November News
RIDD RESTORATION REPORT by Tony Nicholls - 5th November 2025
A depleted team gathered at Ridd this week with the aim of carrying out some much needed scrub bashing on the lower canal bed and around the stables.
We were greatly looking forward to trialling our latest acquisition – a powerful motorised strimmer. At its last meeting, the Executive Committee authorised the purchase of this machine to provide volunteers with some additional ‘muscle’ to help maintain the canal. This has become an increasingly onerous task as we have opened up new sections. After setting up the machine, we gave it a trial run on the lower canal bed which had become very overgrown. The machine proved more than equal to the challenge. The powered drive makes it extremely efficient and we strimmed the entire canal bed in less than an hour – something which would have taken several sessions at least with a hand held strimmer. The machine certainly got the thumbs-up from the team and will prove invaluable in helping to keep vegetation under control.
A depleted team gathered at Ridd this week with the aim of carrying out some much needed scrub bashing on the lower canal bed and around the stables.
We were greatly looking forward to trialling our latest acquisition – a powerful motorised strimmer. At its last meeting, the Executive Committee authorised the purchase of this machine to provide volunteers with some additional ‘muscle’ to help maintain the canal. This has become an increasingly onerous task as we have opened up new sections. After setting up the machine, we gave it a trial run on the lower canal bed which had become very overgrown. The machine proved more than equal to the challenge. The powered drive makes it extremely efficient and we strimmed the entire canal bed in less than an hour – something which would have taken several sessions at least with a hand held strimmer. The machine certainly got the thumbs-up from the team and will prove invaluable in helping to keep vegetation under control.
Trialling the powered strimmer
Strimming outside the stables
Canal bed after strimming
Stables after strimming
We spent the rest of the morning clearing a tree which had fallen very inconveniently across the lower incline. The tree was covered in a mass of ivy which had to be stripped first before we could start to remove some of the branches. The main trunk has now been exposed and we hope to tackle this next week. Just another example of the many hazards we have to contend with!
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.
Tackling the fallen tree
The cleared branch