Diary | Directory

Editorial Comment ~ Wendy Andrews.

Since the last edition of Working Party News some 30 members attended the annual 'Navvies Christmas Lunch' at the Three Compasses pub. As ever it was a most enjoyable occasion and thanks are extended to Geoff Perks for organizing the whole affair so very efficiently, to 'mine host' for providing such good food and drink and to Janet Phillips for the excellent photographic record.

Another significant event was the 2007 season Santa Cruises which went very well. Despite being cold, the weather was generally as kind as can be expected for December. Thank you to Working Party members who turned out to support the WAEL team. And from me, a word of advice for next season's Santa: my 5 year old granddaughter commented that if he's to look like the real Father Christmas he should have a 'growing' beard, so, whoever you are, you'd better stop shaving pretty soon!!

And finally, dare I say it, work really is due to start on the tunnelling phase at the B2133 crossing on January 7th. Please take a day out from time to time to come and watch progress.

WTS (was TSG) Group ~ Eric Walker

Throughout December WACT continued to wait for the piling contractor, Burras, to finish his previous contract. However, the date for B2133 road closure, set for 7th January for quite some time, has stayed in place. Much to many people's relief no work was done before Christmas, which would have disrupted Christmas trade in Loxwood and travel to the Santa Cruises. Burras at last brought their equipment on to the site on 3rd January, the steel is due to arrive on 7th January and piling could start on the afternoon of 7th, more likely on the 8th. So as this is written, it looks as if serious work will start on the 7th when the road will be opened up to isolate an electric cable.

As mentioned in the last WPN, there will be more work for the volunteers once the Loxwood Canal Bridge contractors have finished their job. After the failed predictions of the past, dare I say, maybe, just maybe, this will be in August 2008. The preparations for this, making concrete copings will be done, if not out of the cold at least in the dry, at the Tickners Heath depot over the next few months. The last working party in December saw the mould tools for this work being made. Additionally we will be making the blocks for use at Devils Hole lock.

Richard Emsley did some reed cutting at Drungewick with RCB Caprice during December, hopefully more will be done over the next few weeks.

The Surveying team, currently three strong until Charlie Jones leaves to join the Army, is due to start preliminary work on a number of long outstanding jobs in January. Discussions with Mike Peer (of Peer Spanner Associates who have done all the surveying for the B2133 Crossing) elicited that the current Ordnance Survey maps have been updated to include the Drungewick aqueduct and the other four structures the Trust have built since 2000.

Winston Harwood's Group ~ Lawrie Wraight for David Junkison

At Loxwood logs were collected to create a semi-permanent bonfire at the time of the Santa cruises and weed clearance took place on the canal at Drungewick. In anticipation of the road closure of the B2133, work was done to prepare the site for a temporary footbridge. At Lordings the waterwheel was restarted for a few days over the holiday period so that any walkers could see it in action.

Mid Week Working Party ~ Peter Jackman

Best wishes for 2008 to all members of the MWWP; thank you for your cards and much appreciated thoughts written inside.

2008 will see us doing some 'cosmetic' work adjacent to the 'burn site' at Dunsfold Park, along with ongoing bankside clearance and coppicing. Clambouring over tons of broken concrete lumps doesn't help, but this does have a spin off, because we move back to Devils Hole, where coppicing and clearance continues on the steeper rear area, so the opportunity to get an NVQ in Hill (Working) Walking is possible!

I hope, pending confirmation, to get back to Beevers Farm for more coppicing, and again subject to confirmation, to start bankside clearance between Fast Bridge and Mill Farm.

As I write this on 31st December, changes of site can happen, so to be on the safe side, ring me if you have not been to the previous week's working party before turning up:
2nd January 2008 Dunsfold Park - Compasses Gate
9th January 2008 Dunsfold Park
16th January 2008 Devils Hole - park in WACT car park adjacent to the Onslow Arms
23rd January 2008 Devils Hole or Beevers Farm (Bramley)
30th January 2008 Fast Bridge to Mill Farm
6th February 2008 Fast Bridge to Mill Farm

Hedge Laying Group ~ Keith Nichols
Or 'the Long, the Short & the Tall'

1.Long walk from Lee Farm to hedge (and steep and muddy to the bridge).
2.21 December! (OK one day out for the Winter solstice).
3.2 x 6 foot workers.

Only 4 days work spent on the hedge in December. However, Jeremy braved gales and lashing rain on Sunday 1st to attack the bramble by himself.* I think perhaps he has a particular dislike for bramble but I may be wrong. Other than that, the other 3 days saw only 2 of us on each day but we managed (well, Jeremy did) to finish clearing the bramble from the blackthorn thicket, layed another 16m of the blackthorn and burnt 25m of bramble cuttings (the cut blackthorn being put behind the layed hedge to rot for invertebrates, birds, small mammals and fungi).

*Call me stupid if you like but I was at Ballards Brewery on Thin Ice (9.8% Winter Ale - not a talk on conservation).

So Friday 21st December was our last visit to the hedge in 2007 "and what about 2008?" I hear you ask, possibly. The first visit for 2008 should be Sunday 6th January with a return on Monday 7th with the "Keeping Up Appearances Group" as working visitors. We only have about 38m of blackthorn left to lay and then onto the final 220m of planted hedge to the Turf Lock Bridge. Sounds easy doesn't it?

So, dates for 2008:
January: Sunday 6th, 7th -11th (some of), Wednesday 16th, Sunday 20th, Thursday 24th
February: Friday 1st, Tuesday 19th, 25th - 29th (some of)
March: Sunday 2nd?, Thursday 6th, Friday 14th, Sunday 23rd?, Monday 24th? - (that's Easter)

Monday Working Party ~ Nick Wood for John Empringham

Three outings again for us in December (well, two and a half really as we attended the Navvies Christmas lunch!), all in Sidney Wood clearing the towpath bank and causeways of brambles and other undesirables. We've some stretches left to do and some of the towpath timber supports are in need of repair, so we shall need at least another full day's work before the job is completed. We have also agreed to render assistance to Keith Nichols hedge laying group down at Harsfold/Lordings.

So that's us 'sorted' for the 7th and 21st January! Please contact John Empringham if you would like to join us.

Educational Project Infoposts? ~ Don Gibson

My last report mentioned installing an Infopost at Southland Bridge. We have landowner permission to place the post but no permission for access so we will have to wait and see.

I was tasked with making up an index of the milestones and the Infoposts, so I have combined the two to make up a photo index, which I will complete when the weather improves and I can take the last of the 'photo's.

The Trust has been approached by a Travel company to supply a Walk Guide to enable them to make up a Specialty Tour sometime next year and this has fallen upon my shoulders. I have been in touch with them, but have yet to receive a reply. This tour could become a feature in their programme. More in my next report -- I hope!

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

Hedge Laying
Check with Keith Nichols before turning up

Santa Cruises
December 15th/16th, 19th - 23rd
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