The power of nature never ceases to amaze me. The relatively short time that it takes for nature to ‘overtake’ and ‘recapture’ a built environment that has been created. OK, so it had been 20 years since any major work was carried out at Darnford Moors, but the brambles and overgrowth were so thick and intense towards Capper Lane that they completely enveloped and hid all of the previous canal works.
It took many volunteer hours from visiting Corporate Teams, the DofE’s and the Trusts own volunteers before the outline of the canal was again visible. Even when the brambles were initially cut off the remaining stalks were so large that it was difficult to remove their long, thorny, arching and entangled canes. Many hours later and the area is thankfully now once again cleared.
The sheet piling has stood the test of time as, 20 years on, there was only some minor surface rust on small sections of certain sheet piles. Presumably this was where the galvanising layer had either been scratched or damaged during the original installation. We were at Darnford Moor initially to provide access for Consultants and Contractors in order that a topographical survey and ground investigation works could take place, both as part of funding bids. A part of these works would also create a nature trail, adjacent to former lock 29, but also use the natural topography and the adjacent Darnford Brook – to create a pond and thus also attract other aquatic life.
The Trusts bid for funding has subsequently been successful and so work in the
last month has progressed at quite a pace. Read more about the funding on our News Page:
'Funding Secured for next stage' Nov 23rd.
We hope to get the section from the lift bridge to Cappers Lane complete and in water by February 2023. The Trusts volunteers need to carry out initial remedial works to the section beyond the lift bridge, towards Cappers Lane. The rear of the sheet piles were exposed in order that sealing tape could be applied to the interlocking clutch seam. The tape being used to reduce or prevent water leakage through the clutch. Then, intermediate additional anchor piles and longer 3 metre tie rods, tied into the existing waling beam, provide additional support to the sheet piling - before the area is backfilled up to towpath level with soil and compacted. On the opposite bank the batter profile has to be created. Once these works are complete the area can be handed over to a ground works contractor who will create the non-permeable canal bed / opposite bank.
Mike Babb
Several teams of Corporate volunteers have made an important contribution to the work at Darnford Moors by scrub bashing to clear the way through, and erecting fencing. We are grateful to teams from Amey Consulting, Plastic Ominium, IHG and Equans.
Tamworth Road
You can really start to see what the finished canal will look like now that a section of towpath at The Narrows has been topped out and completed.
On the construction side however, work has slowed, partly due to the weather but also due to us building up excavated spoil and not being able to export it off site. For every linear metre of canal that we create on the way to Cricket Lane, we excavate approximately 12 cubic metres of soil. This has now built up on site and is starting to hamper our progress.
The team have however advanced the dry walling against the towpath and have also created an intersecting wall and incorporated a safety handrail. This is needed due to a restricted (width) space, as the canals north wall passes in front of the cottage.
Mike Babb
