Today, despite us being overwhelmed by the heat from the very strong sunshine we had a very productive day. We moved one of the posts of the kissing gate in order to provide a greater width for people to be able to manoeuvre around the gate.
We made sure that all gate posts & security fencing were secured in place after the work and fitted warning & direction signs.
We also laid some aggregate along the footpath for a more pleasant experience and Andy has been trained 2 use 2 wheelbarrows (he just needs 2 ensure they r both fully laden, lol).
Today a team of 7 volunteers attended the area where the 2nd gate is to be sited as part of the new footpath route between Snarestone & Measham. Work was started on the gate installation itself and also some clearance work around the area of both overgrowth and litter.
We made good progress despite some very difficult to dig root riddled earth that slowed us down considerably when digging the post holes. Later we were then forced to a full stop due to not having a suitably sized drill bit of sufficient length to go through the rather large wooden posts. When we installed the last gate the fixings were of a different design that only required screwing the hinge pins to the outside of the wooden post whereas this new design requires them to be mounted through the post.
We shall return at the first available opportunity (with the correct drill bit) and get this task completed. Look out for the update when we do!
Today we returned to the site at Measham that runs along the old railway line (between the former railway station and the back of Forterra) to remove some small tree stumps that were causing a slight trip hazard after the previous clearing of the site for the new footbath between Snarestone & Measham.
We had about 8 volunteers attend who all really got stuck in and managed to achieve far more than we anticipated. A thoroughly enjoyable day was had by all and we left the site with a great sense of achievement.
Can’t wait for the next work party!
Dave & Joe
Paul
Steven
Jenny & Trevor
Anne-Marie
John
John
Hi-ho!
Burn Baby, Burn!
Anne-Marie & Joe
Anne-Marie & Dave
Dave
Spade
Joe
Look at the roots on that!
Local kids appear to have made an alfresco living room!
Today there was a work party held up at Ilott Wharf to try to assess the state of the saplings we planted a few years ago. They had become somewhat overgrown by grass, brambles & other weeds making it hard for them to get sunlight and also making it difficult for us to see which were doing well, which needed attention in order to be saved and which just plain need replacing.
Unfortunately the weather was not too kind as the horrible unseasonably wet, cold & windy May continues to bear down on us but in traditional ACA style and with just 3 volunteers (Arran, Dave and new volunteer Alan) we put on our hats, zipped up our coats and managed to clear the worst of the overgrowth around the saplings giving them all a much better chance of survival for the ones still alive. For the ones that didn’t make it we were able to get an idea of how many we need to replace at the end of the summer.
We will need to return soon to tackle some of the nasty brambles etc that remain in the surrounding areas close to the saplings and also to maintain the area that we have just worked on but now we have gently cleared around the delicate saplings we can take a slightly more heavy handed approach to what remains.
Today we continued with Phase 2 of the slab laying project. We laid sand on the area we had previously prepared and then thanks to Trevor (who has clearly done this before) we fired along getting several rows of slabs down all straight & level.
This weekend a small team began preparing the ground to the side of the shop area for being converted from grass to slabs. It still requires sand laying etc before the slabs can go down but it’s certainly getting there!
This weekend we have finally been able to start laying down the extra slabs in front of the shop canopy at Snarestone Wharf.
The ground was prepared just before Christmas but a change in weather put a stop to any further work on this until now. It was a very chilly but incredibly sunny weekend and with just 2 Volunteers assisting the 2 already on site each day we managed to get 15 slabs down on Saturday and then even more than that on Sunday. You could really feel that Spring is in the air and the volunteers did a great job!
Today we did some ground work in preparation for laying some more slabs in front of the shop area at Snarestone Wharf. This previously grassy area would become very muddy and slippery when it rained and given how close it is to the canal for people’s safety, convenience and for the general aesthetics we decided to lay more slabs.
Today Arran & Fred continued with the signage survey that they have been carrying out on behalf of the Canal & River Trust as part of the partnership project that we have with them. This time they were joined by John, a new ACA member but an old friend of Arran’s. They started where they left off last time at bridge 51 which is on Barton Lane just outside of Congerstone and they carried on all the way up until bridge 42 which is just past Bosworth Marina where Wellsborough Road meets Station Road.
Today Arran and Fred met up to continue with the signage survey that they have been carrying out on behalf of the Canal & River Trust through our partnership agreement. They had previously covered from the end of CRT waters which is the swing bridge at Snarestone Wharf (Bridge 61a) down as far as Bridge 59 (Pare’s Bridge) right next to the Ashby Road. This was where they returned to today to start the journey which then ended at bridge 51 which is on Barton Lane just outside of Congerstone.
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