We're pleased that the path back to some kind of normality has now started.
After carrying out an indepth risk assessment and following the Government's
'five steps to safer working together', some of our volunteers were able to start
back on site during the second week of June.
We have put in place strict and
controlled measures for social distancing and hygiene, to make sure we will be
'Staying COVID-19 Secure in 2020' and beyond.
This means that work has started again at Gallows Wharf and Gallows Reach,
as well as at Fosseway Heath.
If you do visit (please do!) please remember to maintain the two-metre
social distancing rule if you see our volunteers on site and don't be offended if
they step back away from you.
The team started by installing eleven temporary piling sheets, clearing the excess soil and then laying a concrete floor so that the remaining section of retaining wall can be built. Roger and the team have since been storming along with the brickwork. Further on from where Roger and the brickies are working, the team installed twelve metres of permanent sheet piles along the towpath side of the canal. Steel sheet piling is a well-proven, robust, long-term solution to water containment where the bank has to be supported, particularly if there's limited land available.
This is the section where you can have your name immortalised on the sheet piling and there will be plenty available to sponsor.
Gallows Wharf and Gallows Reach
The Gallows team have been working on brickwork and there's a lot to do.
Bill and Paul are rebuilding the old towpath wall, building up the ground, placing
recycled stone along the old towpath, reinstating the verges and making bench
resting areas to the rear of the restored towpath.
A 'dry brick' retaining wall, is being constructed by Dave and new volunteer, Connor. This wall is necessary to retain the soil to the rear of the old towpath, as trees and other vegetation have been planted/grown along the boundary since the canal was abandoned. The public using the adjacent Nature Trail along Gallows Reach are showing a great interest in the work of the Trust volunteers. Well done lads!
We've had some bad luck with our machines since we started back.
The seals on the track tensioner on our small digger failed while it was in
storage over lockdown. One of our faithful cement mixers needed a new
gearbox after the many tonnes of concrete it’s mixed for us, and our big mower
came into contact with a large buried piece of concrete whilst clearing some
ground and has broken the gearing in its gear box.
That means about £250 of parts needed. Sadly our events team are still grounded with all events, both our own and national events, on hold for the foreseeable future. This means our fundraising income has been severely reduced, but thankfully our supporters have come to our rescue through an appeal on our Facebook page and the mixer was soon fixed. Thank you!
You can visit our Facebook page here.
Another very busy and productive day was spent Fosseway Heath Canal Wall with Michael and Hugh installing the tie rods and waling beam on the driven piles, following up with a DPM sheet laid down the back face of the Steel sheet piles and compacting sand backfill up to towpath level. Just along the wall Roger, Adrian and Adam were building up the corner wall section and placing Puddle clay to the rear of the wall.
