Early in February a new friend arrived on the Fosseway Heath section of the Lichfield Canal in the form of a shiny new EZ80 8 tonne Excavator from Wacker Neuson based at Stafford. The new excavator was loaned to the the Lichfield Canal Trust by Wacker Neuson to be used in the restoration of the Lichfield Canal, in particular the creation of Wetland Areas and Nature Reserves at the Fossway Heath section all by Trust Volunteers which is the subject of a grant from the Post Code Lottery.
Our very own Tony Gardiner, volunteer Plant Manager for The Lichfield Canal Trust was the designated driver for the EZ80 and he found the excavator both easy to use, very powerful and carried out all the tasks undertaken with ease. Even heavy excavation in dense sands/weak sandstone, which had proved difficult in the past with even heavier machines, the EZ80 performed particularly well. When it came to this last weekend and the need to excavate a 100 metre diversion of the Lichfield Canal channel and towpath, which included some 2500 tonnes of excavation in clay/ sandy soils and placing the excavated material on the new diversion, the work was all completed in two days with the help of Steve Webster from Wacker Neuson driving the EZ80 and Tony operating the Trusts own 5 tonne Excavator in attendance.
The EZ80 8 tonne Excavator from Wacker Neuson has proven a very powerful and
versatile workhorse which punches well above its weight and has been key in
achieving the restoration goals of the Lichfield Canal Trust at Fosseway Heath.
The Lichfield Canal Trust are most grateful to Wacker Neuson for the ongoing
support to the restoration work of the Trust which results in so much benefit to the
local community. Thank you Wacker Neuson and all your team and we look forward
to working with you all in the future.
Peter Buck.
