West
Vale Branch |
I expect many people will have noticed the re-appearance of a pile of stone chippings (scalpings) on the Canalside Park carpark. We do apologise for any inconvenience that this causes but needs must I am afraid. These stones are to provide a firm surface at Steppingstone Lane Bridge when we divert the bridlepath around the bridge remains and onto the top of the dam to the west. Ideally these should have been delivered direct to the site but this was not possible and they will reside temporarily at the park until used during October. In order not to damage the bridlepath from Bourton to the site of the bridge restoration we shall have to ferry the stones in small loads and this may take some time, so please be patient with us, or better still, give us a bit of help!
The village fete was a great success again this year with the weather being very kind (if not too kind - especially if you had to work!) During the fete we were presented with a cheque for £350 by the Shrivenham & District Gardening Society which was a donation from the proceeds of the Shrivenham Open Gardens event held in July. This donation is greatly appreciated and, although only small by Lottery standards, will enable more towpath to be cleared by volunteers over the next few months. The branch hosted the apres-fete BBQ and firework display at the Canalside Park which was very well attended and, hopefully, thoroughly enjoyed. This really looks like becoming a permanent fixture in the Shrivenham event calendar.
Our thanks must also go out to those members of the Fete and Circular Walk teams who helped in cutting the wayward grass and canal bank foliage before the fete-day walk. This help enabled us to show the canalside in a very good light and encouraged its use on the day, and since.
October is going to be a very busy month for our members with not only several work parties being planned but also our Group Annual General Meeting. This year the AGM is being held at the Foxham Reading Rooms on Saturday 13th October, and as always, gives our members a chance to visit a different section of the Wilts & Berks Canal, followed by the opportunity to quiz the Council of Management on “major issues”. If anyone would like more details then please contact myself in the first instance.
For more information or to volunteer assistance please come along to one of our meetings held in the Shrivenham Bowls Club, Martens Road, on the second Wednesday of every month at 8 p.m. You will be made very welcome. Alternatively, ask any of the volunteers that you see working on the canal or park, they will be more than pleased to stop and talk!Orph Mable - Branch Project Co-ordinator
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