Is your branch doing something that demonstrates the great work that our members do? If so let us know - send your story and pictures to stefanie.preston@waterways.org.uk.
CHESTER & MERSEYSIDE BRANCH On Saturday 1st November, volunteers from IWA Chester & Merseyside Branch were at Tower Wharf on the Shropshire Union Canal for the branch’s regular work party. The group cleared weeds and vegetation from the Turnover Bridge and around the Graving Lock, as well as taking time to plant spring bulbs at Northgate Locks. Work parties have proved a huge success for the branch and it again managed to squeeze an extra work party into November, showing just how popular they are. This was held on Saturday 8th November, when volunteers completed a much needed litter pick at Cow Lane Bridge.
Chester & Merseyside work party at Cow Lane Bridge, Shropshire Union Canal, 8th November.
IWA AT WORK
|
NORTHAMPTON BRANCH On Sunday 9th November, Northampton Branch’s work party at Gayton Junction Yard on the Northampton Arm of the Grand Union Canal was greeted with weather that was ideal for the planned task – painting Lock 9. Under the guidance of volunteer Mick Butler, the group achieved this and also painted the top gate of Lock 10. The branch has now painted about three quarters of the 17 locks on the Northampton Arm. The second branch work party of the month on Tuesday 25th, was based at Lock 17, where volunteers litter picked the area up to the B&Q Bridge 16 and extracted 11 bags of rubbish, a large cushion, a tyre and a shopping trolley. The volunteers also opened up a view through the trees from the bottom gates of Lock 17 to the Environment Agency strong stream notice on the opposite side of the riverbank. This was in response to concerns that first time boaters would otherwise only see this important sign once they had left the lock and were already on the river.
WARWICKSHIRE BRANCH Despite the damp conditions on 2nd November, over 80 volunteers, including IWA members, Warwick university students, army cadets from Stourport and local residents, turned out to clean the stretch of the Grand Union Canal between Emscote Road and Wedgenock Lane, Warwick. Organised by Warwickshire Branch, with the active support of CRT, the event saw many tons of abandoned ironmongery dragged from the canal using grappling hooks. The predominant items retrieved from the canal were bicycles and shopping trolleys, but also retrieved were three motorcycles, lengths of carpet, electronic equipment and a safe. For those wanting a less strenuous task, litter pickers and black bags were supplied. The recent strimming of the vegetation adjoining the towpath had exposed numerous plastic bottles and cans. These were gathered up and loaded onto the hopper boat driven by Steve Lambert, CRT Volunteer Leader. The next IWA organised canal clean-up will be in Leamington Old Town on 1st March 2015. If you would like to help or would like details of other similar events please email info.warwickshire@waterways.org.uk. Rubbish collected from the Grand Union Canal on the Warwickshire Branch clean-up.
Details of all IWA branch events can be found on the IWA website events calendar. If you would like to get involved or have any suggestions for future work parties, please contact the IWA Branch Campaign Team: Alison Smedley, Branch Campaign Officer 07779 090915; alison.smedley@waterways.org.uk Stefanie Preston, Branch Campaign Assistant 01494 783453; stefanie.preston@waterways.org.uk
Spring 2015
IWA waterways |
43