Lichfield Branch

Offside Veg Update

Every winter since 2017 our hardy team of volunteers have been beavering away (excuse the pun) cutting back the encroaching offside trees and other vegetation along various stretches of our local canals. It’s hard to believe it’s been 5 years since we started this venture, and we were reminded of this when our volunteer’s original training certification for using the pole-chainsaws and wood chipper had expired and they recently had to attend a refresher course in order to continue.

Working in conjunction with CRT, our Lichfield Branch volunteers carry out the work every week and in all weathers. This winter starting in October, they began at Willington and are steadily working their way along the Trent and Mersey Canal towards Alrewas.

CRT provide the equipment which consists of a workboat and ‘butty’ open hopper boat, one of which houses the wood chipper and the other to work from. Depending upon the circumstances, sometimes they are fastened together ‘end to end’, and other times are breasted up, the latter method is usually the favoured way of working but obviously they need separating to get through bridge holes, and either method requires separation for going through a lock.

CRT provide the other equipment such as the pole chainsaws, hedge trimmers, wood chipper, handsaws, loppers, rakes etc, as well as some of the PPE. Training for each task is also provided. Basically our IWA volunteers provide the free labour and expertise.

They work Thursdays and Friday’s, CRT’s volunteers do Tuesday’s and Wednesdays, and Mondays are when the machinery and equipment gets maintained and serviced. The operation begins in October and ends in early March before the birds and other wildlife begin nesting and the canals become busy with boat traffic. Working during the winter has its challenges however, one of the team, Neil Barnett, (our volunteer coordinator) says, “inclement weather rarely stops us working, in fact it’s only when the canal ices over and we are unable to move the workboats that we have to stop”.

“Other adverse weather conditions are dealt with by wearing the appropriate clothing”.

During those last 5 winters they have cut back the vegetation on the Trent & Mersey