A very enthusiastic Network Rail Projects team of over 30 volunteers lead by David, Peter, Bob, Roger and Tony G. braved the extreme cold weather brought by the Mini beast from the East on 19th March to move the Lichfield Canal restoration forward.
Well dressed for the cold in bright orange high-vis the volunteers set about upgrading part of the offside Heritage Towpath Trail alongside the old canal bed. On the day the team completed a record breaking 57 metres of new path which was opened at the end of the day for the many regular users from the local community.
The weather stayed very cold but remained dry and the sun even came out to melt the
snow on the ground. To help fight of the cold a second group of volunteers set about
lighting a fire to keep warm and a third group lead by Roger Barnet dismantled some of
the old Towpath wall in the Wetland Area and helped in Towpath preparations for the
Canal restoration in this area.
David Hancock said "Yes we did go for it. From a standing start of a bumpy hill we
scrapped of and laid 57 meters of towpath sub base. It needed to be compacted and a
second layer added but what a difference they made. A small group went with Roger to
assist with setting our shuttering for concrete bases later in the week. Also a load of
scrub trees were cut down and burnt between the compound and the entrance. Tree
trunks are to be cut down by chain saw later."
This first Network Rail corporate volunteer day was a great success and the Trust will
build on the work undertaken by this great team. We look forward to seeing the many
new friends made from Network Rail for a return visit in the Summer.
Peter Buck.
