Our HLF quite rightly attaches a lot of importance to this aspect of the bid and the Trust has responded accordingly in making every effort to meet those requirements.
Today, with an opportunity to cycle our canal from Brimscombe to Eastington, observing at first hand our local community 'enjoying' the fantastic amenity we have created and are currently in the process of further enhancing, the trip was both very satisfying, but tinged with a spot of the most depressing.
Many folk were out and about walking and riding the towpath, the majority of which responded positively to a happy 'hello'. Here's a series of observations taken along that westerly journey.
Last night, the lovely old bridge at Gough's Orchard was vandalised. We were there yesterday afternoon and all was well. The moron(s) had left their mark.
Further down, the fishermen were quietly sitting on their platforms above Ham Mill. On informing them that there will be some extra water on the way from the Syphon, the response from one was 'What we really need is some boats through here'.
From what was the bare earth of the dredged section below Griffin Mill, nature has now taken its course and the banks have greened up very nicely. This is one of the most scenic sections, so far.
Just setting up at Capel's Mill were some members of Stroud Valley Canoe Club. Their craft lined the bank as they prepared to launch into the water
Lunch was taken astride the balance beam of Bowbridge Lock upper gate, towpath side. Various folk passed by, some staring down the irresistibly decorative spill weir grating irons. Just a trickle was going over. One conversation included a number of references to the bible and some spiritual guidance!
Lunch over, moving on and the sad evidence of some more negative community engagement. Already well reported, but nevertheless provokes many comments from passers by.
An SDC presence at Lodgemore Bridge was overseeing work on the lift bridge control gear. Down outside the mighty Ebley Mill, Dredger Patricia had just received some attention, a couple of minor jobs. When observing the many towpath walkers around the middle of the day, the majority, wearing company I'D's around their necks, have escaped their air-con offices and the like and headed off out for a breath of fresh air, before going back to the coal face.
Many viz vests buzzing around at Ryeford Double Lock. Here, our new Tug boat Margaret, was having her propeller attended to in our 'pop-up' dry dock (empty the middle bit). Apparently, apart from the normal stuff that gets wound up around the prop', they had lengths of wire which were difficult to shift through the weed hatch.
Not many paces further on, our trip boat Percy was tied up at Ryeford swing bridge. Invited guests on board were enjoying what looked like a fine lunch. Their venture had taken them to St Cyr's Church, Stonehouse, where they turned about, just before the swing bridge at the Ocean.
Boatmobility also had their armada out just on the west side of Ryeford Bridge. They too had made it to the Ocean and appeared to be having great fun, perhaps more so with a gentle tail wind at that point.
Our volunteers that relentlessly attack the jungle weeds that grow along the towpath were near Upper Mills. Their cutting left a trail which demonstrated vividly how much ground they can cover given the right tools.
Howzat HLF?
