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Editorial Comment ~ Tim Jolly.

This issue is headed November and December since it is long overdue. Sorry about that. It's been a very busy period for me - what with the Raffle (very good, over £2,200 raised), the Arundel Dinner (again splendid) and Wey-South 133 (which as usual is a last-minute rush, with 2 errors on Page 4 - the only page that Geoff Perks didn't proof read!)

36 people made it to The Compasses on the 5th of December. By all accounts a good time was had by all. A group photo (with pints in hand) was taken - could someone send it in for publication? Similarly, how about a picture of the work near Utworth Manor? It would be nice to have something other than the work being done at Loxwood - important though that is.

The Council of Management has been talking about making it compulsory for all cars parked on private property whilst on a working party to have a Trust car sticker showing. There was one in Wey-South some time ago but there are none available now as far as I know. Until then people who have one should use it.

David Kersley picked up the Trust's new Mobile Display Unit on the 6th, which will live at Tickners for now. I'm told that it will be at the Onslow for the start of the Santa Cruise season on the 10th. This is being written on the 8th of December so apologies to those who get it via the post. Perhaps you'll see it there. Anyway, a Very Happy Christmas and a WACT New Year to you all.

TSG Group ~ (Eric Walker 23/11/05)

(Eric has sent in 2 reports since the last WPN - both dated 24/10/05 but one emailed that date and the other 23/11/05. Inevitably they are similar so below is the later of the two - Ed).

Our working parties on Thursdays and Sundays are now being supplemented by an extra working party on Wednesday. As the winter weather can disrupt the bricklaying, alternative tasks and venues may be used to do other related work. If you cannot find us give me a ring on 07717 855 340. The brickwork on the towpath side is now up to full height and the gap between the back of the wall and the towpath filled with clay. The Newbury Working party moved scaffolding to the other side of the lock on the weekend 19/20 Nov, so now bricklaying can continue on that side.

In early November Burras put in the sewer diversion on the north side of the canal, but did not connect it to the system, that will be done after the canal bed is lowered. John Verrall then cleared the residues from the works in the canal bed prior to the canal being refilled in good time for the Santa Cruises to run from the Onslow Arms.

M.W.W.P ~ (Peter Jackman

(Sorry for calling him Brian in the last issue! Two reports - one a catch-up dated 26/10/05 and another dated 10/11/05. In the 2nd I detect the hand of another!) 26/10/05 - The Elusive M.W.W.P (Mid Week Working party)

We have a somewhat smaller no. of members attending Working Parties - e.g. Mike Burton has returned to paid employment, the three "Worthing Windmills" indulge in walking on Wednesdays, health problems, other commitments and, as the wife says, "There are other things in life than the WACT" More to the point, jobs crop up without sufficient notice, but I can assure members that the M.W.W.P has worked every week (sometimes 2 days a week) since June.

In true Wey & Arun style (do it twice and its bound to be right?) the fencing at Drungewick between the Slipway and the river on the offside was removed (both wood and wire) and an all-wire fence resited at the bottom of the bank.

The logs at Harsfold and Haybarn have been mentioned before, we spent six days felling and clearing more trees on the 90º bend, logging and with another pile of logs hidden in the long grass, transporting to the Scrase (Landowners) residence. Two of us even had tea on the terrace, kindly served by Jill Scrase (LOLG eat your heart out!)

Two days at Compasses Bridge, rubbing down the steel work , priming and painting. Cosmetic clearance adjacent to the bridge prior to the plaque unveiling ceremony.

Back to Harsfold (for me 30 miles each way) to remove the willow trees that had fallen into the river and were rooting. The Environment Agency had declined to have them cleared, but I understand that English Nature overruled them. The job entailed extensive use of the Tirfor. For a change, being willows meant no logging - we burnt the lot!

Ian Edwards and I set up the P.A. for Haybarn and The Compasses. Another day, cutting/clearing the offside bank behind the Onslow -it poured (thats the word Peter should have used!) with rain. Making it ready for the 'aerial tree fellows' (fellers? - Ed)

Bypassing the usual Trust procedures (not for the 1st time!), I made contact with the two brothers who farm Holdhurst Farm - a recent Dunsfold Park acquisition. A site meeting followed and we started work on the site on the 5th of October. The location of this new site is off the Alfold Road, between Fast Bridge on the A281 and Elmbridge, behind Utworth Manor (it is signposted). Parking is only permitted in the field to the left of the Manor House. The gate is padlocked unless an official working party is being held - every Wednesday.

I gather Farmer Fred and his Father cleared and fenced this session in the 1970 but it hasn't been touched since.

Pacing it out we have over a thousand yards to clear, both banks and the bed and, pending confirmation, to erect fencing on Mr Hewitt's property. All tools are on site, meet at field gate at 9.30. Work for all, including pyromaniacs for the massive bonfires. Thanks to the team, and on their behalf, welcome to Utworth.

23/11/05

In early October, we started working at what was then a dry section of the canal near Utworth Manor, north of Fast Bridge. The task is to prepare for later mechanical clearance and, as usual, involves tree felling, stump removal and undergrowth clearance. At first, we had been trying not to cut any of the vegetation on the far bank as land-owner approval had not been given, but on our second day, the farmer drove out to find out what we were doing. Apparently, he couldn't believe that we were all volunteers, thought we were mad, (mad! Mad? Not us, ha, ha, ha, ha! etc.) but gave his consent to our working on his side of the canal as well. Also, he verbally agreed to a suggestion that if he supplies the materials, we will erect a fence for him, a few feet from the canal.

To be helpful and kind, we sawed up and cleared a giant tree for the owner of a nearby house who, in return, has promised to talk to another landowner, further north, about the Trust having access to his land. This same man helpfully stokes up our bonfires 'the morning after' to ensure that everything is burnt. Another visitor to our worksite has offered equipment to help us clear large stumps. All in all a positive and helpful start. It pays to be on good terms with neighbours.

Trees, brambles and shrubs were growing in the bed of the canal as well as in the wrong places on the banks but keen volunteers had made a big difference even by the end of day one, letting in daylight and air. Subsequent days revealed obstacles to progress including a lot of old barbed wire, a metal fence in the bottom of the canal - and the weather. Rumour had it that the presence of a certain new volunteer caused a change in the weather. "We never had a wet day until he arrived", was the cry and there have certainly been some wet days recently. On one occasion, when the rain was heavy and constant, we rehearsed for the "How many people will fit in a Land Rover" contest. Managers please note that no working hours were lost by the Trust, as the event took place between 1pm and 2pm (in our own time, as it were). On other wet days we sought shelter under the trees, until Peter decided they had to come down . . .

After over-night rain, the nearby stream had risen several feet during one November morning and we all moved our cars a little further away in case of a flood. It didn't happen but has made us aware of the danger. The good news is that there is now about two feet of water in part of the stretch of canal that we are working on. A little premature but a hopeful sign.

Helmets and high-vis jackets have now been issued to all members of the group, who have agreed to wear them when 'on duty' which probably includes Christmas lunch at the historic 'Compasses'!

We are always pleased to see new faces (one face = two arms and hands) and if you are wondering how best to spend a Wednesday, we can recommend our friendly working party where you will be involved as a member of the team from Day One. The work can be as tiring as you wish and you don't have to stay all day. Contact Peter Jackman for more details on 01483 772132.

Winston Harwood's Group ~ (Lawrie Wraight 30/09/05)

06/11/05 This month saw the final coping stones installed on the walls of the lock and aqueduct. Where concrete was used to make new blocks, artificial pointing was created, using an angle grinder. Finally, an attempt was made to encourage the growth of lichens etc. by painting yoghurt on the blocks. Now that the major structural work has been completed, the larger items of building equipment are gradually being removed to Tickners, The fittings associated with the scaffold were painstakingly cleaned and greased ready for future use elsewhere. When the surplus materials had been removed from the ground adjacent to the lock, the area was prepared for grass seeding and steps were built to the viewing platform, overlooking the river.

Unfortunately, when the grass came up under ideal weather conditions, it proved too tempting for moles! Over the course of a weekend, the slipway was constructed by another group, using railway sleepers. The latest tasks are the erection of a rail and wire fence, bordering the shrub area next to the canal, for the benefit of the landowner and his cattle, plus the footpath renewal near to the waterwheel. The original brick paving is being re-laid. Water is now being fed into the lock using the waterwheel, but heavy rainfall has caused the river to rise and has prevented a continual flow taking place. Access to Lordings is now on foot.

04/12/05 During this month a post and barbed wire fence was erected, next to the caravan site to keep cattle out of the river and protect our compound. At the edge of the field which abuts the canal, a dense line of shrubs, which is between the field and the canal, had to be cut back to establish a reasonable straight line, before posts and barbed wire were installed.

The waterwheel is in need of essential repairs, so some parts have been removed. When they have been replaced, water can be diverted to the lock from the river. Near the brick structure of the lock, the earth bank is being strengthened in order to overcome erosion and build a good edge. On the footpath next to the waterwheel, there is a nice area of old brick paving and work is taking place to relay these, as professionally as possible.

Some foxgloves have been planted, grass has been cut and more materials have been cleaned up, prior to their return to Tickners and the dumpertruck is now back in action, assisting in the plugging of waterfilled ruts on the route to Lordings.

Dig Deep at Loxwood - reports from both Bill Nicholson and Graham Hawkes - good!

Although Graham's was written first it got to Southdown Towers after Bill's as Graham's email had failed - again. Which will only go to confirm the worst prejudices of you computerphobes out there - you know who you are!

(Bill Nicholson 23/11/05)

Dig Deep groups continue to support the work on building the new lock at Loxwood. NWPG have visited on both October and November - weekends of totally contrasting weather. October with its warm autumnal sunshine with a team of six bricklayers at work on both chamber walls; whilst in November the temperature only rose above freezing for about four of the short daylight hours. The latter being too cold for bricklaying, we shifted the scaffolding from the completed towpath wall and set it up on the off side wall and stacked it with bricks ready for warmer weather. The main towpath side chamber wall was thus exposed to public view for the first time. Work did however progress on the block laying for the retaining walls, which are less frost critical, and good progress was made - particularly on the lower training walls. One side is now ready for a brick facing. To keep 14 volunteers warm and busy on the Sunday, we decided to concrete infill the void between the facing training wall and its back wall. With two mixers running continuously the job was completed after an estimated 100 barrows of concrete had been lifted into the hole. This job is now complete on both sides of the lock.

NWPG return to the W & A for the weekend of 14/15th January when we plan some scrub bashing and bonfires. If it's mild we may also send a brick laying team to Loxwood to continue the work there.

Dig Deep continue to help progress Loxwood Lock

(Graham Hawkes 21/11/05)

Since the major push to get the new Loxwood Lock off to a flying start with the three weeks of summer camps, Dig Deep teams have returned on three separate weekends to augment the work of Eric's regular 'locals'. Working to task lists provided by the Project Manager, the groups from KESCRG, NWPG and WACT West Country division have beavered away on brickwork, blockwork, concreting, scaffolding and general labouring jobs. In addition they have diverted to Lordings to build a temporary slipway t give access for the reed-cutting machine during the winter.

The freezing cold weekend of 19th/20th November was the last Dig Deep visit to Loxwood in 2005 but they will return again next summer to commence the lowering of Brewhurst Lock. This project forms another piece in the jigsaw of activities to restore navigation northwards under the B2133 and on beyond Devil's Hole Lock.

Situations Vacant ~ (John Wood 17/10/05)

Vacancies occur from time to time to fill important roles. Can you help fill them?

CONSERVATION OFFICER
We urgently require someone with up-to-date experience of conservation, particularly in a river or canal environment.

MAINTENANCE MANAGER
An important role to manage the ongoing maintenance of already restored sections of the canal, in order to prevent nature reclaiming all the hard work carried out in previous years. The actual maintenance work would be carried out by the appropriate working party.

If you do not attend regularly, please contact the site manager before joining a work party.

MONDAY W P. (Mrs Bucket Group). Details of site from John Empringham.

MOST TUESDAYS maintenance sessions at Tickners Heath. Check with Colin Gibbs first.

WEDNESDAYS Loxwood Link maintenance. Site details from Peter Wilding.

EVERY WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY and SUNDAY Meet 0930 at the Onslow Arms, Loxwood. Lots of jobs mainly construction. Site details from Eric Walker.

WEDNESDAYS Mid-Week Working Party Details from Peter Jackman

John Empringham (Monday Working Party) 01483 562657
Tim Jolly (W P News Editor) 01403 267408 e-mail: tim.jolly@tesco.net
Peter Jackman (Mid-week Working Party) 01483 772132
WACT office (General Enquiries) 01403 752403
Dave Junkison (Lordings Lock & Aqueduct) 020 8941 0685
Peter Wilding (Loxwood Maintenance) 01483 422519
Eric Walker (Loxwood Area) 02392 463025 email:ericwalker@onetel.com
Colin Gibbs (Tickners Maintenance) 020 8241 7736
Don Gibson (Midweek Walks) 01903 201375