Diary | Directory

Editorial Comment ~ Wendy Andrews.

At last we have the good news that all the legal documents have been signed and work can start on the B2133 tunnel as soon as the piling contractor is ready to go. Hopefully there will be more to say in next month's edition.

Christmas Lunch ~ Geoff Perks

This year's Christmas Lunch is planned for Monday 10th December at the Three Compasses, off Dunsfold Road, Alfold. Please return a copy of the attached/enclosed booking form to me as soon as possible to reserve your place - first come, first served. WPN by snail mail is going out 2 days ahead of email to ensure everyone gets a fair chance!

Santa Cruises ~ Wendy Andrews

And talking of Christmas, the Santa Cruises will be running on December 15th/16th and from 19th through to 23rd. If you can spare some time to get involved please get in touch with Robert Hutty. There's always a great atmosphere and lots of fun to be had by all. Robert's looking for cabin crew, lock keepers, car park attendants and kitchen help. (Contact details are roberthutty@sunbung.fsnet.co.uk or phone 01959 562 205)

Educational Project Infoposts? ~ Don Gibson

A new monitor has joined my team, bringing it up to four members. His name is Alan Page and he came to introduce himself while Brian and I were installing the second small display panel at Loxwood Wharf. He has a very comprehensive tool bag and stayed on to assist!

Mike Biles is still working on obtaining permission to install an Infopost? at Southland Lock. I am sending a letter and photo to the landowner to arrive in early November.

On Thursday 25th October six walkers, one new from Chichester, went from the Onslow milestone to Rosemary Lane and back. Walks will resume in May 2008.

Conservation Officer ~ Michael Joseph

Firework night came a little early this year thanks to my presentation at the Autumn Meeting. It was inevitable that there would be a reaction. I make no apologies for the content which was meant to be objective. I do not want to put off any valued volunteer but we must operate to the Trust's agreed policies. Part of the presentation was to show what happens when we do our own thing. It is my task to educate, persuade and encourage good conservation practise. We need to learn from our mistakes, look at alternatives and make a better job wherever we can.

Tickners Heath Depot ~ Colin Gibbs

I'm not going to be around until after Christmas but will be available for receiving phone calls if anyone is desperate to find something at Tickners. Andrew and Richard will be keeping an eye on things, with Richard working to restore more of our ancient engines.

Visiting Groups ~ Graham Baird

Forty tons of sticky clay awaited the BITM group when they visited the Wey & Arun Canal for the weekend of 20th/21st October. Their destination was Tickners Heath and their task to repair the major breach in the canal bank adjacent to the overflow sluice. Due to the presence of a medium voltage cable in the bottom of the eroded trench (the original backfill probably caused the weakness in the bank) all work had to be carried out by hand so barrows and tamps were the order of the day! Sealing of the puddle clay infill against the brick sluice was assisted by bentonite sheeting placed at critical locations together with a liberal sprinkling of bentonite powder mixed with the clay. There remains a further day's work to complete the trench backfill but the breach is sealed and this will permit normal water levels to be attained with the onset of winter rains.

Additional work undertaken by the visiting group included clearance of scrub alongside the adjacent towpaths and a contribution to the brickwork for the generator housing at the depot.

WTS (formerly TSG) Group ~ Eric Walker

The end is in sight for the task of putting the coping stones on the wall behind the Onslow and it should be finished in November. Resurfacing before the start of the Santa Cruises is a worthwhile target. The number of jobs to do has gone up so that the list spreads across several pages. The major jobs are centred around the use of the Hanix digger, which has certainly earned it keep since David Kersley recovered it from being an insurance write off. I dream that one day we will get another, perhaps an 8 or 10 tonnes digger - dream on. Other jobs are more of the 'digging a hole and filling it with concrete' type.

The Canal Bridge Loxwood project got the Legal Agreement signed and sealed by WSCC on 30th October, which meant we could tell the contractors to start. The first job is piling across the road. We are third in the queue for the piling rig so we have our fingers crossed that the piling will be completed before Christmas and the traffic controls removed over the shutdown.

Mid Week Working Party ~ Peter Jackman

The MWWP could be compared to those groups known as travellers, in as much as we keep moving about and never know how long we can stay in one place. So we went from Utworth to Run Common, where work commenced with Ian Edwards and Tony Lewis again stepping in as leaders. (For myself another operation, a shoulder this time.)

So, with the team in position - tarmac parking! right next to the work site! weather first class! tea served on the lawn with cakes and even wine! - they must have thought it heaven. (All this while I am being instructed on how to use a syringe and give myself injections; DIY hospital treatment.) The team's VIP treatment was from the landowner, a kind and lovely lady, who also made a very generous donation to the Trust. On my return from hospital I even found a get well card from her waiting for me - I am lost for words; how nice people can be!

As always our work programme gets the odd hiccup but it seems the team will still be at Run Common (south side) until 7th November. On 14th November we will be at Tickners Heath (bring your wellingtons for the puddle dance). We hope to complete the repairs to the leaking culvert, of which Graham Baird and his visiting group have done the lions' share, by filling in the trench. There is also some adjacent bank clearance to keep us (note us - I should be back driving that day, thank goodness) busy. The plan for 21st November is to be back at Utworth/Elmbridge to burn previously cut material if wind direction permits. We also need to cut and clear a section on the Elmbridge section where ditches have been dug out in what was the bank; this will enable the Trust to inspect the site and see what remedial work needs to be done. On 28th November we could be at Utworth/Elmbridge again, or Dunsfold Park - loads of clearance to be done by the burn site there. Please ring Peter J or e-mail Alison for confirmation. If on, meet at Compasses Gate at 9:30 and park on the left just inside the airfield; for those who know the area, proceed to the burn site. Park on the grass, not on the tarmac peri-track.

With Keith requiring stakes and binders for hedge laying, at some time we will be coppicing. This could be at Beevers Farm, Bramley, so we should not run out of work.

Hedge Laying Group or 'The Quiet Art of Hedge Laying' ~ Keith Nichols

I normally sit down to write this whilst quietly enjoying a pint or two in a pub!

October was a quiet month as to date (October 27th) we've only managed one visit to Harsfold, on Sunday 7th. This has been due to team holidays, other commitments and today - wet and miserable. An intrepid team of three trimmed the 112m of layed hedge; however two hedge trimmers working in unison WASN'T QUIET! The layed section of planted hedge, 70m, is looking very good whilst the remainder isn't, the remainder being the first part of the blackthorn thicket. That's the trouble with blackthorn but give it time.

Originally I wasn't intending to lay any of the 114m of blackthorn because of the lack of trees near/at the top of the towpath bank and because of the copious amount of very thick entwined bramble. I changed my mind (fool that I am!) as I thought a continuous hedge would look better, give a greater range of habitat and after closer inspection finding a lot of young suckers (blackthorn) at the top. It's very hard going though and I wish at times that I hadn't changed my mind so if any of the team wishes to kick me feel free as there are another 72m of nightmare to lay. Hopefully November will see more visits to Harsfold.

So to all Trust team members, keep up the good work everybody (but we can do it better, with a little more thought towards conservation)

Winston Harwood's Group ~ Lawrie Wraight

The foot and mouth restrictions meant it was more practical to visit the canal near to Tickners, where we located a power cable. Now repairs to the breach in the bank can take place. At Lordings we continued to replace damaged spillways and seals. During our absence from the site the grass had grown extremely long and needed a lot of attention. More posts have been installed along the edge of the canal and the barbed wire has been re-tensioned. Our dumper takes heavy materials from the road to the site and on one visit it broke down. Within a few days it was working again, courtesy of Richard Watson, who put a lot of time and effort to get it started and moved back to the main road. The possibility of a medal is being considered. Our new member has put his chainsaw to good use by cutting back an overhanging young willow on the riverbank near to the aqueduct.

Monday Working Party ~ John Empringham

This month we have been pleased to work with Michael Joseph in looking at one of our regularly visited sites at Drungewick Aqueduct and preparing this for a slightly different way of managing it next summer. We had a very interesting day with Michael and were able to prepare the ground for planting wild seeds particularly on the flat bank on the opposite side of the canal from the towpath and also on the bank and the grassy areas by the aqueduct. Historically we have kept these mown but we hope that next Spring we will see them bursting into colour. We look forward to seeing how this will evolve. We do know that the preparation took quite a bit of digging out of the very deeply rooted plants such as dock which should hopefully help in allowing the wild flowers to flourish.

We meet next on 5th November for a final cut on our regular sites and then again on 19th November as the start of our winter programme.

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

Usually 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 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 or Michael Joseph
Starts again in September
Provisional dates: October 7th, 9th, 24th, 28th, November 1st, 9th, 11th, 18th, 19th, 27th, December 5th, 9th, 13th, 21st

Hedge Laying Check with Keith Nichols before turning up

December 15th/16th, 19th - 23rd Santa Cruises 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 a.m.saville@btinternet.com
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 email: doncanalgibson@hotmail.com
Lawrie Wraight (The Winston Harwood Working Group) 01903 721404 email:Lawrence17@tiscali.co.uk
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
Don Gibson Educational Projects 01903 201375 email: doncanalgibson@hotmail.com