Diary | Directory

Editorial Comment ~ Wendy Andrews.

May and June are busy months preparing for the Small Boat Rallies at Loxwood and Lordings and for the annual Poddle which starts this year from Cranleigh. The Boat Rally at Loxwood for the second year running 'enjoyed' a very wet day, fingers crossed that the weekend of June 9th/10th will be kinder to us. This month we welcome a new contributor to WPN - Don Gibson. Don writes the copy for the educational leaflets that are available from the Infoposts? which are to be found at points of interest along the towpath. Don also leads guided walks along and around the canal during the summer months. Please contact him if you would like more information or, even more so, if you would be willing to help him with this very valued activity.

Administration ~ Wendy Andrews

Thank you from Colin to the Group Leaders who have sent in their attendance records for the first quarter; 2 are still outstanding - no names mentioned this time?..

Working Party News is now distributed free of charge to anyone who would like to receive it. However, if you would like to contribute towards the cost of envelopes and postage please send stamps or sae's to me care of the office. Better still, if you use e-mail let me have your e-mail address for adding to the electronic distribution list.

Educational Project Infoposts? ~ Don Gibson

There are now ten Infoposts? installed along the canal from Haybarn Swing Bridge to Devil's Hole Lock and Bridge, well monitored by Amanda and Neil Mariner of Chiddingfold. As soon as Brian Crossley is available after his return from holiday another five Infoposts? will be installed, mainly along the Loxwood Link and Extension. Leaflets for these are already printed. The leaflet dispenser at Northlands Swing Bridge has three times been destroyed by vandalism. The fourth to be installed, about a month ago, was fitted with a very thick acrylic front. When I went down to inspect it today (June 3rd), carrying tools and a spare, I found the dispenser un-damaged, so I filled it with about 75 leaflets. Not counting chickens, I will inspect again in a fortnight! My first walk of the season was on Thursday 24th May - seven walkers. My next is on Thursday 21st June - meet at Wisborough Green, Durbans Road at 09.45, depart 10.00.

Conservation Officer ~ Michael Joseph

At the Onslow pound, wetland plant seed along the waterline could well have been washed away by wake from the trip boats. Seeds planted in trays have germinated and so these will be grown and planted as plugs in the autumn.

I have had many reported wildlife sightings in recent weeks and please keep them coming in. My own delight was a kingfisher near the Drungewick aqueduct and a vast shoal of tadpoles down at Lordings which I caught on film. Others have seen cygnets, grass snakes, an adder, and Mrs Mallard leading her ducklings across the B2133. One day she will be able to swim underneath! Meanwhile at home in his shed, Peter Cooper has started a production line in bird nest boxes to RSPB plans. These together with some bat boxes will go up along the Loxwood to Drungewick section. A personal and very worthwhile contribution. Thank you Peter

WTS Group (formerly TSG Group) ~ Eric Walker

May at the lock saw the small back pump fully installed and connected, pumping water down the completed waterfall to our great delight. The stop planks have been fitted at the bottom of the lock so as to retain water in the lock for the many visitors to the lock who enjoy walking up the bridge to view the canal. The lock seat has been put in with a memorial plaque to Stephen Ball who died recently aged only 42. As a teenager he worked at Rowner & Malham. The towpath side, again with a generous donation, was laid with turf and a start made on the fencing towards the road.

Behind the Onslow the towpath has been finished and reopened for pedestrians. At Devils Hole Lock the painting of the cabin started (after another generous donation) and strengthening of the door locking arrangement started.

In preparation for the start of piling Burras put down the hard standing for his 50 tonne machine. There being no firm start date, he then took his machine back to the depot. A wise move, John Verrall lost two big machines from the Washington site over the bank holiday weekend.

Mid Week Working Party ~ Peter Jackman

Most of the month of May has seen us at Beavers Farm, Bramley, clearing fallen trees and log-piling for the landowner's winter fuel supply. Now we're back at Devil's Hole, again clearing trees that have either fallen or been felled since last autumn. We're also tidying up the debris that was left behind after the Electricity Board had trimmed branches that were dangerously close to their power lines.

It's not yet clear where we'll be later on in the month so please ring me or e-mail Alison (a.m.saville@btinternet.com) before turning up.

Winston Harwood's Group ~ Lawrie Wraight

Our fencing work at Bramley has been completed. Back at Lordings we have spent some of our time renewing posts and barbed wire alongside the canal opposite the towpath. The powered augur made light work drilling holes, so we were more easily able to ram the posts down into the soil. Grass mowing is now done regularly and another group strimmed the more difficult areas. The lock is in water but the leaks allow the water to escape at about the same rate as the waterwheel is sending it in so only a low level is maintained. One of our group made a big effort to locate and collect some flat pack picnic tables. These are being set up around the lock. Our old dumper truck has had some essential servicing done on the brakes by another group member. At the end of the month the reed cutter was used in the canal; the debris was raked out and the depot was tidied up in readiness for the Small Boat Rally on June 9th.

Maintenance Manager ~ David Jessop

The Giant Hogweed is now growing well and probably helped by the recent rains. We are spraying it at various times as shown by the yellowing, dying leaves. This job has to be done year after year until all the stands of the plant are eliminated (if only!) and a watch kept for rising colonies and action taken.

Spraying is the best way to control it but is a very slow method as it takes a long time to spray all the individual plants and the result isn't seen for a week or two. Digging the plants up is obviously not an option as there are so many and could be dangerous as the sap burns skin when exposed to sunlight. Cutting the plants off at ground level is no good either as the roots are still living and the plant will grow again.

The other invasive weed that we have to try to control is the attractive Himalayan Balsam. This is easier to remove as you can often pull it out of the ground, roots and all. The sap is not poisonous. This is an effective method of control but has to be done before it seeds. A 'Balsam Bash' is being organised for early July when a group of girls from a school in Bramley is to help us with the task.

Last month I wrote that the bottles found in the canal at Loxwood must have been the result of 'quite a few pleasant hours in the pub'. Brian Andrews has corrected me. The reason for the many tonnes of broken glass bottles found and removed was that the disused canal had been used by the Horsham brewery, King & Barnes, as their bottle dump. Out of sight, out of mind, I suppose.

Monday Working Party ~ John Empringham

We've been out "keeping up appearances" at our regular sites and have been down to Lordings to help a little with the preparations for the small boat rally there on 9th June. Raking out the reeds after the reed boat has been through is hard work!

A useful addition to our kit list are two AT WORK road signs which are lightweight and pack down so that they can easily be transported between sites in the back of a car. In fact they are so lightweight that a fast moving lorry blows them flat (next step is to get the right weighting system to hold them down). Thanks to David, Colin and others for getting hold of these, and thinking of our safety.

In June we will be out (at least) on the first and third Mondays of the month. (4th and 18th June).

Loxwood Link Maintenance Unit ~ Peter Wilding

Summer mowing is ongoing; the newly seeded grass at Brewhurst has already needed a second cut. Some overhanging branches are in need of attention. There is also an obstruction at the bottom gates at Drungewick Lock which will need lower water levels and the availability of the work boat to investigate and clear.

Despite permission to pump from the Lox being off since late April we have been able to maintain water levels at least until the weekend of the Loxwood Small Boat Rally.

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 or Alison Saville 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

June 9th Small Boat Rally at Lordings Contact WACT office

June 10th Annual 'Poddle' Contact WACT office

June 21st Guided Walk from Wisborough Green Details from Don Gibson

June 24th Midsummer Soiree Contact WACT office

July 14th Mikron Theatre 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: eric_walker@weyandarun.co.uk
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