Work Party Report

Athina Beckett

In October we shall be returning to Cosgrove, meeting at 10.00 to collect the tools from the shed by Cosgrove Lock and then moving to a new site next to the A5. So if you arrive late (e.g. after 10.30) directions for the site are as follows: at the sharp left hand turn to Cosgrove turn right down the track, drive down as far as you can then park and walk to the bottom of the track , turn left walking parallel to the A5 and meet us at the work site just before the farm gate.

We have had some highs and lows with the work parties at Buckingham. We lost a month and a half because of the foot and mouth and when we did start up again numbers were down. But things have improved gradually and we are now getting ten people out on our Wednesday work parties.

In August we had to cancel the work party because of bad weather. This was a great shame because three new people had rang and expressed an interest in coming and we had an extra group of people travelling up from Bicester to help and were also expecting the Brackley Post to cover it: therefore it was especially sad having to cancel.

On the bright side the landowner Nick Hawes loaned us the use of his excavator plus of one his men so we were able to remove most of the tree roots from the bed of the canal which would have taken for ever hand-winching them out. We hope to have the use of the excavator once more to finish to job.

The organisers of Buckingham Heritage Weekend have included a walk along side the canal which coincides with our Sunday work party, so perhaps we can pick up more members then including hopefully a few who enjoy digging!

Back at Cosgrove there are a couple of 'extras' planned. On Saturday 27th October there will be another MADD day, and on the weekend of 17-18th November BITM WRG will be paying us a visit. So as well as the usual Wednesdays and Sundays please try to make these extra days and join in with a different group of people.