In early December, volunteers from the Wey & Arun Canal Trust planted 6,000 hedging plants along a 1,500 metre stretch of the canal near Pulborough. Undertaken at the landowners request, the huge task took three-and-a-half days and involved forty-three people, some of whom worked on all the days.

The plants were mainly hawthorn and blackthorn, which volunteers quickly learned to recognise and deal with carefully as they have very sharp thorns. Other species were randomly placed along the hedge to give variety. Each plant was firmly heeled-in to the ground and a bamboo stake, to help keep it upright when the wind blows, was pushed in alongside. A plastic guard was then wound round the plant to help prevent it being nibbled by rabbits and other small creatures during the first years of its life.

Maintenance Manager David Jessop was delighted at the response to his request for volunteers. Although most workers came from Sussex and Surrey, there were others from as far as Buckinghamshire and even one person from France. "It was a pleasure working with such a cheerful, hard-working group of people. They used their initiative in sorting out what was needed and just got on with the job", commented Richard Watson, one of the organisers.

This task follows on from the erecting, during the summer, of a post and wire fence along much of the same stretch of the canal, by members of the Wey & Arun Canal Trust's Mid-Week Working Party, led by Peter Jackman. The fence and hedge now prevent sheep from going into the canal and mark a walking corridor through this peaceful part of Sussex.

Further information can be obtained from the Wey & Arun Trust's Public Relations Officer: Sally Schupke (01483 560543): email: pr@weyandarun.co.uk

For general information on the work of the Wey and Arun Canal Trust, please telephone the Trust office on 01403 752403.