Navvies 296

navvies volunteers restoring waterways

Camp reports: Grantham Lichfield Wey & Arun

Uttoxeter Reunion: Book now!

Good plants / bad plants: Welcoming back nature Dealing with invasives issue 296 august-september 2 0 1 9

Intro nature White briony

Ladybird poppy

Ladybird White campion Ladybird larva Green alkonet Rosebay willow herb

Comfrey “For the benefit of viewers watching in black & white�, we felt it was worth repeating all the pics from the nature article (page 30) in full colour

page 2

Scarlet pimpernel

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, Nigel Lee, Mike Palmer, George Rogers, Jonathan Smith, Harry Watts.

ISSN: 0953-6655

Š 2019 WRG

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

Contents Chairman Mike Palmer 4 Editor What do you want to read?

5 Coming soon Reunion Bonfire Bash 6-7 Camp reports Grantham, Wey & Arun and Lichfield 8-23 Diary WRG, IWA, CRT, canal societies 24-29 Letters to the editor 30-31 Progress around the system 32-34 Nature recolonises the Lichfield 35-37 Invasives non-native species 38-39 Camp reports Lichfield and Uttoxeter 40-44 News R.I.P. WRG Boat Club 45 Infill can the wives make tea?

46 Outro Weymoor bridge finishing touches 47

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 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 295: 1 September.

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.

Front cover: Woolsthorpe Lock 14 on the Grantham Canal during our first camp this summer - see report, page 8. (picture by Emma Greenall) Back cover: Three weeks of amazing progress on the Wey & Arun at the Birtley No 1 liftbridge: week one with NWPG (by Bill Nicholson, report on page 14); week two WRG (Rob Nicholson, page 17); week three Kescrg (Stephen Davis, page 20)

page 3

chairman’s Comment Canal Camp logistics, the importance of ‘armchair supporter’, the IWA Trustee elections... and (at last) the Graham Palmer memorial It’s not my place to tell you who to vote for, you are all capable of reading their statements Well here we are: it’s that special time of year and making up your own mind about who you where I’m sitting on site tapping away at my want to direct IWA over the next few years. laptop attempting to make a Navvies deadYou should remember that restoration line in the next few hours and a whole bunch is only one part of IWA and we need people of my canal campers are looking at me think- capable of providing strategic direction for all ing “typical leader – getting us to work while of IWA activities. he plays with emails!”

I’m certainly not suggesting that any of Hopefully I’ll knock this out quite the candidates would be a bad choice but quickly and be able to go back and join them that’s not the point – whether its setting out in the “sunshine and lime mortar” heaven the objectives for the Restoration Hub, decidthat is Lock 14 on the Grantham Canal. ing how the Canal & River Trust or EnvironHowever, while I am typing away… one of ment Agency should be held to account or the most important jobs of Navvies is not supported, or what it should do with the many about keeping the active members informed legacies it receives you have the opportunity to but to keep our many “armchair supporters” select the person you think will make the best connected with the restoration movement. job, so please do vote if you can.

(As an aside nobody should consider the However to return to site, this summer term “armchair supporters” to be associated has been a strange one. Not just with regard with retirement from restoration. For lots of to the weather – we are currently enduring reasons, people drop out and just keep a alternate heat waves and tropical downpours watching brief only to reappear on site a decon an hourly basis but also because of a few ade or so later. Age has never been a barrier to last-minute site swaps that pretty much involvement in the restoration sector. Indeed threw all the van / trailer / volunteer logistics the camp I’m on today has eight people who plans into disarray. Right now there is a kit technically can remember the 1950s.) trailer sitting on my drive waiting to go to But that’s not the point anyway. The Swansea, once I’ve finished with the van in point is that time after time, whether it’s Grantham. Meanwhile another kit is secretly writing to MPs, flying our flag at local events hidden under a sheet in a village hall waiting or just adding an extra fiver to their Navvies to go to the Chelmer. However, one of the subs it really is these armchair supporters great things about WRG is we are very good who power us forward. For every bricklayer I at dealing with change, and so my thanks to have on site today there are a dozen armeveryone who offered to drive a van / store a chair supporters providing all the support trailer / jump on a train at short notice. needed to make those bricks stick.

Finally some news that I know some And this next contribution is very defipeople will be pleased to hear. Last weekend nitely an armchair job. However it only Jude and I took a trip up to the Montgomery to applies to the many, many Navvies readers check on the newly cast plaque for the Graham who are also members of our parent organi- Palmer memorial stone (to fix over the damsation the Inland Waterways Association. aged original carved image on the stone). It Because there is currently an election for IWA looks pretty good and we intend to fit it propTrustees and it is important you vote. Unusuerly in September, currently the day before our ally this year we actually have five nominations committee meeting. I can’t work out how our for three seats at the table, so IWA is actually founder GKP would have felt about that but I having an election. Details were in this suspect that it might give our meeting a bit month’s copy of Waterways magazine and more of a ‘let’s just do it’ feeling. are also on www.waterways.org.uk.

Mike Palmer

Chairman’s Comment

page 4

editor Camp reports or what?

Please keep sending the camp reports in, but what else do you want to read in Navvies? Restoration features? Safety? Soap operas???

But as ever, I realise (from the correspondence that’s kept the letters page full in Thanks to Mike Palmer having done the the past) that camp reports aren’t everyone’s decent thing and put all the important stuff favourite part of Navvies (although to other with words like ‘strategic’ and ‘direction’ in folks they’re an essential part of it). So am I his own piece on the opposite page, it only going to beg you to keep them short and to remains for me to write a few words about the point, so as not to cause too much irritathe content of the magazine... tion to the people who don’t like reading And firstly, yes, it’s the time of year them? No, not at all. But what I will conwhen quite a few of the pages are filled with tinue to do is to try to ensure that they don’t reports from our summer canal camps. My monopolise the pages even at this time of thanks to the writers of the eight reports year, by making sure there’s plenty of other from four sites which appear in this issue. content too.

And I look forward to receiving some more This time we’ve got some pieces about from the remaining dozen or so camps hap‘good plants and bad plants’. Firstly there’s a pening on half a dozen sites between now description of native wildlife recolonising and the end of the main summer prosomething which had been a building site; it gramme. makes a splendid riposte to the “You’re destroying all the wildlife” rants that most of us have had from ignorant passers-by at times. And secondly there’s a useful piece about three invasive species that seem to be homing in on our waterways. In addition we have our restoration progress section and the ‘fact files’ for all the canal camp sites. And for next time we hope to hear back from somebody who’s been off in France with REMPART, and maybe a piece from the Canal & River Trust. But there could be more...

So what do you want us to include in future issues? Are you looking for more technical features (like ones we’ve run on using Tirfor winches, brushcutters and the like), or more safety features (like the Working at Heights, Site Segregation and Banksman signals pieces), more of our detailed Restoration Features, waterways history pieces, more stroppy editorials, or what? Should we bring back the soap opera we ran in the 1990s? Please not another Hercule Palmer Whoduggit mystery?

Tell us what you want to read, and we’ll see what we can do.

The new GKP plaque gets a pre-fitting check out Martin Ludgate

From the editor...

page 5

coming soon Reunion California dreamin’ on the Uttoxeter Canal: get your booking forms in now for the WRG Reunion, and note the date for the Christmas camp WRG Reunion 2019 on the Uttoxeter Canal: 2-3 November

Martin Ludgate

This is the news we’ve all been waiting for: the site’s been chosen for this year’s Reunion, a major weekend working party and a get-together for the whole of WRG, sometimes also referred to as the ‘bonfire bash’ - because bonfires usually play an important part. And we’re returning to the scene of our earlier successes on the Uttoxeter Canal, in a very scenic part of Staffordshire in the Churnet Valley just down the road from the Alton Towers theme park.

We’ll be building on our earlier achievements at the 2015 and 2017, working on the length of canal between Alton and Crumpwood which Caldon & Uttoxeter Canals Trust is focusing on, with a view to reopening it as a ‘showpiece’ length (see the Uttoxeter Canal Fact File on page 42 for more). But we’re hoping to spread our efforts a little further this time, with a new site at... wait for it... California! What, are we heading for the USA? No, it’s the name of a lock a couple of miles further up the Uttoxeter Canal, between Oakamoor and Froghall. But it’s a new site that we haven’t tackled on previous WRG work parties.

The work, as usual,will be ‘scrub-bashing’ - clearing trees and vegetation from the canal bed and it on big bonfires. And everyone’s welcome to attend, whether you’re a new volunteer from this year’s camps, an old hand, a regular with one of the regional groups, or somebody who’s never been on a WRG work party before.

The Uttoxeter Canal near Alton emerges from 170 years’ undergrowth on the 2017 Reunion

page 6

Overnight accommodation has been booked at Great Wood Hall in Upper Tean, the same as the last two times - and while it’s fine accommodation for up to about 80 volunteers, we will have to put a limit on numbers as it won’t fit any more. So don’t delay, fill in the booking form below and send it in - or book via the WRG website wrg.org.uk.

Autumn Canal Camp (site to be advised): 19-26 October Work on the originally planned site of the Grantham Canal has gone so well this summer that we don’t have enough work for an October camp there too. But don’t worry, we’re looking at other sites for the October camp. See the WRG website and our Facebook page for the latest information.

What? The C-word already?

Yes, we’re already looking towards Christmas and festive working parties and camp. Full details will be in the next issue, but in the meantime here are two dates for your diaries: 30 November - 1 December will be the joint Kescrg and London WRG (but everyone welcome!)

Christmas Party Dig on the Cotswold Canals, and 26 December to 1 January will be the WRG Christmas / New Year Canal Camp, also on the Cotswold Canals.

Waterway Recovery Group Uttoxeter Canal Reunion 2019 I would like to attend the WRG Reunion Bonfire Bash on 2-3 November Forename:

Surname:

Address: email: Phone:

Any special dietary requirements?

I require accommodation on Friday night / Saturday night / both nights I enclose payment of £ Association’) for food

(please make cheques payable to ‘Inland Waterways

(cost is £13 for the weekend based on £3 breakfast and evening meal, £2 lunch) How will you be travelling to the Reunion?

Do you want to work with volunteers from one of this year’s Canal Camps or from one of the regional groups? If so, which camp or group?

Do you suffer from any 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 on a covering letter.

In the unlikely event that you should be injured, who should we contact?

Name:

Phone:

Signed: Send to: Reunion Bookings, WRG, Island House, Moor Road, Chesham HP5 1WA

page 7

camp report Grantham Reporting from a week of bricklaying, pointing, earth-moving, fencebuilding and French speaking on the Grantham Canal at Woolsthorpe ber walls, the previous week had seen Grantham Canal Society (GCS) carry out a concrete pour to backfill behind the comSaturday: The first day of our camp started pleted lower part of the walls, the scaffold inside the chamber had been lifted, and GCS slightly differently than planned. Due to the accommodation at Cropwell Bishop Memorial had started to build brick pillars at the top Hall being double booked, we were booked end of the chamber for the next 600mm rise into Cropwell Butler village hall for the Satur- of the lock walls. This meant that Martin L day. This was a new accommodation to us, and John H could start building pillars at but it was a pleasant surprise as it had a intervals along the lock walls (so that the less experienced brickies could then fill in begreat big kitchen, a dishwasher and patio doors from the dining room leading into the tween them), checking the levels with a laser gardens. For the sake of research, we meas- level. Tony & Ricey set to mixing cement mortar for the new brickwork and delivering ured how far it was to the local pub, The Plough, and can report it is very near indeed. materials. Meanwhile up at Lock 15, Paul, Andy H, Arry & Jack made a flying start with installing fencing along the back of the towSunday: Sunday morning started with an path, and Martin D, Jane, Celine and Anna introduction to the site and a walk around donned their lifejackets and started knocking both Lock 15 and Lock 14. The first job was to pump out the head of Lock 14 to enable back the damaged pointing between the Lock Colin, Andrew ‘Cookie’ Cooke, Ian & Lucas to 15 coping stones after receiving a tutorial on knock back and prepare the damaged brickcorrectly using a throwline from Lucas. work on the head walls so they could be On returning from site on Sunday repaired and tied into. evening we quickly demobbed from Cropwell Meanwhile on the main Lock 14 chamButler and moved to Cropwell Bishop in a

Grantham Canal Camp 03: Woolsthorpe Locks 6–13 July

Length: 33 miles Locks: 18 Date closed: 1936 The Canal Camp project: Rebuilding the chamber walls of Woolsthorpe Lock 14, plus repairs to the upper wing walls; also re-pointing of coping stones at Lock 15.

fact file Grantham Canal

Why? Having completed the first stage of Grantham Canal Society’s Heritage Lottery Fund backed project by restoring Lock 15, volunteers have moved on to Lock 14. This too was in sufficiently poor condition that the work has involved complete dismantling and rebuilding of the chamber in brick-faced concrete.

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.

page 8

slick operation and remobbed there, which involved several people travelling with saucepans and bowls full of that night’s dinner carefully wedged in footwells and on laps.

Pictures by Martin Ludgate

Monday: On Monday we were joined by an external brickwork trainer, Martin, who spent the day instructing five GCS volunteers and three WRG volunteers on bricklaying. Not only did they get to contribute to the construction of a nonvisible part of the lock structure, they also met one of the vital components of the conditions of the funding package for the lock restoration, which involves providing skills training to the local area and the future generation of canal restorers. As is traditional for on-site training they were given the ugliest misshapen bricks to work with, on the theory of “if you can work with them, you can work with anything!” (The bricks, Re-pointing the coping stones on Lock 15 from a boat that is.)

The trainer was also generous enough to give Paul, Arry and Mardi Gras: On Tuesday, the volunteers Andy practice in using a dumper to remove who had participated in the training session, his truck which had got stuck and live up to CSI Jane, Andy & Jack immediately got our name of ‘Waterway Recovery Group’, or chance to put their new skills into action, maybe that should be ‘Bridlepath Recovery under the close careful watch of Martin L & Group’.

John H, as they continued to lay the Tim picked Tracy up from the station, stretches of brick infill between the pillars. who was even more warmly welcomed as Work on the fence continued, although she came bearing five boxes of traybakes it was hampered by Jewsons failing to deand two bags of scones. That evening 16 of liver the rails until nearly two days later than us went to Lost City Adventure Crazy Golf in expected. Martin D, Celine & Anna completed the Cornerhouse in Nottingham and played the pointing of the offside of the lock work18 holes, which varied from holes in 1 to in ing from little workboat Earwig, despite 2 6 to, ahem, a few more but a great time was bolsters going for a swim in Lock 15, one of had all round. which was recovered by Sea Searcher magnet. So if you’re ever boating through the

page 9

lock and happen to have a Sea Searcher, have a fish around when you’re at the bottom for that lost bolster chisel!

That afternoon, the earth dam between the canal and the work site started to leak, slowly at first, and then in more than one place.

Curved in multiple directions: repairing the Lock 14 upper wing walls Paul and Tim were using the plant for backfilling so they brought clay to help dam the leaks while Ian Wednesday: Martin L, John, Andy, Jane, started pumping out. Why is that always the Colin and Jack ploughed on with the bricktime the generator stops working! This was laying alongside a number of GCS volunOK for a little while, but then even more teers, including John Clarke who made a trip leaks sprang up, flowing faster than before. to bring us more lime to keep Anna, Celine, We raced to keep pumping and plugging the Martin D, Ian and GCS Ralph busy on the leaks but as it approached time to leave site, headwalls. They were supplied by the mixing we realised we were losing the battle and team of GCS Martin and Tony, and Paul had to leave site wondering if our work supplying bricks. Paul and Ian continued would be underwater the next morning. backfilling the walls using the excavator and Fortunately, GCS had done this before and dumper, and Arry, Andy and Tracy finished knew where to build up the clay on the top the fencing job after two false starts with two side of the dam so that we could dry out the flat batteries. site and continue working the next day.

Sadly due to lack of water and build-up As our two REMPART volunteers Celine of weed the planned evening boat trip was & Anna hailed from Brittany, they wanted to aborted so our alternative evening’s entershare with us their spécialités regional and tainment was a rather rustic but hilarious made a huge stack of delicious crepes & game of skittles at The Royal Oak pub in Car caramel sauce for dessert, accompanied by Colston. It was a rough concrete floored Lou’s poached pears and stuffed apricots. We garage with old wooden skittles & wooden then played a Pub Quiz with quizmaster ‘turnip shaped’ balls but when filled with 14 Martin L who ensembled a great selection of campers up for a laugh it was a great questions including a final round on France, evening and after a tense playoff against which went to a tie break. The tie break Andy C, was won by Tony. When we requestion was to estimate the height in meturned to the hall, Lou presented Paul with tres of the Eiffel Tower, which was won by the Cropwell Bishop Stilton cheese he’d Lou, Andy, Arry & Ian by employing ‘the asked for to accompany his port, and took wisdom of the crowd’ and averaging out ‘garnish’ to the next level with an incredibly their four individual guesses. realistic swan made from apple.

page 10

Thursday: With the end in sight, the bricklaying team ploughed on, supplied with mortar and bricks by Arry and Andy. Tony, Martin D, Anna and Celine continued with the head of the lock which involved chopping out damaged bricks, filling in holes whilst maintaining the bond, building two return walls, repointing, and rebuilding the corner of the wall which curved in two planes at the same time. A bit of a head-scratcher but the team made it look very nice by the end. Paul and Ian provided machine operator assistance to GCS in order to find and repair a broken drainage pipe.

On Thursday evening we were very privileged to be given a tour of St Giles Church tower in Cropwell Bishop by Colin & Ros. The ancient church & tower has a clock, six bells and spiral staircase (which is impossible to talk about without doing the winding index finger mime). We saw a small model of the mechanism of the bells to understand how they work and then were given the chance to try ringing them and to be bit silly (“it’s as bad as having the scouts round!”).

We were then taken up to see the bells in action in small groups wearing ear defenders while Ros demonstrated on the floor below how to ring them properly with skill and concentration and the visit was topped off by Colin giving a fascinating close up tour of the clock mechanism. While waiting for her turn to see the bells, Tracy made herself useful by

hoovering up. We then said a sad farewell to Lou, who had cooked us so many delicious and restaurant worthy meals such as Moroccan fish tagine, chickpea and spinach curry with chicken parcels, and something scrummy involving Italian meringue and raspberries which we were advised to eat quickly before it slid off the counter. After waving her off (she had some excuse about having to cater for a wedding of 200 people) we settled into The Wheatsheaf with Colin & Ros to talk canals and bells.

Friday: The combined WRG and GCS bricklaying team succeeded in getting the lock walls up to the full six courses needed for the next concrete pour. Tony saved CRT the cost of two hours of a fitter’s time by repairing their damaged generator, which upon completion he guaranteed would work until at least 4pm. As the team wound up their jobs, Tracy and Lucas cleaned, checked and packed the kit back into the trailer and we had our compulsory end of camp ‘pointing’ photo and we handed over the site to Dave ‘Evvo’ Evans. That evening we had a couple of lively games of croquet which Martin said he’d figured out how to win “just team up with a Greenall” after winning one game with me and one with my dad. Thanks to you all for throwing yourselves into everything so wholeheartedly.

Emma Greenall

Rapid progress with the bricklaying on the main chamber walls at Lock 14

page 11

camp report Grantham ‘Evvo’ takes over for the second week, and discovers some “local idiosyncrasies” but makes some more excellent progress on Lock 14 I discovered some local idiosyncrasies! There is a very active bunch of Grantham Canal Society volunteers who do lots of skilled and valuable work. Some are less communicative The team: Oceane P, Boris A (both from than others and move from task to task France); Nick G, Sam B, Harry M, Ben G (all from Essex & Suffolk Water); Paul S, Daniel almost invisibly, which caused this camp leader to have to revise his already dailyM, Jenny H, Malcolm P (all from north of made plans on some mornings and caused a Watford); Ian J, Anthony T, Geoff M and yours truly (all from south of Watford). Half few delays in getting all of the team working.

Hence my reference to patience shown were under 25, half were over 60. All in all, above. But an equal amount were the coma great mix!

My thanks to all of the team for their plete opposite and provided valuable assistance to less experienced WRGies. Thanks. splendid efforts and patience; especially to There was something I had not seen Jenny and Ian, the Camp’s assistant leader before on a WRG camp: no shorts. How on and cook, without whom the camp would earth did WRG agree to work on this site?! In not have been the success it was. Local help from Canal & River Trust Mark and Grantham WRG there is (seemingly) a contest to see Canal Society Ian W was essential and much who can wear the shortest of shorts for the most months of a year. Anyway, it is a CRT appreciated. rule. Why? I have no idea. Health and Safety That’s the easy bit of a report for a to protect against mortar / concrete camp that was week two of three with all splashes? Stinging nettles? Jealousy? We camps doing much the same thing.

My first ever week on the Grantham, so complied, as the photos show!

Grantham Canal second week Camp 06, 13-20 July

Placing struts between the rising chamber walls prior to the concrete pour

page 12

· · · · · · · · · · · ·

Put up the shuttering and wall supports prior to a concrete pour; Watched the concrete pour; Took down the shuttering and wall supports after the concrete pour; Watched the scaffold work platform rise; Raked out and repointed coping stone joints at Lock 15; Put up and painted more fence rails at Lock 15; Scraped out an extension of the access road to Lock 14 so it reached the cottage adjacent to Lock 13; Did all sorts of small bricklaying and brick wall repair jobs; Cleared areas of abandoned coping stones so an area behind the towpathside upper gate recess wall could be excavated; Underwent bricklaying training (five of the team) and digger / dumper familiarisation; Ate well; and, Had fun.

That’s All, Folks!

Pictures by Evvo

I shall now climb down from ranting commenting at height on my soap box and give brief details of what we did, hoping the leaders either side of my week (Emma and Ricey) are more descriptive in their reports.

We worked at Lock 14, unless specified otherwise, and:

‘Evvo’ (David Evans) The concrete pour and (below) brickie training

page 13

camp report Wey & Arun Bill Nicholson reports from the first of three weeks’ work constructing the reinforced concrete base and walls for the first of two new liftbridges Wey & Arun Camp 05, 6-13 July and equipment assembled either at the site WRG/NWPG at Birtley Lift Bridge or in the ‘base camp’ compound at Birtley Navvies readers will be familiar with the fact that WRG and local volunteers have been working during the latter part of 2018 and first half of 2019 on a new section of the Wey & Arun at Birtley. This work had mainly comprised the erection of boundary fencing and the construction of a vehicle plant access track to the site. The project team have set themselves the task of building two lift bridges, one in 2019 and the second in 2020.

As neither have formal names, for now they will be referred to as Bridge 1 and Bridge 2.

Three weeks of consecutive WRG summer camps were allocated for July 2019. The project team hoped that during this time the support structure for Bridge 1 could be substantially progressed with the aim to finish all but the steel lifting parts by the end of October. By the end of May the access road (started on the October 2018 camp) and fencing had been completed. By the end of June the hole into which the bridge would be inserted had been excavated and materials

Courtyard. The project plan had been drafted

by Dave Evans of the Wey & Arun Canal Trust to be signed off after a site visit and a few amendments by Mikk Bradley of IWA/WRG. It seems to have become a bit of a habit for NWPG to start the main summer season. Collecting the van and trailer from Bungle’s was a bonus with Swindon being within our broad domain. After a short stop at Bledlow for a couple of nights it was off to Kirdford, West Sussex where we were to set up camp for three weeks.

Finding accommodation for one week’s camp during school term time is difficult, but for three consecutive weeks is another matter. We are grateful that the hall committee and some of the village activities that use it are prepared to clear their calendar to enable our occupation: no hall = no camps. The same can be said for the cooks – so thanks to Sue (NWPG), Claire (WACT) and Ellie (KESCRG) for stepping up and catering for us during the three weeks.

On the first Saturday, not wishing to

fact file Wey & Arun Canal Length: 23 miles

Locks: 26

Date closed: 1871

The Canal Camp project: Construction of the reinforced concrete base, walls etc which will form the fixed structure for a new liftbridge at Birtley.

River Wey to the Thames Shalford

Bramley

Birtley

Dunsfold

Why? This is an attractive length with potential for opening up the Site for 2019 Canal towpath as part of a network of footpaths also including the Camps: first of two Downs Link old railway path. Two new liftbridges will form links Birtley liftbridges in this footpath system - and will one day open for boats to pass.

Summit 9 length Loxwood

The wider picture: Having spent some years concentrating on the Restored Loxwood Loxwood Link length, a few years ago the Canal Trust adopted a ‘three Link section sites strategy’ to spread activity onto the northern sections too, as part Newbridge 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 near Shalford. The Birtley length is a new site between these two sections, and Tidal River Arun Pallingham a first step towards eventually closing the gap between them. to the coast

page 14

waste a day and to ensure that we were not working in the mud, Dave had arranged for a load of dry mix concrete to be delivered to base camp. This was dealt with by the local team whilst the rest of us unloaded the kit and greeted our team back at Kirdford. As well as our seasoned NWPG regulars Graham (assistant leader), Mike F, Duncan, Dave R, Steve, Phil and Petes x 3 we were joined by Mike O’D from last year’s camp and new volunteers Hannah, Oceane, Basile, Colin, David B and Paul. In the team we had representatives from Australia (via Scotland), New Zealand and France – the latter via the REMPART organisation which has links with WRG (and what hard working volunteers they are too!).

Following safety briefings we enjoyed the usual excellent barbecue and made our introductions ready to start work the next day. On the negative side the shower caravan’s boiler decided it needed a new diaphragm which required an internet search.

The said part was eventually located in Guildford – the only one left in the country apparently. We all manged to last until Monday before hot showers were restored.

Sunday – thick drizzle but as it turned out the only rain during our week. By the time we had completed the on-site safety briefings it had stopped. It was a good decision to concrete blind the bridge base as I’m not sure how we would have coped without it. We divided into teams of varying sizes.

The largest was the steel fixing gang led by Graham, Mike O’D and Dave R. Their task was to prepare all the base steel work and the relevant attached upright steels for the wing walls and main abutments ready for a planned concrete pour scheduled for Friday morning. This would be the only critical target for all three camps as a delay into week two would seriously set back progress.

Working to the detailed plans drawn up by volunteer engineer, NWPG and WRG member Rob Nicholson, the team enthusiastically set about stitching together the five tons of steel rods and mesh that had been brought to the site. The task was helped by the knowledge of new WACT volunteer engineers Keith Mapp and David Beadman who became regular attendees during all three weeks of camps.

The photos best explain the work – the shape of the base can be best described as a butterfly when viewed in plan from above.

The second largest team – the carpen-

try workshop – had the task of preparing the formwork shuttering for not only our camp but also the following two. Master carpenter Steve Saunders and apprentice chippies Mike Fellows and Colin Fisher had the luxury of a gazebo, an open field and a full range of power tools to aid their progress. Still not satisfied with this a nail gun was hired, and the shutters started to fly off the production line. First were the long thin base shutters for the slab for week 1, second the pillar shutters for week 2 and finally the main wall shutters which were to be used for weeks 2 and 3. By midweek Mike had passed his first test and was allowed to use a pencil unsupervised and Colin had become the supremo on the chop saw.

Team 3 was Logistics, comprising the two Petes and anyone else looking like they needed a job. Their big moment was to be Friday morning when the ready mix was due to arrive. Until then other jobs included maintaining the general supply run from Birtley Courtyard and replacing a stream crossing in the field to the west which enables us and the farmer to access the west side of the new bridge by machine should we need it.

Last but not least: the culvert portal replacement team of Phil Cardy and Paul Dunsmore. This culvert takes the aforementioned stream under the canal embankment about 100m to the south of the bridge site.

Like many such structures of about 200 years age, the entrance portal had fallen in and unless re-built was likely to lead to further collapse such that the culvert might cease to function. Phil and Paul skilfully dismantled the loose brickwork, constructed a suitable shutter and over the week (and into week2) restored the portal to a state not seen for many years. A fine job.

All four teams beavered away through the week with the Friday target in hand – and always under the expert guidance and tireless energy of Dave Evans. The volumetrix concrete arrived on time and the deliveries to the site made by two 9-tonne dumpers and the 3-tonne machine. Amazingly, despite our early concerns at the planning stage at how long it would take to get the concrete over 1km to the site, everything went incredibly smoothly. The deliveries at the site arrived just as those spreading and laying the concrete were ready for the next load and the system of transferring the concrete from the dumpers into the hole using

page 15

Pictures by Bill Nicholson

the 13 ton digger worked well. By a late lunch the job was done and we could all relax. We were all back at the hall by 5.30pm - a long time since that last happened and a bit of a shock to Sue. So to conclude, thanks to all the volunteers who in their respective teams achieved so much and ensured that the following two weeks would be equally successful and rewarding. I hope that everyone enjoyed themselves Assembling 5 tonnes of reinforcing, and (below) after the concrete pour and went home with a warm glow of satisfaction. I must however make special mention of Dave Evans who – although an employee of the Trust - went beyond the call of duty in ensuring that we had all the plant, equipment, guidance and knowledge in the right place and at the right time - not to mention the weeks of advance planning, site assembly and turning up on site at 6am on the Friday morning of the camp to make the final additions to the shuttering before the big pour. This was a great team effort but one which would have come to nothing without Dave’s input.

I won’t steal the thunder of the other camps’ reporters other than to say that the work will continue at the site until the end of October by which time we hope to have finished all the support structure and access ramps. Next year we hope to do the same at Bridge 2 – with the support of WRG, the local northern WACT teams and visiting groups. More on this as the year progresses. Oh – and if anyone would like to support the Trust’s Birtley Bridges appeal we would certainly welcome some more funds – especially if we are to tackle the second bridge next summer. For details of how to give to the appeal go to: https:// weyarun.org.uk/restoration-appeals Bill Nicholson

page 16

camp report Wey & Arun Rob Nicholson then follows up with Week 2: building on the first week’s work (quite literally) with the start of the bridge wing walls and abutments Sunday began with a thorough site Wey & Arun Camp 08, 13-20 July briefing from the Wey & Arun’s site manager, Week 2 at Birtley Lift Bridge Dave Evans.

After this we worked to strip the “The middle camp sweet spot”

formwork off the kickers (not be confused with knickers) cast at the same time as the base slab on the Friday of week 1. We would use these kickers later in the week as a guide for the formwork for the bridge abutments and columns. With the formwork stripped we set about wiring up the reinforcing steel for the columns and wing walls. At the same time JJ formed a team to start the blockwork for the wing walls. Throughout the week he

Pictures by Rob Nicholon

I have always been a fan of the ‘middle camp’, and the Wey & Arun Week 2 was no exception. We enjoyed an excellent week, working to construct the foundations and sub-structure of Birtley Lift bridge No. 1, following on from the excellent progress made by the NWPG camp in week 1. This leads me to an apology, you have probably just read the detailed camp report on week 1 written by Bill Nicholson (my Dad). This report will be more concise than his, mostly because he’s now retired and has more time on his hands!

The team was made up of the usual mix of youthful experience and older hands, and included five Duke of Edinburgh’s Award students: Josh; Jesse; Kris; Jacob; and Robert, and three volunteers from REMPART: Basile; Camille; and Bastien, and seasoned volunteers JJ and Phill - all of whom worked incredibly hard and got on well with each other throughout the week. We were kept sustained by some fabulous food from Claire, who amazes me with how much time she manages to spend on site whilst also doing the catering.

I was ably assisted by Sam, a long-time volunteer of the Wey & Arun, who did an excellent job as assistant leader.

The main goals for the week were to start the construction of the bridge abutments, wing walls and columns onto which the steel lifting part of the bridge will Beginning the blockwork for the wing walls be fixed.

page 17

Shuttering and reinforcing, ready to cast the columns trained his team up, such that by the end of the week they were competent working without supervision. Phill continued with the construction of a nearby culvert headwall, that he had started in week 1.

Monday was focused on installing the forms for pouring the bridge columns and building scaffolding to allow us to get the concrete in the top. The forms were 2.5m high! Week 1 had already constructed the forms, we lifted them into place, levelled them and bolted them together with ‘Dywidag’ threaded bar. The use of kickers greatly helped us to ensure they were in the right place and gave us something to securely bolt the bottom of the forms to. The blockwork team continued with the wingwalls and had completed enough to allow them to fill the bottom two course with concrete.

Tuesday was hot, and coincidentally was the day when the leader had to go off site. The team in my absence successfully managed to pour the first of the two columns. A challenge in such Columns, wing walls, shuttering for towpath side abutment heat, especially when the water

page 18

content of the concrete had to be kept low to the blockwork walls were nearly up to water ensure strength. I hear the team did an level on the offside, and were at least four excellent job, with 1.5 cubic metres poured courses high on the towpath side. We then over 3 hours, and they were rewarded with tidied the site ready for week 3. In the ice creams and an early finish. On Tuesday evening we enjoyed an excellent last supper evening we had a very enjoyable boat trip and a few refreshments in the local pub. with fish & chips on the restored section of All that remains is for me to thank the the canal at Loxwood. It was less enjoyable team for their hard work and excellent cookfor the Wey & Arun volunteers running the ing over the week. The camp was very easy trip boat for us, as I had forgotten to buy to run, which is normally the sign of a good them any fish and chips. Something they week. My thanks also to week 1 who laid the politely didn’t point out until the end of the foundations for our week. They even mantrip... aged to identify the fault with the shower On Wednesday we poured the other and fix it in time for our camp. I would also column and installed the formwork and like to thank week 3 as their arrival meant lowered the scaffolding ready to pour one of that we didn’t have to pack the site down the abutments. We also erected scaffolding completely at the end of our week. I have on the other side of the abutment wall to been back to the site since the camps and provide a safe platform for those using the can only say that the progress they achieved concrete vibrators to stand on. By this time in the final week is staggering. Finally about half of the blockwork for the wingwalls thanks to the Wey & Arun Canal Trust and in on the offside had been completed and Phil, particular Dave Evans for a well resourced, having finished the culvert headwall, made a planned and run site. This was the first start on the towpath side blockwork. In the camp I have led where I haven’t had to visit evening we played rounders on the local either Screwfix or a hire shop! cricket outfield, resulting in the loss of a few Rob Nicholson tennis balls over the other side of the road.

Thursday was the day planned for the biggest concrete pour, 3 cubic meters for the towpath side abutment.

The team worked incredibly well together and got the pour done by lunchtime, albeit a slightly late one. After this we struck the formwork for the columns. The team then focused on filling more of the blockwork wingwalls with concrete. On Thursday evening a highly competitive game of skittles was fought, I can’t remember who won, but do remember Jacob, Rob and Josh being pretty good.

On Friday we took down the scaffolding and stacked it ready for week 3. We then struck the formwork for the The team with the completed columns abutment. By this time

page 19

camp report Wey & Arun Finally, Stephen Davis reports from the final week, with hot weather, 140 barrowloads of concrete, and complements from the French on the food!

Wey & Arun Camp 09, 20-27 July last dig was in the late 70’s … he even bought his old hard hat (who knew they Kescrg carries on...

With reports of the first two weeks elsewhere in this issue [see preceding pages ...Ed], I will avoid describing the background or design of this exciting project in too much detail: suffice to say the progress from the site visit at the start of July (a big hole in a dammed-off section of canal in a field in darkest Surrey) to the start of our camp a little over 2 weeks later was dramatic.

The volunteer part of the project is to construct the bridge narrows to Wey & Arun Canal broad-beam dimensions – effectively a reinforced concrete U-section, brick faced above water level, with wing walls angled back to the original banks of the canal, so contractors can install the metal lift-bridge structure at some point in the not too distant future. On arrival for our camp the base slab, lift-bridge structure foundation pillars and one main wall had been cast, the main skeleton of reinforcing stitched together, and all four wing walls had been set out and were a couple of courses of blocks up. The goal for our camp was to basically progress as far as humanly possible.

‘Finishing’ seemed a bit beyond us given the critical paths in the various concrete pours required to cast the detailing for the top of the walls to take the bridge hinge mechanism on the towpath side and ‘landing zone’ in the other – not to mention the unseasonably-for-a-British-summer hot weather forecast potentially compromising our safe working hours - but ‘complete to water level’ didn’t seem unreasonable…

The nice thing about running a ‘followon’ camp is not having to worry about collecting vans from across the country, finding hall keys etc. So, after meeting our catering maestra Eli at the hall and a quick afternoon site visit with my assistants Ian and Ed, we settled in to greet the arriving volunteers. It quickly became apparent that we had a great mix of ages, experience and background, including returning volunteer Brian, whose

page 20

even had them back then?) – but sadly it couldn’t pass the site test, as it didn’t even have a date of manufacture stamp. An interesting relic though (the hard hat, not Brian) - even older than my Sunday-best Kescrg T-Shirt and site jeans.

So, following the Saturday evening prerequisite safety video and detailed sitespecific induction provided by local project supremo Dave Evans, dinner al fresco on the terrace and a light evening in the pub, it was off to site on Sunday morning to be guided to jobs by Bill (always good to have a bit of continuity from the previous weeks). This mostly involved applying thick black paint to waterproof the back of the walls constructed thus far, more block laying and concrete infill in the wing walls, Ed leading a team setting out scaffolding (all three of these became a bit of a theme for the week) and an away team repairing a causeway over a stream in the neighbouring field to maintain access for the farmer as works progress.

On Monday, and for the rest of the week, we were joined on site by Dave Evans which was invaluable for such a technical camp. The shuttering went up for the second wall of the bridge narrows, more scaffolding was constructed to provide a clear barrow-run for the concrete pour, hardcore backfill started to arrive to fill the towpath side abutment, and more concrete went into the wing wall cores.

Tuesday was the day of the big pour – and the first really hot day. We started on site at 8am to avoid the worst of it, with the aim of completing the 3.5m3 pour by lunchtime (and not being the competitive type, there was obviously no mention of the target time set by the team on the first wall in the previous week). Suffice to say in a little over two and a half hours of incredible teamwork, a lot of water & squash and (not that anyone was counting by now) about 35 mixes and 140 (smallish - it was a long run and we didn’t want to break anyone) barrow

loads of concrete, we were taking levels and waiting to see if just one more mix would do it. Not a bad effort. The reward was mixing another half-cube of concrete for foundations for the wingwall extensions where they key into the slope of the bank, then knocking off early for fish & chips and a boat trip up the restored section from Loxwood. A great evening, especially for those of us who worked on the new lock there some years ago.

Due to the high temperatures, the shutter had to stay on the big pour for at least 48 hours, so Wednesday and Thursday involved more backfill with brick rubble, more wing wall block work, and trimming the wing wall reinforcing to the eventual profile of the approach ramps, including finishing off stitching in the horizontal reinforcing bars and planting a whole plethora of ‘mushrooms’. Thursday being the hottest day on record, we again started at 8am, and knocked off once we’d removed the shutter and had lunch. We retreated to the cinema to watch Toy Story 4 (I didn’t cry, honest) in the hope that the air-con would at least keep the edge off the furnace. Ted may or may not have kept his shirt on - but it was dark, so we think it was OK? Friday was all hands to the pump to get the site set up and ready for the local team and visiting groups to make easy progress on weekend visits – scaffolding was rearranged and installed on all six wall faces to allow brickwork to commence (in the local speciality Flemish Garden Wall Bond), block work was laid as shuttering for the next big pour for the hinge shelf on the towpath side, the compounds were tidied, huge stacks of spare and yet-to-be-used re-bar were sorted, ‘stuff’ went into a skip and generally the site was left as you might hope to find it.

So, in conclusion – all construction is complete to water-level, and on the towpath side the backfill is to water-level, block work is complete to the finished approach ramp profile on the inside of the wingwalls, brickwork has commenced and is well progressed on 2 of the walls, and Dave was very, very happy.

A big shout out to our two brilliant French volunteers, on their second week on the site still full of energy and enthusiasm; to Aaron our 1st class D of E-er; David for spending probably a little too long in a very hot excavator cab loading dumper after dumper of hardcore, and otherwise being his usual very competent self; Lucy and Anne for

excess dumpering; Phill for blocking, blocking and then blocking some more; Ian and Ed for invaluable assisting; everybody else for being absolutely fab and so hard-working and of course to Eli for keeping us alive. It may be a stereotype, but when the French contingent compliment you on your food, you are definitely onto a winner.

And in the absence of much else to do in a sleepy West Sussex village of an evening, we are indebted to the Rainbow Ralphing Cat and his chums for the entertainment.

Kescrg are back at Birtley bridge for a joint weekend dig with London WRG on the 31st August / 1st September, and NWPG will be visiting shortly after that. All bricklayers (and anyone else) very welcome, contact me or Bill for details - or Dave Evans if you are local enough to join his regular team.

Same again next year for Bridge 2 anyone?!

Stephen Davis

Barrowing for the concrete pour

page 21

camp report Lichfield “There’s a canal in that field somewhere, please can you dig it out?” - a promising start to a fortnight of canal camps on the Lichfield Canal?

Lichfield Canal Camp 04 6 - 13 July

long time WRGies and someone from France, who each brought along their own skills and eagerness to support this project.

So what was the aim for this week? For us, the main aim was to set up the site and get the site ready for future WRG weeks and the L&HCT, begin repairing the towpath retaining wall, dig out the canal channel and build up the nature reserve

“There’s a canal in that field somewhere, please can you dig it out?” asked Peter, the Head of Engineering for the Lichfield and Hatherton canal trust. This year WRG were asked to support the Lichfield & Hatherton Canal Trusts (L&HCT) restoration at Fosseway Heath Nature Reserve, with work primarily focused at pound 18: where the canal once was had been infilled with lots of lovely construction debris in the past.

Week one had a full cohort with a mix of new volunteers and old hands, led by Alex Melson and Chris Bent, part of this team consisted of six Duke of Edinburgh Award participants, two members of the WRG Clearing the Lock 18 overflow weir Board, a couple of

fact file Lichfield Canal

Length: 7 miles Locks: 30 Date closed: 1955

The Canal Camp project: Clearing the infilled channel and repairing the uncovered towpath wall above Lock 18, Fosseway Lane Diversions to be built to bypass

To Fradley

A3 8

obstructions to restoration

A4 61

page 22

Huddlesford

HS2

Why? To extend the restored length from last year’s project at Fosseway Heath past the previously restored Lock 18 and LICHFIELD through to Fosseway Lane.

A51 Byp ass The wider picture: Ultimately it’s about restoring a To Anglesey route which opens up access from the busy Coventry Canal Basin Tamworth Road A5 via Lichfield city to the work site Ogley Junction underused northern Wyrley & M6 Toll Canal Camp site: Birmingham Canal Summerhill Essington Canal Fosseway Lane Navigations. work site To Wolverhampton

Darnford Lane work site

heathland. The biggest challenge for us was to ensure that the public remained safe whilst being able to use the site, and to segregate plant from other volunteers. This required us to put in temporary barriers, paths and safety routes to keep everyone safe from where we were working. As work progressed these had to change. By the end of the week we had been able to provide a safe access route across the original line of the towpath.

Throughout the week the dedicated team of plant operators spent much of the time excavating the channel, loading the debris into dumpers and raising the north end of site to create a new heathland habitat and nature walk which overlooks the canal and will finally be covered in a layer of topsoil to match the acidic properties found across site. Throughout the week we had three members of the WRG board come out to lend a hand on the machines, alongside back up from volunteers from Buckingham Canal Society and reinforcements from L&HCT, who helped give the project the push it needed. Adrian ‘the excavator’ Sturgess’s eyes lit up, bouncing with joy on the seat of his tracked vehicle he set off to find his grail.

Whilst he and his plant operators filled dumpers with joy, other members of the camp cleared undergrowth, removed fences and gates preparing the way for that big yellow mother machine and its 2 sibling dumpers.

With the site set up, our next push was for our team to go in and uncover the route of the towpath retaining wall, clearing the

soil down to half a metre to provide the dumpers a better access and then uncover the wall safely and without damaging it. This involved a good amount of digging and mattocking away, recovering and cleaning bricks along the way to be reused for the repair and assessing the condition of the wall… which after a good number of years under ground was - in places - in fairly good condition….. well of course other parts did have massive voids… but that was week two & three’s problem.

The team moved in and removed the final earth and growth from the top of Lock 18 and continued along the wall, more and more was exposed preparing the way for the repairing and repointing of the brickwork.

We appeared to have a few natural pointers within the team and they made great progress in just one day, applying newly learnt skills. The towpath was redefined and levelled, making a safe route for the public to walk along.

Lo and behold, Peter was right, slowly and surely a canal walk appeared.

By the end of the week half the job had been completed and we were ready to hand over to Ian’s camp for week two.

A massive thank you to our brilliant team who gelled really well and made this such an enjoyable week and a special thanks must go to Harri without whom the camp wouldn’t have eaten so well nor survived the remainder of the week without all the frozen meals and cakes she left us.

Chris Bent Alex Melson

“There’s a canal buried in here somewhere” - uncovering the top of the towpath wall

page 23

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 Aug 24-31 CC201917 Aug 24-31 CC201918 Aug 24-31 CC201919 Aug 31/Sep 1 KESCRG Aug 31/Sep 1 London WRG Aug 31-Sep 7 CC201920 Sep 6-13 WAT Sep 7/8 NWPG Sep 7-14 CC201921 Sep 14/15 wrgNW Sep 14-16 wrgNW Sep 21/22 KESCRG Sep 21/22 London WRG Sep 21/22 wrgBITM Sep 22 Sun WRG Sep 28/29 wrgFT Oct 4-11 WAT Oct 5/6 KESCRG Oct 5/6 wrgNW Oct 12/13 London WRG Oct 19/20 wrgBITM Oct 19-26 CC201922 Oct 19-26 wrgFT Oct 23 Wed wrgNW Oct 25-28 NWPG Oct 25-27 FCW201903 Nov 1-8 WAT Nov 2/3 BB2019 Nov 2/3 KESCRG Nov 2/3 London WRG Nov 2/3 wrgFT Nov 15 Fri? wrgNW Nov 16/17 London WRG Nov 16/17 wrgBITM Nov 23/24 NWPG Nov 30/Dec 1 wrgFT Dec 6-13 WAT Dec 7/8 KESCRG Dec 7/8 London WRG

page 24

Swansea Canal Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation Cotswold Canals Wey & Arun Canal: Birtley Bridges project Wey & Arun Canal: Joint dig with KESCRG Mon & Brec Canal Wendover Arm Wey & Arun Canal: Birtley Mon & Brec Canal Hollinwood Canal: Note changed dates Cromford Canal: Mini-camp Sat to Mon Cotswold Canals: Inglesham, joint dig with London WRG Cotswold Canals: Inglesham, joint dig with KESCRG To be arranged Committee & Board Meetings: Rowington Village Hall To be arranged Wendover Arm Basingstoke Canal: Rhododendrons Shrewsbury & Newport Canals Shrewsbury & Newport Canals: Berwick Wharf To be arranged Canal Camp - site to be arranged Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation: Forestry Camp Ad Hoc Meeting Wey & Arun Canal: Birtley (4-day mini camp) Wendover Arm: Family Camp Wendover Arm Bonfire Bash, WRG Reunion on the Uttoxeter Canal: see page 6 WRG Reunion: Uttoxeter Canal WRG Reunion: Uttoxeter Canal WRG Reunion: Uttoxeter Canal Manchester & Stockport Canal: (provisional) To be arranged To be arranged Cotswold Canals To be arranged Wendover Arm Cotswold Canals: Joint Xmas dig with London WRG at Brimscombe Cotswold Canals: Xmas party dig with KESCRG

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

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

Bobby Silverwood Tim Lewis Tony Bardwell Bill Nicholson Ju Davenport Ju Davenport Bobby Silverwood Tim Lewis Dave Wedd Mike Palmer Nigel Lee Tony Bardwell Bobby Silverwood Ju Davenport Tim Lewis Dave Wedd

Malcolm & Barbara Bill Nicholson Tony Bardwell Bobby Silverwood Tim Lewis Nigel Lee Ju Davenport Tim Lewis Dave Wedd Bill Nicholson Nigel Lee Tony Bardwell Bobby Silverwood Tim Lewis

01494-783453 01494-783453 01494-783453 07971-814986 07802-518094 01494-783453 01296-634973 01844-343369 01494-783453 07808-182004 07808-182004 07971-814986 07802-518094 07816-175454 01564-785293 07802-854694 01296-634973 07971-814986 07808-182004 07802-518094 07816-175454 01494-783453 01494-783453 Bridge 01844-343369 01494-783453 01296-634973 01494-783453 07971-814986 07802-518094 07802-854694 07808-182004 07802-518094 07816-175454 01844-343369 07802-854694 01296-634973 07971-814986 07802-518094

enquiries@wrg.org.uk enquiries@wrg.org.uk enquiries@wrg.org.uk bobby@kescrg.org.uk london@wrg.org.uk enquiries@wrg.org.uk operations@wendoverarmtrust.co.uk bill@nwpg.org.uk enquiries@wrg.org.uk nw@wrg.org.uk nw@wrg.org.uk bobby@kescrg.org.uk london@wrg.org.uk bookings@wrgbitm.org.uk mike.palmer@wrg.org.uk nigel.lee@wrg.org.uk operations@wendoverarmtrust.co.uk bobby@kescrg.org.uk nw@wrg.org.uk london@wrg.org.uk bookings@wrgbitm.org.uk enquiries@wrg.org.uk enquiries@wrg.org.uk bill@nwpg.org.uk enquiries@wrg.org.uk operations@wendoverarmtrust.co.uk enquiries@wrg.org.uk bobby@kescrg.org.uk london@wrg.org.uk nigel.lee@wrg.org.uk nw@wrg.org.uk london@wrg.org.uk bookings@wrgbitm.org.uk bill@nwpg.org.uk nigel.lee@wrg.org.uk operations@wendoverarmtrust.co.uk bobby@kescrg.org.uk london@wrg.org.uk

ease contact diary compiler Dave Wedd: see top of page

page 25

navvies

diary

Canal societies’ regular working parties 3rd Sunday of month Every Sunday if required Every Tuesday Once per month: pls check 2nd & 4th w/e of month Thursdays Sep-Apr 2nd Sun & alternate Thu Every Mon and Wed Every Mon am Thu pm Various dates Every Sunday Every Tue and Thu Every Tue & Wed Every Friday Most Wed and Sun Second Sun of month Every Mon to Fri Every Fri and Sat Tuesdays 3rd Wed and last Sat 2nd Sunday of month Every Wed/Thu/Sat/Sun 3rd Sunday of month 2nd full weekend of month 2nd Saturday of month Alternate Saturdays Two Sundays per month Weekly Every Wed and 1st Sat 2nd Sunday of month 1st Sunday of month Last weekend of month 2nd Sunday of month Every Thu and Sat various dates 1st weekend of month Every Tuesday morning Most days, please contact 1st w/e of month (Fri-Thu) Every Sun Every Wed 2nd and last Sun of month

ACA BBHT BCA BCNS BCS BCT BuCS CCT CCT CCT ChCT CSCT C&BN ECPDA DSCT FIPT GCS GCS H&GCT K&ACT LCT LHCRT LHCRT MBBCS MSCS MWRT NWDCT PCAS RGT SCARS SCCS SCS SNT SORT SRL SUCS TMCA WACT WAT WBCT WBCT 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 East Kennet & Avon Mike Bennett Lancaster N. Reaches Robin Yates Lichfield Hugh Millington Hatherton Denis Cooper Nob End Ian Astbury Stockport Branch Roger Bravey 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 Mark Sherrey 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 0118-969-9861 01539-733252 01543-251747 01543-374370 07855-471117 0161-442-9087 07581-092001 01603-738648 07702-741211 01394-380765 01744-600656 07973-918467 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 26

Canal societies and CRT Canal & River Trust ‘Towpath Taskforce’ regular working parties 2nd Saturday of month Audlem Shropshire Union Jason Watts Every Thursday Bath Kennet & Avon Steve Manzi 1st Wednesday of month Birmingham B’ham & Fazeley/BCN Sue Blocksidge Alternate Thursdays Blackburn Leeds & Liverpool Alice Kay Burnley Leeds & Liverpool Alice Kay 1st Sunday of month 2nd Wednesday of month Chadderton Rochdale Jason Watts Last Saturday of month Chester Shropshire Union Jason Watts Colne/Nelson Leeds & Liverpool Alice Kay 1st Saturday of month Alternate Thursdays Coventry Coventry Sue Blocksidge Devizes Kennet & Avon Steve Manzi 3rd Thursday of month Drakeholes Chesterfield Becca Dent 2nd Friday of month 1st Saturday & next Tue Fradley Coventry/ T&M Sue Blocksidge Gailey Staffs & Worcs Sue Blocksidge 4th Thursday of month Every Wednesday Gloucester Glos & Sharpness Caroline Kendall Last Sunday of month Hawkesbury Coventry/Oxford Sue Blocksidge Huddersfield Huddersfield Broad Becca Dent 2nd Friday of month Knottingley Aire & Calder Becca Dent 1st Thursday of month Alternate Thursdays Lancaster Lancaster Canal Alice Kay Alternate Tuesdays Leicester Soar/Grand Union Wayne Ball Jason Watts 1st Wednesday of month Littleborough Rochdale Llangollen Andy Whitehouse 2nd and 4th Wednesdays Llangollen 2nd Saturday of month London Cent. Regents/Docklands Debbie Vidler Debbie Vidler 1st Wed & 3rd Sat of month London East Lee & Stort 1st Sat 3rd & 4th Wed London West Paddington/ GU Debbie Vidler Alternate Wednesdays LoughboroughSoar Wayne Ball Mexborough Sheffield & S Yorks Becca Dent 3rd Thursday of month Last Tuesday of month Mirfield Calder & Hebble Becca Dent Every Tuesday Mon & Brec Monmouth & Brecon Caroline Kendall Newbury Kennet & Avon Steve Manzi 2nd Thursday of month Alternate Thursdays North Warks Coventry/Ashby Sue Blocksidge Oxford Oxford Sonny King 1st Friday of month 2nd Wednesday of month Preston Lancaster Canal Alice Kay Retford Chesterfield Becca Dent 2nd Sunday of month 4th Friday of month Rotherham Sheffield & S Yorks Becca Dent Every Friday Sefton Leeds & Liverpool Alice Kay Selby Selby Canal Becca Dent 3rd Saturday of month Sheffield & S Yorks Becca Dent 2nd Friday & 4th Tuesday Sheffield Alternate Wednesdays Tamworth Coventry/ Fazeley Sue Blocksidge Last Thursfay of month Tees Barrage Tees Becca Dent Every Tuesday Wigan Leeds & Liverpool Alice Kay Every Thursday Worcester Worcester & B’ham Caroline Kendall Alternate Wednesdays Worksop Chesterfield Wayne Ball

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

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 Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Rest'n Trust

MBBCS MSCS MWRS NWPG NWDCT PCAS RGT SCARS SCCS SCS SNT SRL SORT SUCS TMCA WACT WAT WBCT

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

Manchester Bolton & Bury Canal Society Manchester & Stockport Canal Society Maidenhead Waterways Restoration 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 27

navvies

diary

Inland Waterways Association and other one-day working parties Every Tue/Sat IWA West Country Bridgwater & Taunton Canal: Bridgwater area 10am-1:30pm Every Sat

IWA West Country Bridgwater & Taunton Canal: Taunton area 10am-1:30pm

Aug 27 Tue BCP/IWA Oxford Oxford Canal: Banbury Canal Partnership, 9am-1pm Aug 27 Tue IWA NSSC/BPT Burslem Arm: Luke St, Middleport, Stoke on Trent. 10am-3pm Aug 31 Sat IWA Chester

Shropshire Union Canal: Chester area, painting & veg clearance. 10am-

Sep 1 Sun

IWA Northants Northampton Arm: 10am-2pm. Painting, vegetation & litter

Every Sat

IWA West Country Bridgwater & Taunton Canal: Taunton area 10am-1:30pm

Sep 8 Sun

IWA Lincs/SNT Sleaford Navigation: Various work on navigable section

Sep 12 Thu IWA NSSC/CUCT Uttoxeter Canal: Work party at Bridge 70, Crumpwood. 10am-3pm Sep 17 Tue BCP/IWA Oxford Oxford Canal: Banbury Canal Partnership, 9am-1pm Sep 17 Tue IWA Northants Northampton Arm: 10am-2pm. Painting, vegetation & litter Sep 19 Thu IWA NSSC/TMCS Trent & Mersey Canal: Cheshire Locks. 10am-3pm. Refurbish Lock 49 Sep 21 Sat

IWA Manchester Venue T.B.C.: Greater Manchester area. Veg clearance, etc. 10am-

Sep 24 Tue BCP/IWA Oxford Oxford Canal: Banbury Canal Partnership, 9am-1pm Sep 24 Tue IWA NSSC/BPT Burslem Arm: Luke St, Middleport, Stoke on Trent. 10am-3pm Sep 28 Sat

IWA Chester

Shropshire Union Canal: Chester area, painting & veg clearance. 10am-

Oct 6 Sun

IWA Northants Northampton Arm: 10am-2pm. Painting, vegetation & litter

Oct 10 Thu IWA NSSC/CUCT Uttoxeter Canal: Work party at Bridge 70, Crumpwood. 10am-3pm Oct 13 Sun IWA Lincs/SNT Sleaford Navigation: Various work on navigable section Oct 15 Tue

IWA Northants Northampton Arm: 10am-2pm. Painting, vegetation & litter

Oct 17 Thu IWA NSSC/TMCS Trent & Mersey Canal: Cheshire Locks. 10am-3pm. Refurbish Lock 49 Oct 19 Sat

IWA Manchester Venue T.B.C.: Greater Manchester area. Veg clearance, etc. 10am-

Oct 22 Tue

BCP/IWA Oxford Oxford Canal: Banbury Canal Partnership, 9am-1pm

Oct 22 Tue

IWA NSSC/BPT Burslem Arm: Luke St, Middleport, Stoke on Trent. 10am-3pm

Oct 26 Sat

IWA Chester

Oct 29 Tue

BCP/IWA Oxford Oxford Canal: Banbury Canal Partnership, 9am-1pm

Shropshire Union Canal: Chester area, painting & veg clearance. 10am-

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 28

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

07977-263840

mike.slade@waterways.org.uk

Steve Bulgin

07855-794256

stevebulgin@icloud.com

Colin Garnham-Edge Steve Wood 4pm

4pm

bcpontheoxford@gmail.com 07976-805858

Jason Watts

jason.watts@canalrivertrust.org.uk

Geoff Wood

geoff.wood@waterways.org.uk

Steve Bulgin

07855-794256

stevebulgin@icloud.com

Mel Sowerby

01522-856810

workparty@sleafordnavigation.co.uk

Steve Wood

07976-805858

steve.wood@team.waterways.org.uk

Colin Garnham-Edge

bcpontheoxford@gmail.com

Geoff Wood

geoff.wood@waterways.org.uk

John Lawson

07940-878923

john.lawson@waterways.org.uk

Barry McGuinness

07875-999825

barry_m@manchester-iwa.co.uk

Colin Garnham-Edge Steve Wood 4pm

bcpontheoxford@gmail.com 07976-805858

jason.watts@canalrivertrust.org.uk

Geoff Wood

geoff.wood@waterways.org.uk

Steve Wood

07976-805858

steve.wood@team.waterways.org.uk

Mel Sowerby

01522-856810

workparty@sleafordnavigation.co.uk geoff.wood@waterways.org.uk

John Lawson

07940-878923

john.lawson@waterways.org.uk

Barry McGuinness

07875-999825

barry_m@manchester-iwa.co.uk

Colin Garnham-Edge Steve Wood 4pm

steve.wood@team.waterways.org.uk

Jason Watts

Geoff Wood 4pm

steve.wood@team.waterways.org.uk

bcpontheoxford@gmail.com 07976-805858

steve.wood@team.waterways.org.uk

Jason Watts

jason.watts@canalrivertrust.org.uk

Colin Garnham-Edge

bcpontheoxford@gmail.com

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 29

letters

to the editor

Why is Deirdre called Deirdre; Slea struggle made easier by new winding hole; and how the hell do you get through nearly half a mile of 4” x 2” timber?

Dear Martin, At 74 I enjoy reading the Navvies magazine and wish that I had come on the camps when I was younger.

I read the article about the Sleaford Navigation [Progress, issue 295] and it brought to mind our excursion up to the disused lock.

I attach a photo of the Kyme Eau [the lower part of the Sleaford] when we managed to get to the head of the navigable part in August 2002.

It was a hell of a struggle against the flow Alan’s boat struggles to turn; (below) the new winding hole makes it easy of the stream, stopping every 50yards or so to clear weed from the prop. We had to lift branches to get under them in places. I had to pole our narrow boat, Jemima II, the last few yards to the bottom of the lock.

The flow of water from the stream was too great so I had to leap onto the bank getting stung by the nettles and drag

page 30

our fifty foot boat round, stirring the mud from the bottom as we went. It was a tight squeeze but backing down was not really an option. We stopped for the night and then went back down, getting some very strange looks from the householders on the way.

We had five and half enjoyable years continuous cruising, having retired at 55, and managed to cover nearly the whole system from top to bottom.

Keep up the good works.

Regards Alan Letter to the leaders of the Wey & Arun camps from the Wey & Arun Canal Trust site leader: Can I just pass on my gratitude to the leadership teams on the past three camps The work the three camps have achieved is nothing short of amazing in how much we achieved some times in sub optimal temperatures (for once we had very limited rainfall!) and I hope everyone enjoyed their camp experience. Often things were done before I even had to ask.

All campers worked fantastically to the site safety methods we put in place. We only had two very minor site accidents mainly involving a mixture of sun cream and sweat in eyes.

It’s very hard to mention everyone but my thanks goes to all with special mention to the ‘B team’ as Bill calls them who do all the logistics (specially important on a site where the vans are a mile round trip!) and everyone who manned a mixer at various points over the weeks A few facts re quantities of materials used: 30 sheets of plywood 750m of 2in x 4in timber 3000 nails in the formwork 20 sheets of steel mesh sheets 6 tons of steel bar reinforcement 10,000 steel ties (now run out of them!)

58 tons (24m3) concrete in the foundation slab 55 tons of ballast (all hand mixed into concrete!)

240 bags of cement 3 tons of building sand 610 concrete blocks 900 bricks 60 tons of backfill hardcore 8 tons of scaffold put up and down many times All in all a amazing effort put in by the teams, and it has to be said that I would have all the teams back at any time.

If anyone has any feedback please do send it in as it will help us with planning bridge two.

See everyone for bridge two next year!

Dave Evans Wey & Arun Canal Trust Dear Martin, How come Navvies has an agony aunt named Deirdre?

Is it perhaps because her name is an anagram of ‘red ride’, appropriate enough for a trip in a WRG van?

David Mack Well spotted - and has anyone noticed that ‘editor’ s an anagram of ‘rioted’? ...Ed

page 31

Progress Wendover Arm Our roundup of progress from around the system begins on the Wendover Arm, where their re-lining work has reached a landmark - Bridge 4 Grand Union Wendover Arm

WAT

Wendover Arm Trust’s main progress to note from our latest working party is that the lining of the dry section of the canal is now right up to Bridge 4.

But despite storm Miguel the spoil available to backfill the banks was far too dry to allow it to be placed to the correct thickness. However later in the week we had lashings of wind and rain - but too late to help us. The exposed Bentomat (waterproof bentonite matting) will withstand some weathering and we will cover it up next month.

As can be seen in the picture taken from the bridge (below), the lower edge of the mooring wall has now been exposed ready for the bed lining to be laid and blocks put on to the mat. The line of spoil that can be seen was placed there for next time in the hope that it will have soaked up the ‘right’ amount of moisture so that we can use it to backfill the bank.

Also just visible on the left of the picture, the soil on top of the mooring wall has been scraped back and levelled to start creating a grassed area. Most of the scrub and dead wood has been removed. The remaining desirable trees have been reduced in height and pollarded.

New trees have been planted and lots more are due in the Autumn.

The point where the lining on the towpath side (right hand side in the picture) has been stopped is where several features meet up.

There will be concrete, and block work to connect with the pipe capping (concreting over the pipe which had been laid in the canal bed to maintain the Arm’s role as a canal feeder after it closed and ran dry), the bridge bed, and the bank lining blocks. The Bentomat will be tailored round the various features as we go.

Tidying work has continued on the whole area, stretching from the mooring wall right back to the Whitehouses compound. That hard work has now created the start of a grassy picnic/mooring area. The grass area around the Little Tring Winding hole and the ‘Oak tree’ was cut back and tidied up.

Tony Bardwell The view from Bridge 4 Operations director, WAT

page 32

Progress Stover Canal The Stover Canal Trust is continuing its work to rewater the former terminus basin of this little-known former south Devon waterway Stover Canal

Pictures by SCT

Work is continuing to restore water into a small section of the long redundant Stover Canal, which used to run northwards from the River Teign at Newton Abbot in south Devon.

The canal terminates at Ventiford Basin at its north end, and a small dam has been constructed to contain water to restore the basin to its historic appearance. With the generous help of clay company Sibelco and local contractors MI Plant Engineering, nearly 30 loads of clay have now been placed in the bottom of the basin.

We were joined at our June workparty by several members of the Newton Abbot Sainsbury’s store who took great delight in ‘puddling’ the clay to create an impervious seal. A video is available on Facebook (facebook.com/watch/ ?v=498809160891408).

The exceptionally hot and dry weather has not provided the ideal conditions but a small amount of water is being taken from the adjacent stream which is enough to retain moisture in the surface of the basin until heavier rain is hoped for later in the season.

Not wishing to remove an established Clay being spread at the dam, and (below) the basin tree from the site, volunteers have built a small wall around it to make a feature of the picnic area.

Meanwhile, the site is continuing to reveal its secrets from the past. The wharf next to the canal has been excavated to its original level revealing an unanticipated paved working area. This will make another interesting feature when the final landscaping has taken place.

Rob Harris Stover Canal Trust stovercanal.co.uk

page 33

Progress here and there

Marion Carter

The rebuilt Bridge 1 on the Buckingham Canal continues to take shape, while a lock on the North Walsham & Dilham Canal gets new gates...

NWDCT

BCS

Buckingham Canal Society’s project to rebuild Bridge 1 at Cosgrove continues to make good progress, with the concrete deck cast (above and right) and kerbs next. Meanwhile the North Walsham & Dilham Canal Trust has fitted new top gates to the restored Ebridge Lock (below); it now awaits repair and fitting of the bottom gates acquired second-hand

page 34

nature Lichfield revival Sometimes canal restorers get accused of destroying nature habitats. But they can recover surprisingly quickly, as volunteer Christine Monks found...

A walk on the wild side with a WRGie Have you ever been on a canal restoration worksite and had to fend off accusations from passers-by that you’re ‘destroying the wildlife’, that you’re ‘a bunch of vandals’ or whatever?

It’s true that (for example in the scrub-bashing season or when we’re using machines to level a site before construction starts) that some of our ‘restoration’ work can appear pretty brutal from a nature conservation point of view. Sometimes to the uninitiated, our response that in the long run when we reopen the canal in a some years’ time it will be full of new flora and fauna, or that we’ll be creating new habitats to replace any that are lost, might seem a tad unconvincing. But when volunteer Christine Monks took a walk along a recently restored length of the Lichfield Canal, she came across all sorts of examples of nature thriving just a few months after the place had been a building site. Here’s her account of what she found...

Pictures by Lucy Brundell

I am a WRG volunteer who was on the Canal Camp working on the dry part of the Lichfield Canal during the first week of July, at Fosseway Heath. Here the Lichfield and Hatherton Canal Trust are restoring a one mile section of canal for the local community and to enhance the site for wildlife - and ultimately as part of a reopened canal route.

We now that many building site looks awful and the wildlife disappears as they have to find a new home, the habitats do alter and new plants and insects quickly begin to establish themselves. Over the week I inspected a section of this Canal that had recently been restored between December and January 2018-2019, to see what early successional plants had taken.

To our surprise the area had recovered very quickly and was thriving. This article will take you through my findings and explore the interesting wildlife uncovered.

A bit of background: Fosseway Heath is an narrow area about 1 mile long between farmers fields and a raised railway embankment. The soil is very dry, and is acidic soil in most places with a hedgerow expanding along the towpath side and thickets of bramble and secondary succession species along the railway embankment.

The site was a riot of self-seeded flowers and deeply rooted plants that recovered and responded to new conditions. Let me list them, with some of the benefits they have.

There’s a large clump of nettles – the best place for furry caterpillars of the peacock butterfly. Of course they are also food for us – nettle soup! Once nettle leaves are boiled, they lose the power to sting. Nettle pesto is also nice with pasta! In medieval times, thrashing your back with a bunch of nettles was a cure for arthritis.

There is white briony (right), making garlands of white flowers which will be followed in autumn by necklaces of red berries. Although they are poisonous to us, the birds find them quite a delicacy.

Higher up the bank are brambles. They provide a great source of nectar for bees and flying White briony

page 35

insects which the predatory orb spider catch in their webs. The fruits are consumed by field mice, blackbirds and other garden birds and in autumn butterflies and wasps will eat the over-ripe fruits.

Higher still, amongst the gravel of the railway trackbed, are another group of plants loved by grazing rabbits, ants and solitary wasps and jumping spiders. The railway embankment provides a dense cover from predators so will see rabbits, foxes, mice, voles, and it will probably will attract hedgehogs to make a home there.

Along the canal path between oak trees, we identified many ladybirds (below left) and their larvae (below right), which are a natural pesticide to aphids and other species that are considered a pest to your garden.

Ladybird

Ladybird larva

There were grasshoppers and other bugs, hoverflies and at least two different species bees. The predominant flower along the path is the white campion (below left), with big ornamental poppies naturalised and deposited by birds in their droppings. The red ones with black bases to their petals are known as ladybird poppies (below right) but we saw no ladybirds on the plants but plenty of hoverflies.

White campion

page 36

Ladybird poppy

Amongst the red and white flowers were others.

The red spires of Rosebay willow herb (right) were probably brought over from America by railwaymen who went to build their railways. They have spread throughout Britain, mainly on railway sidings and cuttings.

Comfrey (left) has large green leaves and is one of the first Rosebay willow herb plants to establish themselves.

Their leaves make a wonderful liquid fertiliser for garden plants.

6 leaves in a Comfrey bucket of water, leave for 4 weeks and stir. It smells horrible! Dilute it half and half with water and feed your special plants after rain!

Green Alkonet (right) is the bright blue flower that looks like a big forget-me-not. It has tiny hairs on the stem and leaves so climbing insects cannot reach the flowers –bees love it though! It also has long tap Green Alkonet roots, like comfrey so it can reach the damp soil.

Right on the edge of the path are some smaller plants. The scarlet pimpernel (below left) actually closes its petals when it rains, making it hard to spot on a cloudy day. Blackbirds, black beetles and robins have been around us whilst digging out the old canal looking for worms, centipedes and millipedes. It’s been very good for the birds but not so good for the mini-beasts.

An old brown toad was carefully moved to the damp area under the hedge where it sheltered under a rotting trunk.

There were plants that we photographed but didn’t recognise and quite a few mini-beasts also.

The area has created a diverse habitat and a wildlife corridor which should continue to grow and bring enjoyment for many years.

Scarlet pimpernel Christine Monks

page 37

NATURE Invasive species OK we’ve heard about the good nature, now let’s hear about the bad stuff: three non-native invasive species directly affecting our waterways Invasive species alerts affecting inland waterways Invasive non-native species of plants and animals cause substantial damage across the globe, estimated as being the cause of 40% of animal extinctions. In the UK invasive nonnative species are estimated to cost the economy approximately £1.7 billion a year. In the wake of climate change, species from warmer climates are able to survive in the UK and increase the rate of spread from other nations. For this reason it is important that the UK monitors the current situation and evaluates the risk posed from other species affecting other regions. Invasive alerts are put out in order to reduce the spread and eliminate invasive species deemed a risk to the UK’s environment.

Canals and rivers face yet more threats from invasive species which threatens the existing ecosystems associated with inland waterways. Of the five species alerts released by the GB Non Native Species Secretariat (NNSS) three of them directly affect UK inland waterways.

The following species have been placed as an alert due to their discoveries in one or more location within the UK. Water Primrose - Ludwigia grandiflora A very recent invader to the UK - Water Primrose is a proliferate semi-submerged plant is native to South America that prefers slow moving water bodies, such as ponds, lakes and ditches. Introduced as a garden plant Water Primrose has spread into water courses where it rapidly colonises and spreads. Identified in sites primarily across south England and Wales this plant negatively impacts the local environment through outcompeting native species through smothering water bodies.

How to identify Water Primrose can be difficult to identify especially if it growing in proximity to Water Primrose other native semi-submerged flora. The characteristics to look out for are: Bright yellow flowers with five petals (July – August) Dark green leaves with a lighter central vein, the shape of the leaves can vary from being long and thin to oval.

It grows upright as well as spreading across a water body Seed cases are distinct with star shaped vegetation at the base

· · · ·

Killer Shrimp - Dikerogammarus villosus Not your obvious invader but these small invertebrates are voracious predators hunting invertebrates and small fish. Native to the south-east regions of Europe this shrimp is a hardy species that can tolerate poor water quality and survive in damp conditions for up to five days. This means that they can be

page 38

spread by ballast water and survive in water retained on waterway kit such as kayaks, portable boats and angling gear. Killer Shrimp are mostly found in habitats with artificial banks, high oxygen saturation and low conductivity which make canals a highly viable environment for this species to colonise and spread.

How to identify Despite being the largest of the shrimp found in the UK between 10-20mm (but sometimes up to 30mm) this species may very well pass you by unnoticed.

However if you happen to see a shrimp the signs to look for are: Black banding across its whole body Distinctive cones on their tails (native shrimps have smooth tails)

· ·

Killer Shrimp

Quagga Mussel - Dreissena bugensis Identified as the highest risk future invasive to the UK, Quagga Mussel is regarded as an ecosystem engineer with the capabilities to completely alter marine environments. Established Quagga Mussels filter out the nutrient rich phytoplankton which effectively clears its environment allowing more light to reach the waterways floor and encouraging the growth of problem weeds. This also reduces available food for native fish and invertebrates. The Quagga Mussel is even more invasive than the Zebra mussel and is a major threat to native mussels as it will outcompete and suffocate existing colonies. This prolific breeder is also a biofouling threat to structures such as pipes & boats and lock gates.

How to identify Small with a alternating light and dark brown stripes (similar to the zebra mussel) but can also be solid in colour as well.

Triangular in shape and usually less than 5cm in length Has an undulating seam between the valves (shells) Will roll onto its side when placed on its front (unlike the Zebra Mussel)

· · · ·

Controlling Invasives You may Quagga Mussel not be aware that you could be helping the spread of invasive species across UK waterways but with three simple steps you can help protect wildlife, avoid restrictive navigation and prevent unnecessary damage to waterway infrastructure.

Check - your equipment and clothing for live organisms, particular in areas that are damp or hard to inspect.

Clean - wash all equipment, footwear and clothes thoroughly. Use hot water where possible. If you do come across any organisms, leave them at the water body where you found them.

Dry - all equipment and clothing; some species can live for many days in moist conditions.

Report and record It is important that invasive species on the alert list are reported to the appropriate management body to control their spread. This can be done online via iRecord or RISC (Recording Invasive Species Counts), both linked from www.nonnativespecies.org.

page 39

camp report Lichfield Week two at Lichfield: carrying on digging out the canal at Fosseway Lane and completing the repair and re-pointing of the towpath wall Lichfield Canal Camp 07 13-20 July

John Hawkins

There were surprising low numbers (just ten people including our leader Ian) on the second week at Lichfield. This was despite there being plenty of machines to use and the prospect of Bev’s delicious cooking. We split into two groups: one tackling the digging out of the canal and one the repair of the newly exposed canal wall.

The digger team consisted of Ian, Dave S, Adrian (‘Velcro’), John H (‘The Hawk’) and local Chris. Mikk and cook Bev also lent a hand. The machines available were three excavators (14.5, 9 & 5 tonnes) and two dumpers. One of the dumpers was brand new one with an enclosed cab that had been lent to the local society. Their task involved exposing the remainder of the wall, finishing the excavation of the canal bed and moving the surplus material to the rear of the site.

They also had to dig a couple of ‘borrow pits’ to find sand to cover the excavated material.

It sounds simple - but the quantity of material involved, the tight nature of the site and need to provide safe access and workspace for the brickwork team made for long, tiring days.

The previous week’s camp had exposed a good length of wall and had started the repair and re-pointing of the wall. The brickwork team (Pete, Nigel, John C, Dave B and Louis) plus a few day guests (Stephen and Tom) rose to the challenge of completing this work. Special mention must be made of our leader Pete and his deputy Nigel who were happy to pass on their expertise. Nigel also was an outstanding mixer, making up all 25 loads of ‘muck’ we used during the week.

His French linguistic skills also proved invaluable in helping Louis deal with the loss of his wallet including his ID card, ticket and money.

The weather was kind to us for most of the week and this helped us greatly. Indeed some days were very hot and as most of didn’t have air-conditioned cabs, we were

Shifting the infill using an assortment of machines including a dumper with cab

page 40

Ian Gaston

glad of Bev’s ice cream runs. We had a bit of it was an enjoyable if rather tiring week. Even rain on the Friday which meant that the with low numbers we accomplished and exbrickies finished on site before lunch and ceeded our target for the week. As one of the were thus able to do an early kit check. On posters in the community centre reminded us, the other hand the wind troubled us quite a ‘You’re never too old to get fit’. What the bit – particularly on our evening walk round poster didn’t say is it just takes longer to reLichfield. cover. Given the age profile of the participants The community centre we stayed in it was not surprising that it was a fairly sedate was rather noisy but was spacious and a camp during the evening with most of us good base for the week. It was lovely to turning in early. We even failed to finish the have a well-equipped kitchen with a dishcamp jigsaw. However there was some good washer. The accommodation was well lobanter and storytelling. Pete and Nigel cated with an Aldi and Tesco on the doorregaled us with anecdotes of their days on step. The nearby Jigger’s Whistle pub was the railways. We all looked forward to Nifriendly and served a good selection of real gel’s joke of the day during our lunch break. ales. It was just a shame that Ian managed Ian Gaston to find the only leaky glass in the place. We also took advantage of the ‘two meals for £9’ offer at the other local pub so that Bev had a break from cooking.

Our cook Bev kept us all well feed with a wide range of tasty meals. Her baking was outstanding. My personal favourite of the week was her light stem ginger cake. Then again her fruit cake, sticky toffee pudding and her chocolate bread and butter pudding were all fantastic. As well as doing all the cooking she somehow managed to fit in nearly two days on one of the dumpers.

Ian posted pictures on Facebook daily showing our Repairing / re-pointing the exposed canal wall progress. Overall

page 41

family camp Uttoxeter Once again, we are running a series of weekend Family Camps for the next generation of WRGies. Helen Gardner reports from this year’s first one... woman in her 40s in the wrong shoes (me) around the track by 1 and 2 seconds respecBeing June, it was raining as Alex arrived at tively. Andy Jones hadn’t seen the markings Smallwood Manor with hire van and kit. He that said things like ‘star jump’ and ‘hop’ and spent a substantial amount of time unpackfrom his window viewing in the dusk thought ing the kit, unloading the shopping he’d we’d lost our minds very early on. Eventubought and setting out the accommodation. ally Nicola from head office arrived and so Alone. He finished and then I arrived shortly we could go to bed - way past my bed time. followed by the first of our families Peter The The Khatab famlly were up early and Young and his grandson Kai. set about producing a couple of mountains The accommodation was based in a of eggy bread and beans for breakfast. Evequadrangle with one quarter a pre-school ryone else wandered in in plenty of time and kitchen and playroom and another quarter tucked into A LOVELY HOT breakfast apdorm rooms; each family had their own proximately one minute after I’d been sumroom with beds. We also had access to the moned by BBC Radio Stoke to do a phone central courtyard and an outside area includ- interview live on air in the car park (there ing a zip wire. was phone signal there). I think it all went All bar one family trickled in over the well and wasn’t even disturbed by the evening and settled in, got to know each (planned but forgotten) arrival of our final other and tested the facilities. We made family whilst I was talking. Much gesticulatbubble mixture in preparation for the next ing and they got the message. After A evening and we also took advantage of the LOVELY LUKEWARM breakfast for me it was circuit track painted on the playground. Alex time for a briefing and then off to site. took a huge amount of pride in having I explained that the most important beaten both an 11-year-old boy (Kai) and a thing on site was biscuits and that we had a

Uttoxeter Family Camp Report

fact file Uttoxeter Canal The Canal Camp project: Clearing Himalayan Balsam and other vegetation then investigating the uncovered remains of Charlesworth Lock.

Why? In preparation for future restoration of the lock as part a ‘showpiece’ restored length and visitor site.

Caldon Canal to Etruria

Length: 13 miles Locks: 17 Date closed: 1849

Froghall: 1st lock and basin restored 2005 Oakamoor

Crumpwood The wider picture: The canal having closed 180 years ago with parts of its route used for building a railway line, restoration isn’t going to be a Alton quick or easy job. The first section at Froghall, which might seem the Denstone obvious place to start reopening the canal (so that boats from the Caldon Family Camp site: Canal can access it) is going to be very tricky and expensive to open, Charlesworth thanks to several missing locks, a blockage where a main road crosses, and Lock the need to share space with the Churnet Valley Steam Railway. So the Proposed Caldon & Uttoxeter Canals Trust looked around for a more practical place to diversion start, and hit on the Alton to Crumpwood length - bypassed by the (disused) ending in railway, with surviving locks, the last remaining bridge, and an unusual ‘level converted crossing’ of the River Churnet. This could be a restored ‘showpiece’ length, quarrry with a public tripboat to raise funds and support for more canal restoration.

Uttoxeter

page 42

gazebo to keep them dry from the drizzle, so we got to work setting up our brew station before Alison gave us a valuable lesson in Himalayan Balsam and bashing it.

We headed onto site to look at the heritage artefacts we were due to record and decided that Charlesworth Lock would be a good place for all of us Young volunteer ready for work to start. Of course the first thing to do was clear it of Himalayan Balsam but then Yusuf (with assistance from Ruqayyah) became our official photographer and mapper whilst Kai did the measurements.

Joshua and Peter The Younger proved themselves dab hands at lopping branches from where we thought holes were. This meant we actually found some new stone work and scraping back the surface suggested it was the head of the lock. Measuring it from where we thought the lock tail was showed they were some 70 feet apart. We found lots of coping stones and some mortar but didn’t find the other side despite some trial pits.

Alongside all this we had a film crew keeping us all on our toes and asking us difficult questions about what made this fun. Fortunately some people were having fun so they found it easier to answer. Meanwhile Sarah was getting her own back and conducting her own interviews for a school project.

The families enjoyed the balsam bashing and excavations, some people also got a go

The family volunteers (and some Himalayan balsam, visible front left

page 43

Helen Gardner

Lovely barbecue weather on the Saturday night at tirforing (that was Andy, Amal and Rupert’s job for the weekend). Unfortunately around 2.30 pm the rain became monsoonal. The families who were acquainted with Malaysian rain declared that it was indeed RAIN (but not as warm as it should be). Having looked at the satellite picture of rain (potentially lots coming our way) we abandoned site and headed back to the accommodation to make lollipop treasure chests and play on the zip wire when the weather allowed. We also made bubble wands and tested the bubble mixture which proved a great success - GIANT BUBBLES. Thank goodness for the double gazebo erection otherwise the BBQ would have been a pond with some charcoal floating in it. The adults set to work preparing sides whilst Alex and Khatab cracked on with the cooking. It was quite a late evening and I had to ask permission to go to bed pretty much before everyone else (it was 11pm) and this made it a slightly later morning than the previous. Though we were on site earlier. We elected to go back to Charlesworth Lock because we’d made such a hasty exit the day before. Another team cleared a spillweir of balsam ready for the next local working party. Ibrahim in particular got stuck into stone excavation. Just before lunch we had fun lighting a fire (obviously it went out over lunch) and finally Sumaya managed to wrangle the camp camera off her younger siblings.

After lunch it was a matter of tidying up and quickly cooking some bananas in chocolate on the relit fire before heading back to the accommodation. There we split into two: one half busied themselves making bee hotels to take home; the rest of the group either had a nap or started to tidy up.

It was a grubby, tired and happy group of individuals who departed late afternoon on the Sunday.

It was a fantastic and fun weekend despite having left my family at home for the weekend. Thank you so much to: Alex at Head Office for pretty much doing everything; Alison Smedley for her local knowledge, experience of family camp and guidance; Steve Wood for his time and enthusiasm; Nicola Kiely for managing the media; WRG North-West for lending us the tirfors; and finally the families for being so lovely and working so hard.

Helen Gardner

page 44

News

navvies Robin Higgs R.I.P.

Ecological Surveying workshop

We are very sorry to bring you the sad news that Robin Higgs has died.

Attracted to the waterways cause by the 1962 IWA festival at Woking, he was involved in the Surrey & Hants Canal Society (including a stint as Chairman) throughout the Basingstoke Canal restoration. But his role in WRG from the earliest days (it was launched ‘on his patch’ at Guildford) was a slightly more unusual one: he was founder Graham Palmer’s chauffeur. Graham didn’t drive, so Robin took him everywhere on his legendary leadership of volunteer restoration around the country in the late 1960s and 1970s.

He chaired IWA’s Restoration Committee (and recruited the current Navvies editor to its ranks as WRG representative), was an IWA Trustee for some years, and chaired the Southern Canals Association (a very useful forum for exchange of ideas, experience and best practice between restoration groups in the southern half of the country) for its entire existence since it was founded in 1975.

And somehow he also found time to be active in railway preservation groups (Welsh Highland Railway and Watercress Line), to visit overseas railways and canals and to give talks about them, not to mention being president of his local horticultural society.

Also from the IWA Restoration Hub, this training day focuses on ecological surveying, environmental appraisals, legislation and protected species. The indoor learning session in the morning is followed by an outdoor site visit in the afternoon to put it into practice with a site walkover. It takes place on 11 September at Lichfield Cruising Club.

Contact Jenny Morris (as above) to book.

R.I.P our boat club

The WRG Boat Club club was formed 22 years ago with aims of Mutual Help, Fellowship and to be part of the Association of Waterways Cruising Clubs (AWCC).

Many things have changed since then: There were fewer Marinas or anywhere safe to leave boats temporarily.

There was no River Canal Rescue.

There were fewer mobile phones.

Boats were less complicated, it was possible for owners and/or friends to maintain them.

Fewer club boats have attended the IWA Festivals and our AGM and socials have been poorly attended. Members have grown older and quite a few have sold their boats.

We would like to thank the AWCC for all the help, advice and information they have provided. We particularly value their High risk activities workshop promoting and campaigning on issues that The IWA Restoration Hub (the central point affect boaters. set up by WRG’s parent body the Inland But all good things come to an end and Waterways Association to provide expertise our club is no longer needed. All outstanding and reources for waterway restoration money will go to Waterway Recovery Group groups) will be running a one-day High Risk via the Inland Waterways Association. Put Activities Workshop. It’s an opportunity for simply, “Due to lack of interest, we have to those involved in restoration planning to get wind up the boat club”. up to speed on what to be aware of when Still we have our memories... engaging in temporary works, working at Goodbye from the (ex) Club Officers! height and other specialist high risk activities.

Sadie Heritage The Temporary Works session is led by sadieheritage@gmail.com Emma Greenall (professional temporary 07748186867 works engineer and volunteer WRG camp leader) while Mikk Bradley, IWA Technical Change of address Support Officer, will lead the Working at Heights session. It takes place on 6 Septem- Dave Wedd (WRG BITM and Navvies diary ber at the Canal & River Trust’s Hatton offices. compiler) and Stella Wentworth have moved To book a place, contact Jenny Morris house. Their new address is: 19 Wilsdon on jenny.morris@waterways.org.uk.

Way, Kidlington, Oxfordshire OX5 1TN.

. . . .

page 45

infill including Dear Deirdre Mixing mortar and bodily fluids, making good use of the things that we bash, and are editors’ wives likely to be any good at making tea?

Dear Deirdre I want to show my new engagement ring to my WRG friends but I’m terribly worried about losing it on site or having a break in at the accommodation. Is there a safe way to bring diamonds on a dig?

- HJ, Wivelstoft Deirdre writes My grandmother who was a notoriously awful cook used to swear by hiding her valuables inside one of her dreadful caraway seed cakes whenever her kleptomaniac sister-in-law came to visit. You might try slipping your ring into a gluten-free walnut cake, which I know for a fact is WRG’s least favourite cake. That way you can take it on site every day with you with no danger of anyone asking for a slice.

Dear Deirdre I went to tell the mortar maker that the mix was too wet. One thing led to another and now I’m pregnant. What can I do?

- MGP, Cropwell Birtley Deirdre writes Try using a watering can on site to get a better control over the amount of liquid going into the mix.

Thank you... ...to ‘an IWA source’ for drawing my attention to this rather ‘of its era’ internal communication from quite some years back from our parent body the Inland Waterways Association, giving an insight into press & public relations arrangements at canal events in those far-off days...

Introding La Cuisine Invasive...

Elsewhere in this issue, you see a couple of references to dealing with invasive foreign species which sometimes threaten to take over our waterways and drive native plants out. One which gets a fair amount of coverage is Himalayan Balsam, with the annual ‘Balsam Bashing’ season of volunteer work parties to control its spread.

But the cunning folks at IWA who organise a great deal of the balsam-bashing have come up with some creative things to do afterwards with the plants. A couple of years ago they brought us a recipe for a pleasant light rosé wine made from the pink blossoms of the plants (see waterways.org.uk/blog/how_to_make_himalayan_balsam_wine). And now they’ve teamed up with a local distillery to go one better and make a Himalayan balsam gin.

All the blossoms from the plants collected by IWA Chiltern Branch and River Thame Conservation Trust volunteers on a joint ‘bash’ in July were delivered to Puddingstone Distillery in Tring, which will produce a limited edition Himalayan balsam gin as part of its Campfire Gin range - with profits going to help Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust’s work.

So what next? Will we be serving Japanese knotweed salad on canal camps? Floating pennywort soup? Giant hogweed pie? Will quagga mussels and killer shrimps join the chicken drumsticks and sausages on the last night barbecue? Kendal mink cake, anyone?

page 46

outro Weymoor Bridge

A site some volunteers will remember from a couple of years ago is the Weymoor Bridge rebuild (effectively a new arch bridge) on the Cotswold Canals. We’ve been back there to help finish it off, building up, grading and rolling the approach ramps, and adding the kerbs. Report next time (please!)

Pictures: John Hawkins

page 47

Build a liftbridge: Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

page 48