“A book ended weekend”. Said restoration project manager, Tom Fulda. “Aided by record volunteer numbers and favourable weather, the March work party saw several activities coming to an end and others starting”.
Saturday attendees numbered 31, the highest ever on this project, other than work parties where the Society volunteers have been joined by corporate volunteers. We welcome young persons (with guardians) and there are now three Duke of Edinburgh Award candidates attending. The age range of volunteers exceeds 70 years proving there is something for everyone.
The last of this winter’s environmental programme saw more hedge laying and hedge planting. With great teamwork and effective instruction, five rookie hedge layers have rapidly gained new skills over this period. The results look outstanding. 125 metres of hedge have been laid this season.
- Rolling out the carpet
- Laying liner
Towpath work has also concluded for the time being. 485 metres of towpath has been resurfaced since November. Apart from a short length by the current Schoolhouse Bridge compound and through the bridge itself, where a wash wall will be constructed later this year, the entire 1,100 metre site between Crickheath Bridge and Malthouse Bridge has now been resurfaced.
And so on to the new activities. At long last, there have been several consecutive dry days. Ground conditions in the channel were suitable for lining and blocking to commence; even some overnight rainfall before the Friday start did not have a serious impact. Friday itself was spent with preparatory activities. There was further profiling of the channel and, in the compound, cutting of the different liners to the required dimensions.
Once again, this area of the site has no haul road meaning several adjustments to work methods are required. Blocks are delivered from the compound along the bed of the channel and the largest of the liners, colloquially referred to as carpet, must be manually carried to the work area along the towpath. The blocks extend to just below the water line. Above the blocks, the liners are held down with large aggregate (riprap) covered by soil. For the towpath bank, this is delivered by power barrow but for the offside bank, both stone and soil must be placed manually using buckets. Space in the channel is restricted and whilst lining and blocking is underway; excavators cannot occupy the channel to profile it. As a consequence, further channel profiling will be done in advance of the next work part
Work got underway on Saturday, continuing on from the previously lined and blocked channel in Phase 1B. Joining up with a previously restored section is always a little fiddly but by the end of the work party 25 metres has been lined and blocked with riprap placed on the offside bank. Sufficient liner has already been cut for next work party.
