WRG BITM
...on the Wendover and at Latton BITM Digs 2007 The two digs we have had so far this year have seen a pretty healthy turnout, and we ve achieved most of our objectives. In January, we were on the Buckingham Arm, and not only were there 25 of us, but we were augmented by a contingent of 10 from Birmingham University Conservation Group. So it s just as well that Cosgrove Village Hall is fairly roomy. Rachael divided us up into three teams, as the local Society had lined up a variety of work for us along about half a mile of the canal. They wanted us to dig into the big dam where the bridge used to be, to see how much of it was still there, and our geologist Simon took charge of that team. There was also some strimming/brush cutting and scrub bashing, and a bit of tirforing,
with Mike Paice as our team leader. A further project was to erect two information boards at either end of the Arm, with holes to dig and concrete the posts in under Graham s supervision. However, the best laid schemes of mice and men can gang astray (sorry if I ve misquoted), and things did not go quite to plan. Within five minutes of arriving on site, Mike had spotted a huge willow growing on the side of the cut, which, as he pointed out, would have to come out sooner or later, so why not while we had plenty of manpower? Simon soon discovered that most of the bridge had long since disappeared, so his team and Mike s joined up to work on the willow, which took most of the weekend! It took 3 five-tonne tirfors, pulling from different directions, to pull the tree down on its side on the canal bed, so Ian could start
BITM get to do some serious Tirforing...
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