The informa- which trees will be surveyed. Knowing what tion should be used as supplementary data the pre-requests are for the inspections will to assess the risks from trees to a restoration save a whole load of time! After discussions site and the volunteers working on them. have been held with client, clear and specific requirements should have been realised (e.g.

Why monitor the trees on your site? tree size, species, urgency of work etc).

Scope and Tree Risk Management: There are many reasons to assess tree condi- The scope of the surveys will depend on tion and health on a waterway or restoration what was agreed during the preliminaries site. Below are just a few of them: and consultation stages. However, this can range from trees found only within your boundary to every tree with the potential to Obstruction of designated paths and plant access routes affect your waterway. When planning your assessment prevalence should focus on areas Severe injury or damage caused by falling trees or limbs where hazardous trees would have the highDamage to waterway structures or plant est risk of injuring people and damaging structures; for instance a lone tree in a farmers field will pose much less risk than a tree The Law next to a picnic area. Other areas to look out Ultimately, the landowner is responsible for for include the storage of plant and machinany health and safety issues arising from ery, site boundaries canal structures and trees located within their boundary. By moni- recreational areas. Areas such as these could toring the trees on site, you can minimise call for surveys that are more detailed and future risk and eliminate hazards towards made a priority in the survey schedule, to be your individuals . If a person is injured by a listed as ‘Target Zones’. falling/fallen tree or branch, potential causes Assessment: The assessment itself of action arise against the tree owner in will be a Visual Inspection from the ground negligence for a breach of the duty of care, looking into the physical signs of failure and in the tort of nuisance and, where the injured making observations in the context of the person was on the land of the tree owner at local environment. This assessment utilises the time of the injury, under the Occupiers’ the surveyor’s knowledge and experience of Liability Acts of 1957 or 1984 (OLA 1957, tree biology and structure to assess the OLA 1984). Some regulations under the overall condition of the tree, signs and feaHealth and safety at Work etc Act 1974 may tures associated with tree failure, as well as also give rise to liability under the civil law as an evaluation of the likelihood of damage well as under the criminal law. occurring from the identified risks. Noting variations against what would be expected from a healthy tree, the surveyor will need to How to survey your trees report and note down abnormalities, obvious Preliminaries and consultation: The signs of failure and the overall condition. surveyor(s) here should seek permission It’s also important to ensure personal

Basic Tree Surveys

· · ·

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safety is taken into account: the condition in which the tree(s) are situated could pose other risks to the surveyor, such as slope, tree lean, tree density and weather. Appropriate PPE should be worn in adherence to the particular site’s specific risk assessment.

Reporting: The data collected needs to be able to identify individual trees inspected, depending on how big the site is can determine the method used, such as marking on a map, using GPS or even a detailed description of the tree, if only to be able to find the tree later on. Using a recording form (Appendix 1) the surveyor should: (1) Identify the tree – allocate it a number, identify the species, estimate the height and identify the age category it fits into (young, middle-aged, mature, over mature, dead) (2) Record the results of the inspection – comment on the overall physical condition for the tree (Dead/Dangerous, Poor, Fair or Good), note any observations that could indicate poor tree health (see figure 1) and note if any further actions are needed.

(3) classify the timings required for undertaking actions – Priority coding as follows Aimmediately, B - within six months, C – within one year D – Re-inspect after one year.

Actions: The final step is to hand over the information collected to the managing body to review and undertake necessary works. The works should only be completed by a competent individual(s) with the appropriate licences and permissions necessary to undertake tree works.

So what am I looking for when assessing a tree?

This section will help you identify hazardous trees and provide you with set methodology to follow. A number of features can help indicate the overall health and risk a tree poses to people and buildings. The following methodology should be followed and features related to poor tree health (see also next page) should be recorded and noted with particular emphasis on the abundance of these features.

Methodology (1) Starting from a distance, inspect the whole tree, checking the crown for gaps in the canopy (summer only), colour of the leaves, lean of the tree (over the canal or near a picnic area?) and overall vigour.

(2) Moving closer and having a more detailed investigation into the canopy check for the presence of deadwood, hanging or broken branches. Keep an eye out for cracks, splits and clearly damaged branches, where the wind can take it off or it can simply rot away.

(3) Moving down the tree look for abnormal features within the tree such as swellings, bark damage, fungus, splits, cracks and hollows.

(4) Note the presence of ivy and the extent of the spread. Ivy can make it difficult to fully inspect a tree for defects and hazards as well as potentially add increase the wind (5) Are there any signs of fungi or decay within the main trunk, at the base of the tree or surrounding the tree’s base?

(6) Looking at the ground, are there any obvious signs that there may be damage to the roots, such as digging and track marks?

Are any of the roots exposed?

(7) Finally look at the soil surrounding the tree: are there any noticeable cracks in the ground or uplifting of a towpath/concrete structure?

Once you have inspected the full tree you should classify the individual tree as: Good: Healthy, full crown, long life expectancy, no obvious signs of failure.

Fair: Generally healthy, some thinning of crown, some defects of low significance.

Poor: Lacking vigour, short life expectancy, poor leaf cover, major defects.

Dangerous/Dead: Urgent removal required depending on the tree’s location.

You should then be able to classify the priority of the works based on the information gathered such as usage, location and physical condition. Then being able to place a period in which the trees should be managed, along with recommendations; if suitably qualified.

Fill in your Basic Tree Survey Form (see next page) and provide a copy to the client.

For advice or more information please contact the IWA Restoration Hub Team on alex.melson@waterways.org.uk or call 01494 783 453 ext 604.

Useful Links IWA Tree Survey Guidance: waterways.org.uk/wrg/resources/ environmental_resources/tree_surveys/ tree_risk_assessment IWA Policy for vegetation management waterways.org.uk/information/ policy_documents/vegetation_management

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Identifying hazardous trees and poor tree health

Fungal fruit bodies: Able to occur throughout much of the tree , generally fungus uses enzymes to the break down the woody material as a source of nutrients. This can cause decay and poor tree health The more frequent the fungi the higher the risk to tree health. Certain species will have greater impact than others but can be difficult to identify: take photos and send to your local biological records centre to positively identify

Crown: dieback occurs often as a result of poor tree health across the tree i.e. disease, root damage. Typical signs for this include sparse leaf cover, small foliage and dead wood.

Other crown hazards can include cracks, hung up / dead / broken branches. Also the crown architecture: unbalanced crown, excessive heavy or long isolated branches, poor pruning works.

Exposed / damaged roots: Site disturbance from the likes of excavations, plant usage and contamination or poor soil conditions can disrupt the ability of the roots to stabilise/anchor the tree and support it’s key processes of gaining nutrients and healthy growth. This can lead to poor tree health and increasing the likelihood of it being a risk.

Site: Tree No 1

Surveyor: Species Oak

Height

Age Category

<8m

Over mature

Sample Tree Physical Condition Poor

Notes for filling in form: Tree no: Refers to tree tag attached to tree approx 2m from ground level.

Species: Common name.

Height: Approximate height from the crown Age Category: Newly planted / Young / Mid aged / Mature / Over Mature Physical Condition: Good - Healthy, full crown, long life expectancy, no significant defects.

Fair - Generally healthy, some thinning of crown, some defects of low significance, limited life expectancy.

Poor â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Lacking vigour, short life expectancy, sparce leaf cover, significant defects.

Dangerous/Dead - Urgent removal required.

Comments: Summary of visual inspection (e.g. minor deadwood in crown, cavity at base etc).

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Structural Weaknesses: Pollards, pruning wounds and tree forks are areas of the tree which has undergone abrupt diameter changes in the stem with re-growth forming at these points.

Decay is possible at the base and the regrowth is often structurally less integral. Cankers, swelling, break out cavities or bends occur where a tree has been damaged or managed. Decay can enter the tree through the wounds and structural weakness is possible, particularly if considerable weight is applied above these.

Loose bark: Sign of inner decay or damage to the tree from wildlife or human activities.

Basal Cavity: Between the buttresses, cavities at the base of the tree lead to structural weaknesses and decay. These can vary in size.

Cracks in soil / Ground uplift: these could indicate that a the tree may be becoming unstable – inspect around the whole base.

Survey Form

Date:

Comments

Action Required?

- Major wounds in trunk - Hung up limbs - Rot and fungi present

Y

Recommended Action Priority Fell and remove

A

Usage zone Red

Action required: Whether further action is required.

Recommended action: If action column states ‘yes’ this specifies defects observed and any obvious remedial action required and level of urgency (See Priority Code). If action column states ‘None’, no action is to be taken until the next inspection.

Priority: A - Urgent action required: Contact aboriculturalist for immediate action.

B - Work to be carried out within 6 months C - Work to be carried out within 1 year D - Work to be carried out within 2 years Usage Zone: Red – High inspection annually and immediately after severe weather events Blue – Medium inspection every 2 years and immediately after sever weather events Green – Low Inspections = during normal routine visits or every 5 years

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News

navvies

An appeal for volunteers for Canalway Cavalcade, two new arrivals at head office, and at last the truth about Mr Mac’s Navvies Night Out ticket!

The Navvies’ Night Out: the truth chester, led by Mr. Mac. Regarding the recent correspondance, here is the final word, from John Felix who actually organised the events...

During the late 1970s, I organised two or three evenings at The Pindar of Wakefield, (incidentally, Christine Johnson in Navvies 291 is entirely correct) taking over their small theatre space and booking the resident Aba Daba Music Hall and these cultural feasts were called a Navvies’ Night Out, playing to a local-ish audience.

In 1982, I recollect, Graham Palmer had handed control of WRG to Alan Jervis and although I had largely withdrawn from the organisation, Alan asked me if I could arrange another farrago as part of the effort to re-invigorate WRG socially as well as on the lockside - the ticket unearthed by Mr. Mac refers to just that and the mystery address was then mine. It was gratifying that the audience came from all over the country, including a substantial delegation from Man-

Aba Daba was a group of talented but obscure actors led by Aline Waites, who’s chief claim to fame was that she had played Gwen Dale in Mrs. Dale’s Diary on the Light Programme (younger readers will find more on Wikipedia). They performed victorian music hall and did the first half.

Cosmotheka - Al and Dave Seeley were booked for the second half singing comic songs, also from the music hall. Who can forget Don’t do it again Matilda, Never let your braces dangle and Oh Timothy, let’s have a look at it’? What I do remember is the evening went well, Robin Hunter, Aba Daba’s chairman describing the audience as “boisterous”. Those were the days!

John Felix

Wey & Arun restoration book

Martin Ludgate

The Wey & Arun Canal has been seeing increased volunteer activity in recent years with new work sites being set up towards the north end of the canal in addition to the long-running Loxwood Link section. See out Camps Preview this time and our special feature last time. But if you really want to find out about the whole W&A restoration story going right back to the early 1970s you need a copy of the Wey & Arun Canal Trust’s book published earlier in 2018, A Guide to the Restoration of the Wey & Arun Canal.

This 60-page booklet details every project ever worked on (and there are a lot of them!) and costs just £6.00 from Would you like to help at Little Venice? See opposite page weyandarun.co.uk.

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it happen is a team of site services volunteers – not an official WRG Camp, but generally a bunch of mostly WRGies who set up and Tara Maguire joined us in December as manage the festival infrastructure and site.

Restoration Campaigns Officer. Tara The camp runs from mid-morning on Wednesday 1 May (when stuff starts arriving will work as part of and we build our camp) through Thursday the IWA Restoration Hub and alongside and Friday when we build the festival. The three days of the weekend during the actual the Hub’s High Level festival generally involve site management Panel to promote waterway restoration activities before the take down of the event on the Monday evening and Tuesday mornacross a wide range of ing with the aim to have cleared the site by stakeholders, government bodies and mid-afternoon on Tuesday 7 May. To make it all happen we’d like the third sector organisations as well as providing guidance and support to waterway resto- experienced volunteers who have helped in ration projects across the country. previous years to come again and also some Hailing from Australia, Tara has called new faces to join the team to ensure the England home for the past five years and has future of the event. We recognise that you spent this time travelling, getting married, may not be able to attend the whole camp having her first child and working in commu- because it does run mid-week to mid-week but we do need people to attend on the nications in the civil engineering industry. weekdays, in particular on the Monday Tara is thrilled to be part of the IWA team and is very much looking forward to bringing evening and Tuesday because this is when we most need them! There will be a plan of her experience and enthusiasm for restorawork activities so that everyone gets chance tion and regeneration to the role.

Ellen Hawes joined us this in Novem- to enjoy some of the festival and take in the amazing atmosphere of the event. ber as Fundraising The accommodation is limited and reOfficer. She brings stricted to two narrowboats for sleeping on, heaps of experience plus a field kitchen (which needs to be built on from two national day 1) for cooking and eating. Work activities charities, Child Beinclude putting up (and taking down) marreavement UK and quees, market stalls and banners around the Hearing Dogs for Deaf site, fencing, and general event management.

People (Ellen still looks after a “demonContact Pete Fleming on email: Pete.Fleming@team.waterways.org.uk stration” hearing dog called Kerry) and has experience of securing funding in the adult And finally... education and schools sector. She has recently graduated as a “mature” student from From John Hawkins: “Many thanks from WRG the Open University having studied Environ- Print to all the folks who attend the London mental Sciences and Geology. She says ”as Canal Museum for Navvies stuffing evenings, the daughter of a builder from High Wycombe and also to the LCM for the continuing use of I know how to make a good mug of tea and the facilities. And of course not forgetting a have a taste for real ale!”. Ellen will work to certain Mr Ludgate for all the work as editor. boost our grant fundraising and to open out I hope that you all have a good Christmas – other income generating opportunities as well whatever you may be doing and am looking as to rekindle the restoration raffle for 2019. forward to see you all (and hopefully many others) in 2019.” The editor would like to Calling Little Venice volunteers add his thanks to all contributors, and everyone - including Sue Watts, Dave Wedd, Canalway Cavalcade is the Inland Waterways Robert Goundry, Lesley McFadyen, and Alex Association’s annual three day festival at Melson and the other head office staff - who Little Venice (near Paddington in London) helped with Navvies in 2018. Happy Christmas which is held every May Day Bank Holiday and to all our readers and have a good 2019 (if I 2019 will be its 37th year. One thing that makes don’t see you on the Christmas camp first).

New arrivals at Head Office

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infill Logi-Sticks, the game Dear Deirdre I was disgusted to learn that many of my fellow volunteers don’t wash their kit from one dig to the next. Am I alone in insisting on putting it through a 90 degree cycle at the end of the weekend?

- GR, Ruislip Thrubgate Deirdre writes I’m surprised you’re so squeamish when it’s all just only going to get filthy again anyway. True WRGies know that after 4 years or so the dirt on an anorak can’t really get any worse. I’m also pretty sure it’s only the old splashes of concrete that are still holding my site shorts together. If I were you I’d give up all this washing malarkey and save that for your offsite clothes. It can’t be doing your washing machine filter any good to be handling all that clay and silt scum.

A cautionary tale...

Canals attract their fair share of 4x4 enthusiasts. I nearly just said ‘4x4 owners’, but you’d need to be an enthusiast to own some of these vehicles... I’m reminded of one we used to use on the Wey & Arun back in the 1980s which we were told was an unusual model of Land Rover, adapted to be dropped out of an aeroplane (very useful on canal restoration), and which gave the distinct impression that it had indeed been dropped from an aeroplane, and that they hadn’t bothered with a parachute... but I digress... it’s actually 4x4s taking to the water, not the air, which concern us...

A list of unusual claims published by an insurance company lists various odd cases including a claim for kitchen units damaged by dog flea treatment (the dog shook itself), a carpet damaged by a wall heater (it had been taken down for decorating)... and a £100,000 claim for a Range Rover damaged by driving it through a puddle. Except that it transpired that the ‘puddle’ he’d driven through was a rather large navigable one otherwise known as a canal. Well, maybe he was referring to the ‘clay puddle’ used to line the canal.

Or maybe he was just trying it on. Anyway as the insurers said while rejecting his claim, “I think it’s fair to say there’s quite a large difference between a puddle and a canal...”

So remember, just because your WRG ticket has both ‘Land Rovers’ and ‘Boats’ on...

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Introducing Logi-Sticks

TM

Remember ‘Pick-up-Sticks’? Yes, that’s the game where you throw down a heap of wooden ‘sticks’ on the table, then the players take it in turns to try to pick them up, one at a time, but without moving any of the others. (If you don’t remember it, here’s a picture to remind you.) Well, now there’s an exciting new WRG version...

I’m sure you’ve all been there. It’s the last day of the camp, you’re trying to pack up the site quickly, the rain’s coming on heavier, and you just want to get back to the accommodation. “It’s all right, we’ll sort them out properly later”, you say as you throw all the muddy tools in the back of the trailer… before driving for a mile down a bumpy lane, flinging it around a couple of tight corners, braking to an abrupt standstill outside the village hall, and opening the tailgate to find…

And that’s where this game comes in.

Don’t see it as a problem or a chore - see it as a new fun game for all the canal camp!

Each volunteer takes it in turn to remove one tool at a time from the tangled, crap-covered heap in the trailer, trying their hardest not to disturb any other tools in the process. If they move any other tools, their turn ends, and it passes to the next volunteer. When the trailer’s empty (or it goes dark, or the cook starts yelling that ‘seconds’ is about to be called if the bunch of people still pratting about with the trailer aren’t at the table soon), the volunteer who ends up with the biggest pile of tools wins. And their prize is that they get to wash all the tools they’ve collected.

Alternatively you could just load the trailer properly in the first place…

This has been a public information broadcast on behalf of WRG Logistics.

outro Cotswold Christmas

Pictures by Martin Ludgate / Tim Lewis

The curtain-raiser for the festive digging season was the KESCRG / London WRG joint Christmas party and working party on the Cotswold Canals, with Saturday night party games on a ‘food and drink’ theme. We’ll be back to the same worksite for some more on the Christmas Canal Camp.

The ‘identify the cheese’ quiz

Can you work out what the costumes are?

More use as a windbreak...

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