29 August 2018

Community Engagement - just today

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.
Fortunately, we were in a position to go and get some graffiti remover from Bailey's Paints and the application of that performed a remarkable transition to a complete removal, washing clean with just water.

 By attending to it immediately, it is less likely to attract yet more attacks.  Do we have an anti-graffiti team?

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.
Outside Lock Keepers Cafe, many enjoyed the warm sun that had now broken through the early clouds.  Just below the lock, our craft Weedie was receiving attention between jobs. Again, a number of our towpath community comment on the novelty and effectiveness of this weird and wonderful craft.

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.
Later in the day, they were seen heading back to Ebley.

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.
 Wookey Hole was spotted further down near Nutshell Bridge immersed in the undergrowth on the opposite bank.
On arrival back at Western Depot, the plethora of activity noises that emanated from the workshops just further demonstrated the involvement of our local community in restoring and enjoying our canals. 

Howzat HLF?