July News
FURZEBEAM REPORT by Tony Nicholls - 29th July 2026
A small team assembled at the Puffing Billy this week to resume work on the canal at Furzebeam in preparation for the next guided walk on 16th August.
Over recent months we have made significant progress clearing vegetation from the canal bed and have now opened up a 500 metre section from the stop lock northwards. The section we are tackling at the moment is particularly badly overgrown with sycamore and hazel saplings so progress was slow. However, by the end of a shortened (and very humid) session we had managed to clear another 10 metres. We have also unearthed a lot of stone which has obviously fallen from the canal wall and we hope to use this to repair some of the worst sections. Looking southwards, the transformation is amazing and the canal is starting to look like a canal again. Our ambition is to clear the bed all the way to its junction with the Tarka Trail but this will take many months. It’s always good to have a challenging target!
A small team assembled at the Puffing Billy this week to resume work on the canal at Furzebeam in preparation for the next guided walk on 16th August.
Over recent months we have made significant progress clearing vegetation from the canal bed and have now opened up a 500 metre section from the stop lock northwards. The section we are tackling at the moment is particularly badly overgrown with sycamore and hazel saplings so progress was slow. However, by the end of a shortened (and very humid) session we had managed to clear another 10 metres. We have also unearthed a lot of stone which has obviously fallen from the canal wall and we hope to use this to repair some of the worst sections. Looking southwards, the transformation is amazing and the canal is starting to look like a canal again. Our ambition is to clear the bed all the way to its junction with the Tarka Trail but this will take many months. It’s always good to have a challenging target!
Clearing in progress
Newly cleared section
Salvaged stones
Canal looking south
Footnote: we would like to thank the Commons Conservators who have recently strimmed the towpath and made the access much easier and safer. Great work which is much appreciated..
Working parties are currently being held at 9.30am every Wednesday. Please contact Project Manager, Ian Harrison (tel.07557 478371) for more information.
Working parties are currently being held at 9.30am every Wednesday. Please contact Project Manager, Ian Harrison (tel.07557 478371) for more information.
RIDD RESTORATION REPORT by Tony Nicholls - 22nd July 2026
We returned to Ridd this week for a further session of scrub bashing and general maintenance. Last week we concentrated on tidying up the upper incline and canal bed so this week we focussed on the lower incline, the area around the old stables and the lower canal bed.
We returned to Ridd this week for a further session of scrub bashing and general maintenance. Last week we concentrated on tidying up the upper incline and canal bed so this week we focussed on the lower incline, the area around the old stables and the lower canal bed.
Strimmed canal bed
Despite the recent heatwave and dry conditions, vegetation is still growing, particularly nettles and brambles which seem to thrive no matter the conditions. Our heavy duty motorised strimmer is proving to be a huge asset and soon carved a path through the encroaching vegetation along the canal bed. Elsewhere, we cut back a huge bank of nettles opposite the stables and strimmed the lower incline. The site is now looking much better.
Cleared area around stables
Incline after clearing
We have also found enough stone to complete the paving of the pier of the upper docking bays. This has been ‘dry-laid’ at present to give an impression of how the pier would have looked in its original state. Eventually, the paving stones will be bedded into a cement screed and edged with concrete copers which we will cast on site.
Paved pier
At the end of the session we had a quick brainstorming session to discuss the next phase of the project which is to install a set of replica rails on the upper incline. This will be a challenging but vital part of the restoration..
Working parties are currently being held at 9.30am every Wednesday. Please contact Project Manager, Ian Harrison (tel.07557 478371) for more information.
Working parties are currently being held at 9.30am every Wednesday. Please contact Project Manager, Ian Harrison (tel.07557 478371) for more information.
SEA LOCK REPORT by Tony Nicholls - 1st July 2026
The team assembled at Sea Lock this week to give the site a good tidy up in time for the next guided walk on 12th July.
We were astonished to see that the middle pound had disappeared under a huge reed bed which had sprung up in recent weeks. Clearing this jungle presented a serious challenge so we decided to put two motorised strimmers to work. This proved to be highly effective. Seeing both machines in action was rather like watching a team of harvesters at work cutting a field of ripe wheat. By the end of the morning the team had completely cleared the pound and we turned our attention to other parts of the site, hand strimming around the lock gates, the two tub boats and the edges of the main basin. Another working party is planned for next week to finish off the remaining areas.
The team assembled at Sea Lock this week to give the site a good tidy up in time for the next guided walk on 12th July.
We were astonished to see that the middle pound had disappeared under a huge reed bed which had sprung up in recent weeks. Clearing this jungle presented a serious challenge so we decided to put two motorised strimmers to work. This proved to be highly effective. Seeing both machines in action was rather like watching a team of harvesters at work cutting a field of ripe wheat. By the end of the morning the team had completely cleared the pound and we turned our attention to other parts of the site, hand strimming around the lock gates, the two tub boats and the edges of the main basin. Another working party is planned for next week to finish off the remaining areas.
Entering the Jungle
A co-ordinated approach
Both strimmers in action
The cleared pound
Working parties are currently being held at 9.30am every Wednesday. Please contact Project Manager, Ian Harrison (tel.07557 478371) for more information.