Diary | Directory

Editorial Comment ~ Wendy Andrews.

It was good to meet so many working party members on Saturday at the Annual Spring Meeting and to find so much interest from new members too. Thank you to the group leaders who helped man the restoration stand and chat to would-be volunteers. I'm sure we'll see some new faces joining the teams in due course. Please give them a hearty welcome.

And now another plea for help: WACT is running the beer tent again at Bramley Fete on Sunday 27th May. Would-be bartenders and serving wenches should contact David Isted (david_isted@weyandarun.co.uk) if you can spare some time in exchange for free beer!

Hedge Laying Team ~ Keith Nichols

Greetings from the Harsfold.

The End is Nigh! (for hedge laying anyway)

Now that the blackthorn has finally decided to start growing and birds are nesting in it we've been spending our time tidying up and burning all the cut material. We found a long tailed tit's nest which was a beautifully built construction of moss, wool and hair, covered with tiny pieces of lichen so that it appeared to be part of a tree, excellent camouflage. We instantly withdrew and sat down to watch out for any activity. Within two minutes a long tailed tit appeared and entered the nest. Laying at Harsfold will start again in October/November this year with approximately 280m to lay to the Flood Lock and Bridge.

So it only remains for me to say thanks to Roger Ashton, Mike Burton, Richard Emsley, Bob McHardy, Tony Lewis, Bob Potts, Jeremy Simpson and Dave Kersley and all the MWWP. To all of those mentioned, please note that our efforts seem to be appreciated by all who see it

PS Can anyone help look after some crab apple seedlings as I've got 100 of them?

Visiting Groups at Brewhurst Lock ~ Bill Nicholson

16 members of NWPG including three new volunteers to canal restoration turned out to support our last weekend at Brewhurst Lock (unless at some date it is decided to restore it to its original height!). Reminding us of last summer the weather was hot and sunny - ideal for our last jobs. These comprised painting of the bridge, balance beams and bollards, fixing a leak in the back pump pipe, putting up the charging post for the Pete Wynn, building some steps, seeding the off-side and clearing out the container. On the Saturday evening we were entertained to drinks at The Sun at Plaistow by Lord Sterling. This really is a quality canal we are working on!

So that's it for Dig Deep for now until the C of M come up with a new project – soon I hope! LWRG and WRG BITM visit in July and October to carry out any one off tasks that may be required.

Conservation Officer ~ Michael Joseph

Nature is being very cruel. We have a winter of continuous rain followed by a spring without a drop - not a good time to become Conservation Officer.

The poor old Onslow Pound is looking more like the Australian outback especially when I am out there with the watering can wearing my hat fitted with buoyancy corks. Unfortunately most of the transplanted plugs have perished. We did consider pumping canal water from the workboat but this would have washed off the seeds hopefully still lying dormant on the clay that is now concrete. Other areas resemble brick pebbles. These cannot be seeded or they would fall like the bits at the bottom of the cornflakes packet. We have to be patient and hope for rain.

WTS Group (formerly TSG Group) ~ Eric Walker

Work in April concentrated on the lock during the week and behind the Onslow at weekends. Additionally, the back filling behind the piles opposite the Onslow led by David Junkison and David Kersley, is drawing to a close. Phil Broadley has started on the construction of the waterfall at the lock while Mike Biles and Eddie Fairman have been finishing off the small back pump chambers and fitting one pump in, which we hope will be connected up soon.

Behind the Onslow, continuing from where we were before Easter, a drainage pipe and a duct for electricity have been installed by the retaining wall and the reinstatement of the bridleway continued. The tidy up around the lock has started with the moving of surplus kit to the Tickners Heath depot. The Yumbo digger has been moved to Devils Hole lock to join a 20ft by 8ft by 8ft container recently donated for the cost of transport. Before we start using it there are two important items, security and to have it re-painted inside and out. We have bought a £20 lock, but the hinges are vulnerable to a heavy-handed attack, so some deal of welding will be done to put extra metal in the way. We expect to spend about £40 on paint to give protection for 5 or 6 years.

Our priorities in May are to move the rest of the kit from the lock and getting the fence and grass onto the lock side alongside the towpath. Behind the Onslow we have to get the bridleway up to the road finished. As a special treat we are working on Saturday 5th May and Sunday 6th on the Towpath to Drungewick.…..

Tickners Heath Depot ~ (Colin Gibbs)

With the bulk of construction work completed at the 2 lock sites in Loxwood, and also at Lordings, most of the plant has been returned to Tickners. Consequently inside storage space is at a premium. For over 2 years we've been trying to sell 3 old (and very tired) small engines, donated by a member. This does not include the 2 possible ZK replacements. Adverts in various publications have interested only 3 people. Despite viewing them they declined to take them off our hands. We can't even give them away. If you know of anyone who loves tinkering with engines, please let me know in the next couple of weeks, otherwise we will dispose of them. We can also offer a Mirror sailing boat for sale, plus its associated bits and pieces. Cash offers please.

May I take the opportunity to thank those people who have given various items of equipment to the Trust in various states of repair. However, I must add that we reserve the right to dispose of these items if the cost of repairs is unrealistic.

I can report that we have recently welcomed Richard Watson to our Technical team. Most of you will know Richard because over the years he has worked with many of our working parties. Maybe all!! Many thanks Richard

Winston Harwood's Group ~ Lawrie Wraight

At Lordings we restarted the waterwheel, mowed all the grassed areas and repaired some of the barbed wire fencing alongside the canal. The dumper truck is now working. Most recently, grass mowing and more fence repairs have been accomplished.

The good weather allowed us to continue installing a boundary fence on one possible new route for the canal outside Bramley.

After another group had disposed of some large tree trunks, using chainsaws, they burnt as much debris as possible. When our group arrived the following day, we discovered a clutch of eggs very close to the remains of the bonfires. During our tea break, a hen pheasant visited us, examined us and the eggs, then walked off into the undergrowth. Hopefully she returned after we left.

Mid Week Working Party ~ (Peter Jackman)

Or the Itchy Feet Group - we have to keep moving!

April has seen us clearing and sometimes burning between Farnhurst Bridge and Fastbridge, at Dunsfold, at Elmbridge Village and at Beevers Farm in Bramley.

We plan to be at Beevers Farm again on May 9th for more ground clearance and log moving. Then we'll be at Utworth Manor on May 16th to clear some fallen trees. After that - who knows? Please contact me or Alison Saville for latest news on planned venues.

(Note from the editor: the team was also spotted on May 2nd being allowed a day off and enjoying themselves on a cruise on ZK all the way down to Drungewick Lock and back, very generously hosted by Peter and his wife, Beryl. The weather was kind, bright and sunny though a little breezy and the countryside was looking fresh and green in its spring colours. Thank you from MWWP to Peter and Beryl for a lovely morning out)

Maintenance Manager ~ (David Jessop)

I am sorry to say that the efforts of the Saturday morning group have been thwarted by the early summer-style weather we have had recently. Several weeks with no rain, but plenty of warm wind and sun, have caused the clay soil to crack and fissure and most of the plants and seeds we put in to wither away. Michael had been watering some of the plants but it was impossible to look after them all. The idea of wild flowers on the banks of the canal is not dead. Although this is a big disappointment, we shall just have to put it behind us and start again. Next time there will have to be a system in place to allow us to easily water them in case of drought. We live and learn (well, sometimes).

The task of smartening up the car park area at Loxwood continues though and we want to have another morning or two working on the overgrown bank. Last time we tried the earth was as hard as iron and the main enjoyment and interest was our companionship, uncovering a slow worm and covering it up again but we did manage some real work. Digging was painful but a fair amount of bramble was removed (roots an' all) and also lots of broken beer bottles. These reminded me of something I had read so I looked it up in a WACT Bulletin of 1993. In 1973, before the days of bottle banks and recycling glass, about 200 cubic yards of broken glass were excavated from the bed of the canal and the towpath near the Onslow Arms by WACT volunteers. The broken glass must have been the result of a quite a few pleasant hours in the pub. As the canal was not being used at the time what better place to throw it?

P.S. On a log floating in the canal (not at Loxwood, so relax, Dusty), I saw two terrapins basking in the sun. Has anyone else seen them? If so, where? Is it a common sight?

Monday Working Party ~ (John Empringham)

Doesn't it seem an age ago that we had flood water flowing down the rivers after the heavy rains? At Newbridge a large number of branches and fallen tree trunks had washed down and were blocking the canal culverts under the road. In early April we spent time gradually removing these, all locked together in the entrance to the two culverts. It seemed that every time we removed one branch an even bigger one emerged from the depths! Finally one last 'huge' log defeated us and we pushed it to the bank, exhausted, to return another day. Stories of how big this trunk was circulated, getting bigger at every telling - it started taking on gigantic proportions. Suffice to say that at the next visit removal was simplicity itself and 'can't understand what all the fuss was about' comes to mind!

We are fully in the 'growing season' now and need to visit all our sites on a regular basis. Thanks to the excellent work in getting the Onslow Arms area ready for the Easter Bunny Cruises we have now taken on maintenance of the grass areas at the rear of the pub where the boats board. This is only a small job and doesn't take long but it is important that it is kept looking tidy.

In May we will be out (at least) on the second and third Mondays of the month. (14th and 21st) as the first Monday is a Bank Holiday

Loxwood Link Maintenance Unit ~ (Peter Wilding)

May Upton hasn't yet made it back down to Drungewick. It got as far as Barnsill as support boat for tree work below Baldwin's Knob Lock and to remove a large branch in the canal below Barnsill Bridge. It then came straight back to Brewhurst Lock where it was needed as a store and loo for the Easter Cruises. Since then we have been into our mowing schedule as, despite the lack of rain, just 2mm one day in April, the grass is growing well including the seed at Brewhurst Lock. We have had to stop pumping from the Loxwood stream - I hope this is only a spring hic-cup and not the start of a summer drought.

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

First & third Mondays of the month
'Mrs Bucket' - Keeping Up Appearances, Details from John Empringham

Most Tuesday mornings
Maintenance sessions at Tickner's Heath Depot Check with Colin Gibbs

Every Wednesday; Mid-Week Working Party, Check with Peter Jackman for confirmation

Every Wednesday
Loxwood Link maintenance, Contact Peter Wilding

Every Wednesday, Thursday & Sunday
Mainly construction work. Meet at the Onslow Arms, 09.30., Contact Eric Walker for details

Every Thursday
Winston Harwood Group. Contact Lawrie Wraight for details.

Some Saturdays Conservation and Maintenance Get in touch with David Jessop

May 27th Small Boat Rally at Loxwood Contact WACT office

May 27th WACT Beer Tent at Bramley Fete Contact David Isted

June 9th Small Boat Rally at Lordings Contact WACT office

June 10th Annual 'Poddle' Contact WACT office

WACT Office, General enquiries, 01403 752 403 email: office@weyandarun.co.uk
Wendy Andrews, W P News Editor, 01403 752 170 email: wendy_andrews@weyandarun.co.uk
Turlough Bamber, Restoration Manager, 01483 421 305 email: restoration@weyandarun.co.uk
David Jessop, Maintenance Manager, 01403 269 384 email: david_jessop@weyandarun.co.uk
Eric Walker (Loxwood Area) 02392 463025 email: ericwalker@onetel.com
Peter Jackman (Mid-week Working Party) 01483 772132
John Empringham, (Mrs Bucket) Keeping Up Appearances, 01483 562657, email: john@empringham.com
Dave Junkison (Lordings Lock & Aqueduct) 020 8941 0685
Peter Wilding (Loxwood Maintenance) 01483 422519, email: peter_wilding@weyandarun.co.uk
Colin Gibbs (Tickners Maintenance) 020 8241 7736 email: colin-gibbs@blueyonder.co.uk
Don Gibson (Midweek Walks) 01903 201375
Lawrie Wraight (The Winston Harwood Working Group) 01903 721404
Bill Nicholson, Visiting Groups, 01844 343 369, email: bandsnicholson@tiscali.co.uk
Graham Baird, Brewhurst Lock Reconfiguration, 01403 262 515, email: graham@gbaird.plus.com
Conservation Manager 01403 783 485 email: michael_joseph@weyandarun.co.uk