The Shrivenham Canal Park with the Ron Martin Memorial Slipway
Enhancing The Park: 2019-2021
In 2019 The Trust initiated Project Heron, to improve the biodiversity potential at locations along the of the canal, the Shrivenham Park being a major site. The project aims are - To increase number & type of habitats in order to attract species currently absent from the park but which have been recorded within 1km of the park, back into the park in sanctuary zones. The changes / additions proposed are - Leaving areas of longer grass and adding wildflowers. |
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During 2019 - The Branch, with the help of several corporate volunteer groups, made12 habitat piles within the copse, plus some 'natural fencing', using thinnings from the trees. Many bird boxes were installed, 6 made by the TWIGS, the community garden initiative in Swindon, together with 5 bat boxes, additionally, 9 bird boxes made by the Shrivenham & Watchfield Scouts were fixed to trees around the park. |
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In 2020, The Inland Waterways Association has awarded a grant of nearly £14000 to implement the improvements to the habitats described above and also to re-water the 120m length of the canal within the Park. The aim is to complete the work by December 2021.
Re-watering the canal will not be straightforward, the preferred method is to bring water from the canal on the opposite, west, side of Stainswick Lane. Originally there was a lift bridge for the road but, of course, this was demolished many years ago and the invert filled in. This also will require the rebuilding of a spill-weir on the western length but first the final water level must be established. Over the years several figures have been proposed but this now has to be accurately determined, not only for this short length but because the pound extends for about 7 miles from a proposed new lock at Lower Earlscourt to Longcot top lock, so the water depth is rather important.
Complying with the restrictions imposed by the pandemic, small work-parties continued to implement more of the habitat improvements. Dead trees within the copse have been removed to let in more light, the cuttings providing more "natural fencing" to the paths now clearly defined within the copse and in late December 2020, contractors of the electricity company reduced the height of trees and hedges beneath the power lines that cross the Park. They left several heaps of chippings that Branch volunteers used to suface the copse paths.
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Work-parties have cleared quite large areas of brambles that were encroaching on the paths and smothering saplings.
An old willow growing in the ditch to the north, that had four main trunks, was giving concern. One had broken a while ago and the remaining three were slowly leaning more and shedding branches. As they hung over a footpath, it was decided it would be safest to remove the remaining three main stems. After cutting off the lower branches, a contactor felled the three trunks. Cutting the branches and trunks was a mammoth task, fortunately Branch volunteers had the support of an 8-strong team from the Shrivenham Defence Academy. The cut branches were again used to supplement the 'natural fencing' within the copse and the logs provided a seating area for the local school and a "rustic" bench.
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Creating the Park: 1996-2019
One of the few lengths of Wilts & Berks Canal actually owned by the Trust can be found on the edge of Shrivenham on the east of Stainswick Lane at OS grid reference SU243883. Approximately 4 acres of land became available in 1996 and was purchased by the West Vale Branch on behalf of the Trust. At this time, the included 100 metre length of canal was totally in-filled, having been used by the village for many years as a local tip before being covered over and abandoned to very rough pasture. |
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The Branch made plans to dredge out the canal, using the spoil for landscaping a public park that would include footpaths, possibly a slipway and because the access road was narrow, car-parking. |
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The VWHDC were very supportive and recognising the benefit to Shrivenham such a park would bring, donated both funding and labour to carry out several of the major tasks. These included reclaiming the canal section, profiling the park and laying the car park and access road. These works being completed by February 1998. | ![]() |
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The Branch applied to the Inland Waterways Association (IWA) for, and was awarded, a grant to build a slipway at the corner of the car-park. This would have two functions, one obviously, as a slipway for boats in the future, the other as a drain for surface water into the canal from the car park. The IWA provided the structural design for the slipway and asked that it be built in memory of Ron Martin, a hard working member of the IWA who had recently died. |
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During 1998, the slip was dug out by local Branch members and, assisted by members of Kent and East Sussex Canal Restoration Group (KESCRG), foundations were laid and concrete poured. The side walls were constructed by our Branch with good support from the Branches at Wootton Bassett and Foxham & Lyneham. This was the first major bricklaying job carried out by the Branch, with everyone getting involved. |
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The park footpaths were laid with membrane covered by scalpings using 100% branch effort. To minimise cost and maximise use of hired plant, the main paths were completed within one weekend, which was a huge but satisfying effort. |
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In 1999, the Branch raised funds to have the access road and car park edged with posts to prevent unauthorised access to the grassed areas. A wooden notice-board was erected at this time displaying details of how the park came into being and all those who helped. Unfortunately, the local vandals took issue with the notices and removed them breaking the perspex cover, although the board itself remained virtually unscathed. After 20 years, the notice-board has deteriorated and become unstable, so is in the process of being replaced with a new version. |
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In 2000, a new path was created from the park, going north beside Coppithorne Meadow (land associated with the adjacent cemetery but currently a wildlife reserve), to link in with an existing public footpath. A kissing gate that included a "RADAR" lock was installed to indicate the boundary of the park but still allow easy access for the disabled. |
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The Park 10 years later had matured with a dense copse and prolific growth both around the park and along the bed of the canal (it only retains water during winter months).
The maintenance of the Park had placed a heavy burden on Branch volunteers with large areas of grass to be mown, ditches to be kept clear, old trees on the boundary to be made safe and the footpaths to be kept accessible. The Branch has also had invaluable assistance from many 'corpoorate volunteers' working in the Park on all these essential tasks. |
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Never-the-less, over the years, the Branch has added more trees/shrubs, many donated by The Woodland Trust and managed the maintenance to encourage wildflowers, Local children have also planted specimen saplings and used the copse for a 'forest school'. | ||
Branch volunteers continue to be busy - maintaining the wildflower areas and extending the paths, improving the signage, clearing trees brought down by storms (their branches being used to created the 'natural fencing' in and around the copse) and general maintenance of the footpaths and car park. | |
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The park is very well used by villagers for relaxing in or just for walking the dog. Additionally it is included in the Shrivenham Circular Walk which is sign-posted throughout the village. |
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