18th May 2021
Author & upload TJ
Levelling, spreading topsoil, seeding and planting sums up the last few weeks. Over 200 native trees and shrubs have been planted at Lock 14 alone, with more at Lock 15. I don’t know how closely the seeding followed the draft plan, but fingers crossed (due to the exceptionally dry weather after sowing), we shall see emerging, a wide variety of native wild flowers and grasses.
The towpath is now open! Visitors are able to view the work of our volunteers, who were supported for many weeks over the last five years, by volunteers of the Waterway Recovery Group. The project has also been used in the training of Canal and River Trust Heritage Trainees.
Contractors, W Squires, have been engaged in raising the offside bank between Lock 14 and Bridge 60. Although this work was well within the capacity of our trained volunteers – time scales weren’t! The project end date looming, expedience was the governing factor.
The Lock 14 works compound is to be retained for when work can begin on the restoration of Lock 13. As mentioned in the previous entry, the Expression of Interest was submitted to the National Lottery Heritage Fund. It was requested we review parts of our submission and re submit in December 2021.
For those unable to visit, or just like a birds eye view, we thank Colin for this drone footage:
