New from the East End
News from the East End
by: Stuart H.
Tuesday 20th July
The Eastern Depot is still in full time log production mode, there’s not a lot more to say, except that the store is filling up fast. Being in the middle of a heatwave isn’t the best time to remind customers that they should be thinking about ordering a load of logs ready for winter, but the nights are drawing in now, it’ll soon be dark on the way home from work
You can order by email to: eastern.depot@cotswoldcanals.org with ‘Eastern Depot Log Sales’ as the subject line, or phone John direct on 07756 974 406. Alternatively call the CCT Office in Stroud on 01453 752568.
Tom, a new volunteer at the depot got the full log production training this monring, another pair of hands is very welcome.
The depot is based in some old farm buildings, one of the features being what looks like a short bell tower perched on the north gable. Was this a way to call the farm workers in from the fields? It seems out of place on what was probably a barn and workshop.
Saturday 24th July
A dedication ceremony took place at Weymoor Bridge on Saturday to unveil a memorial bench and a plaque on the bridge parapet to remember the life of Anthea Best. Anthea and her husband Peter helped to fund the restoration of the bridge, without their generous support it is unlikely that the bridge would have been completed.
Monday 26th July
This week it was round two of the vegetation management between Cerney Wick lock and the finger post sign at South Cerney. This completes the section started last week.
There are quite a few thick patches of Burdock on this section, these plants aren’t the best for strimming as there’s a lot of splatter as they shred.
The County Brook runs just to the side of the towing path, and at one point it meets the River Churn as the two meander close to each other. The meeting point is alongside a retaining wall for the towing path where both sides of the County Brook are walled. At the confluence, the walls are cut out for stop planks. This must have been to control the flow between the two, probably to protect the canal.
Great reedmace, familiar to many as the archetypal ‘bulrush’ has colonised sections of the canal bed. With its tall stems and sausage-like, brown flower heads it may look spectacular, but it’s getting out of hand.
The finishing point for the day was the finger post where the team knocked off last week working down from the Gateway Centre. Off to Siddington for more clearing next week.
