May 2003 Diary | Directory EDITORIAL COMMENT ~ Steve Jones Apologies to all who receive W.P.News by post, for the error at the top of the page - March should have read April. I’m afraid that last month’s edition was produced rather hurriedly due to a family crisis. May promises to be an exciting month for the Trust. The Small Boat Rally takes place on May 11 followed by the formal opening of Drungewick Aqueduct on May 31. The latter event will be a grand affair, but all are welcome to come and celebrate what has undoubtedly been a major achievement for the Trust. The former is always an enjoyable occasion and over the years the length of canal available to cruise has steadily increased, so if you have a canoe or trail-boat why not join in. And whilst on the subject of ‘trail-boats’, another important date for your diary if you have access to a small boat is the IWA ‘Head of Navigation Campaign Cruise’ from Pulborough to Pallingham on Saturday May 3. This event is important to the Trust as it continues to maintain the right of navigation up to and beyond the entrance to the canal. More details are available from Peter Boyce on 02392 269642. In preparation for next months' events not reported here is the finishing touches being put to the aqueduct including the hand rails and rubbing boards. Also, a new winding hole has been created by contractors below Drungewick Lock. 10 years ago a narrowboat that had been given to the Trust arrived at Redlands Farm near Wisborough Green where a team of volunteers planned to convert it to a trip boat in time for the 1994 season, the boat we now know as Zachariah Keppel.

Road Crossings are in the Public Eye ~ Brian Crossley The Group is back on our round of giving tender loving care to all the major sites where the canal crosses a public highway. Recently of course we have been pleased to add Drungewick Lane to our list - so we now have seven locations that we need to go to fortnightly in the growing season. With a full team and ‘leapfrogging’ where appropriate, we visit all the sites in one day. It’s very worthwhile work in good company. Unfortunately we don’t win every time. For instance the towpath near Knightons Lane in Sidney Wood is a permissive footpath, not a bridleway. To discourage horse-riders from causing further damage to the pathway, at the suggestion of Surrey County Council, we installed two posts as a barrier. Shortly afterwards, one had been uprooted and cast aside. We replaced the posts with longer ones, sunk deeper into the ground and bedded in concrete. Within a fortnight, there were signs of unsuccessful attempts to remove one of these posts and an adjacent tree had been cut down at ground level. The logical outcome of this contest is for us to install more and more posts and persons unknown to fell the entire wood! Time to admit that the battle is not worth continuing. Fortunately, most equestrians are very responsible people, and a single rogue rider can’t do all that much damage! We shall be meeting on May 12th and, because of the Spring Bank Holiday, our next meeting after that will be June 2nd. We need at least one more regular member of the team to cope with the workload - so if you think you might be able to spare one or two days a month, please give me a call. MWWP Link Lee Farm to Orfold ~ Colin Gibbs Three more visits to Harsfold Bridge at Lee Farm, have seen a further 330 yards of canal reclaimed from nature with the removal of scrub and trees (mainly blackthorn). This section is now ready for dredging during the summer, and will link up with the recently dredged length south of the flood-lock at Orfold. Other jobs that completed our winter season included a final burn-up at Toat, the removal of a tree; which had fallen across the canal at Tickners Heath, and the rebuilding of the dam north of Fastbridge, which had been lowered for our visits in February. Work at Devil's Hole, Gennets Wood and Drungewick has either been completed or is in the latter stages of completion. Consequently, all manner of plant has been returned to our Tickners Heath depot. We spent a very useful day in the yard moving the equipment around the site. Hopefully, it’s now in a position that does not require it to be moved around again! ‘Dig Deep’ Achieves Final Clearance of Bonfire Hangar ~ Graham Baird The BITM team had a large turnout on April the 12th and 13th, reaching 25 members at times. This, combined with generally dry weather enabled a great deal to be accomplished and almost all the outstanding tasks were completed. A clay stockpile in Oakhurst Lane was moved a considerable distance to Lock 9, the dams above the locks were strengthened, and the site and compound were completely cleared. In addition, the team found time to move and burn some of the tree roots above Devil's Hole Lock. In all, a very successful weekend. Since the camp, the container has been moved to its new home in Sidney Wood with the kind assistance of Peter Foulger with his teleporter and trailer. We are now ready to start work there on the overflow weir project.

Working Party Diary for May and early June. Press date for articles for inclusion is the 20th of the month by letter or e-mail. If you do not attend regularly, please contact the site manager before joining a work party. MOST TUESDAYS maintenance sessions at Tickners Heath. Check with Colin Gibbs first. EVERY THURSDAY and SUNDAY at Devil's Hole. Meet 0930 at the Onslow Arms, Loxwood. Lots of jobs Site details from Eric Walker. SAT MAY 3 IWA Solent & Arun Branch Head of Navigation Campaign Cruise. Pulborough to Pallingham. Depart A29 Pulborough bridge/slipway at 1500hrs. More details from Pete Boyce on 02392 269642. SAT MAY 3/SUN 4/MON 5 - DIG DEEP with NWPG. WACT members are welcome on any day. Phone John Ward for site and more details. SUN MAY 11 - WACT SMALL BOAT RALLY. Details of how to enter can be obtained from the WACT office on 01403 752403. MON MAY 12- MONDAY W P. (Mrs Bucket Group). Details of site and meeting time from Brian Crossley. THUR MAY 15 - MWWP. Meet 0930 at Drungewick Lane Canal Bridge. Last minute jobs before the official opening of the aqueduct. Contact Colin Gibbs for more details. THUR MAY 29 - MID WEEK WALK ‘Toat Totter’ 8mls, 5hrs. Depart 0945hrs from Pulborough Garden Centre, A283, by Stopham Bridge. Please park in the overflow car park. Bus no 1 passes entrance, trains 1 mile. Map ref 032183. Pathfinder 1287, Landranger 197. Theme of Inland Waterways, including Wey and Arun canal. Through Stopham with stunning views across the Lower Arun valley to the canal. Lunch at Garden Centre or White Hart at Stopham. Contact Don Gibson for more details. SAT MAY 31 - DRUNGEWICK AQUEDUCT GRAND OPENING. VIPs arrive at 1145 hrs. MON JUNE 2- MONDAY W P. (Mrs Bucket Group). Details of site and meeting time from Brian Crossley. Working Party Directory ~ Brian Crossley (Monday Working Party) 01737 843192 Steve Jones (W P News Editor) 01444 811747 Colin Gibbs (Mid-week Working Party) 0208 2417736 e-mail steve@stumblemead.fsnet.co.uk or Mobile 07870 371019 John Ward (General Enquiries) 01483 527124 Winston Harwood 01293 424672 Don Gibson (Mid week walks) 01903 201375 Peter Wilding (Loxwood Maintenance) 01483 422519 Eric Walker (Loxwood Area) 02392 463025

Last updated May 2003