Registered Charity No. 702429

WORKING PARTIES NEWS & DATES

LICHFIELD CANAL
Our regular date is the first Sunday of each month, from 10 am, although it is quite normal to find some of our own volunteers there every weekend. To find our usual work site at Lock 25 on Tamworth Road (Grid ref. SK 130 083) take the A51 out of Lichfield and the site is on the right about 300 metres after Cricket Lane. Look out for the yellow sign.
Our own work parties are supplemented by WRG and ‘Dig Deep’ weekend visits. We generally work from about 9 am to 4 pm and more help is always welcome, even if you can spare only a few hours. Check for additional dates or the latest plans with Bob Williams on 01543 671427 (Email: Bob Williams) or keep checking this web site where any changes will be shown.

Work Party Dates 2008:
January:	Sunday 6
February:	Sunday 3, Essex WRG Sat/Sun 2/3, KESCRG Sat/Sun 9/10
March:	Sunday 2
April:	Sunday 6
May:	Sunday 4
June:	Sunday 1
July:	Sunday 6

ALL SITES: Bring old clothes, stout footwear, work gloves, and refreshment. Hard hats and basic working tools can be provided as necessary, although you are welcome to bring your own.

For details of Waterway Recovery Group Subscribe to Navvies (minimum (Ł1.50) from Sue Watts 15 Eleanor Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21 9FZ

Work Party News
Photographs elsewhere in this issue show the urgent progress made at Tamworth Road through the winter weeks, laying down 120 metres of concrete foundation to rebuild the towpath wall along part of Pound 27 of the Lichfield Canal. Then we have a trick up our sleeve for rapid construction to form a suitable “towpath” for the Borrowcop Locks Canal Park. Considerable help came from waterway recovery group North West volunteers in the second week-end of December, braving appalling weather for this work and clearing a large area of woodland where a public path will connect with the main road.

But it’s our own team, led by Brian Davis whose career experience in construction site work is invaluable, who have excelled in translating theoretical advice and ground conditions into real achievement. The Directors thank the other regulars Barry, Keith, Clive, Simon, Alan, Adrian, George, Jim, Neil for their efforts, often joined by others when they can make it.

Additionally, we are very pleased that John Horton (the Trust’s former Lichfield Canal Project Director) took up the challenge of collating quotations, refining the design and placing an order locally for economical construction of a new permanent footbridge over the tail of Lock 25. In the background, we have professional support from Fira Landscape Ltd whose competent design work has been particularly valuable in supporting our Planning Application to Lichfield District Council. Staffordshire County Council Highways Dept. have helped with surfacing materials and woodland licensing. Given the rate of progress, we hope to hold a ceremonial “opening” of the new public facility during the Lichfield Twinning week-end at the end of April 2008.

In preparation for the Pound 26 boundary wall, what seemed like a simple task of removing the remaining trunk of the silver birch in the channel proved to be a challenge. Having excavated all around, and the gang severed the roots, it still would not surrender to heavy dumper pulling and digger pushing. Eventually, it became clear that the tree had a two-tier root system, probably dating back to when it first rooted in the canal bed, then after being infilled around grew another set of roots higher up! See the photographic evidence.

Lichfield Canal land purchase
Acquisition of part of the field between Lock 26 and the Tamworth Road for future diversion of the canal has gone ahead and the land suitably fenced off so that a footpath can run right through the Borrowcop Locks Canal Park. Meanwhile, we turn our attention to the more difficult strategic elements of creating a new canal channel that must pass under the A51 and A38 roads to connect with Huddlesford Junction. It’s easy to say, but…….

Ground clearance for Pound 27 towpath wall foundation 4th November 2007		Brian Kingshott joins the gang completing Lock 26 bywash outfall 1st December 2007
wrg North West brave the mud on the next section of Pound 27 foundation 9th December 2007		Half the Pound 27 towpath wall foundation laid 9th December 2007
wrg North West clearing the SCC woodland to prepare for a new footpath 9th December 2007		Part of the new footpath to pass through the Borrowcop Locks Canal Park 9th December 2007
Approximate position where Pound 26 off-side boundary wall is now being built		Removing the silver birch stump in Pound 26 revealed two layers of roots 5th January 2008
(photos by Bob Williams)

HATHERTON CANAL
Our regular date is the third Sunday of each month, from 10 am, with some occasional extra days as required.
Contact Denis Cooper on 01543-374370 (work) for details of meeting places.

Monthly work parties 2008: Sundays; 20 January, 17 February, 16 March, 20 April, 18 May, 15 June, 20 July.

Denis Cooper and the "Hatherton crew" busy with towpath clearance in December 2007
Denis Cooper, Joe Farren, Clive Hensman, John Clarke, Vic Stanway and Bill Cole enjoying mince pies and sherry at the pre-Christmas work party.
(photos by Barry Kenn)

ALL SITES: Bring old clothes, stout footwear, work gloves, and refreshment. Hard hats and basic working tools can be provided as necessary, although you are welcome to bring your own.

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