WILTS & BERKS CANAL TRUST

Did you see us on the telly? The Trust that is, when our Patron HRH Duchess of Cornwall opened Double Bridge on our canal down at Naish Hill, Lacock (see www.wbct.org.uk for details and lots of pictures). We were in all the papers as well. Yours truly was most honoured to be introduced to HRH and to outline to her the work that the West Vale Branch is doing, especially on Steppingstone Bridge. It was a huge encouragement to me when Her Royal Highness showed such great interest and support for what we are doing here in Shrivenham.

The Swindon Advertiser is also to run a series of articles on this branches progress as well.

Work on our bridge continues very well with the support of several weekend work camps following on from the ‘two weeker' over Easter. The brickwork on the bridge itself is finished, just the coping stones atop the parapet walls left to do. Finishing the surfacing over the arch is next, and to this end gabions (metre cube sized wire baskets full of stone) have been installed at the four corners of the bridge. The gabions are there to retain the extra height of the bridleway needed to conform with disabled access regulations on the maximum incline over the bridge. Umpteen tonnes of stone, donated by a local-ish company, were used to fill the gabions - quite a task, ably completed by several Waterways Recovery Group (WRG) weekend work parties. The infill over the arch and the surfacing will be done using PFA (pulverized fuel ash, a new material for us) donated by Didcot Power Station. A special licence from the Environment Agency was required to use PFA. The final surface should be very firm and when completed the diversion route will be removed and the original route reopened. Then we will move down to water level, to resurface the towpath, remove the accumulated silt from the canal and to rebuild the wing walls. Then to refurbish the small adjacent wharf. Phew - not much left to do then!

As usual, for this time of year, towpath maintenance has kept the local volunteers busy and mostly they remain in a very walkable condition. However one is a little overgrown because we have had to temporarily divert our labours to fence installing. Those of you who walk the canal near to our Canalside Park will have noticed it. The fencing is required as part of the conditions of a new lease we have. Yes! We now have a lease for part of the canal next to our park. The landowners have kindly agreed to a lease of canal land, so we have lots more to restore, as if we didn't have enough to do! They have requested that the remainder of their land is kept private, hence the fencing, so please, please comply with their wishes and stay on the towpaths and not wander into adjacent fields and woodland. By the time you read this the fencing will be done and the remaining towpath should be cut so please take a walk along the towpaths to see all the progress we have made.

Our WRG volunteers are accommodated in Watchfield and South Marston Village halls, another example of the local support we receive for which we are very grateful and our thanks go to them. Many more weekend work parties are booked so progress will continue BUT we could still do with more local volunteers. . Support, that's what it's all about and this is where you come in - despite recruiting several new active branch members we definitely need more local support - the paperwork, logistics and fundraising just for the bridge has pushed the few local branch volunteers right to their limits.

We still need help on all fronts, not just humping materials and grass cutting but with the paperwork, liaison with local authorities and landowners. Someone just to distribute leaflets, do lectures and talks, a wiz-kid on the computer to produce the artwork for publicity, displays and maps, there are urgent jobs for everyone. Please, just volunteer, it's a very worthwhile LOCAL cause linked to a great National Project, great camaraderie and good fun. Help can be done at home, no need to get muddy or to attend meetings, although to some of us that's part of the fun!

Like to help but can't spare the time, then just become a member: It costs from as little as £5, and helps us no end. It will also keep you right up to date on progress with your free members' quarterly magazine ‘The Dragonfly'. Give us a call and we'll pop some details through your door. Or stop for a chat when you spot one of our volunteers along the canal. Alternatively just turn up at our monthly meetings - 2nd Wednesday of each month, 8.00 pm at the Bowls Club, you'll be made most welcome. I'm sure you will find it interesting and the bar will be open!

It's not all digging in the mud, you know! BUT it is all done by volunteers, with a great deal of most welcome support! Thanks everyone.
Come on! Let's get OUR bridge finished and officially opened.