West Vale Update

At Shrivenham Canal Park, the recent heavy rains have forced us to change our plans to increase the depths of the ponds.  They are now too full to enable digger access. However, we intend to build up the bund at the end of the canal to improve the crossing when the ground dries a little.

The cutting of the meadow areas has been completed, with scythes being used as this better distributes wildflower seeds. A corporate volunteer group is booked for mid-month, when we plan to install a gate and fencing and also spread more wood chippings to paths and around tree saplings.

A successful visit to Uffington Gorse by the forestry team of the Waterway Recovery Group took place at the end of September.  Despite the weather, the team managed to fell the remaining trees that were blocking the footpath by the canal and also dead trees that could be a potential hazard.

Lots of brash now needs to be cleared and we look forward to a group of corporate volunteers assisting with this later in the month. The heavy rain has now caused the canal to overfill - making the paths (and especially the towpath) very muddy. The local Scout group has been on-site twice recently, helping to clear the drainage ditches and build "bridges" over them.