This really is the last time that I am going to hump bags of Postcrete about.

If not, it will probably be the end of me!!

We cracked on with the smashed-up picnic bench replacement just north of The Bear bridge. Rather than fork out for a new bench, or try to fix up the broken bench and get into a cat-and-mouse game with the naughty squirrels, we used Rich’s very kind “buy-me-a-coffee” donation to fund building three benches that are as strong as heavy plow horses. If these bad-boys get damaged then I’ll be the one blowing the bugle, because I ain’t spending no more time and money at this end trying to make it nice for people.

And no need to send the grammar police, the double negative was on purpose. I’m far too much of an optimistic fool.

I was a little worried that the triangle would not be equilateral and my OCD would surface and bug me for an eternity. Luckily, we got it there or thereabouts, and we all thought it looked pretty good.

Marcus did a massive litter pick from Berrybanks to the northern end.

Reappearing just as the coffee was calling out “drink me…”

It’s always nice to see a new bench set launched with coffee and tasty treats. A little bit of a baptism and a welcome to years of loyal service, and a commitment from us that we will look after them.

The little stream is back!!

However, when I popped down later in the day it had stopped flowing and was starting to dry out again. I sat at the new benches and the birdsong was utterly magical.

This trio of benches is of course for everyone, but hopefully like the quad of benches, it’s somewhere that local youth can hang out and just chill without causing conflict with anyone else. I’m going to make some seats/stools out of old pallets to go under The Bear bridge so they have somewhere to sit when it rains.

All-in-all, a cracking morning.

Dunchurch Bridleway

We did a fair bit of work on this during our Friday workday. A total of 230 metres strimmed back to allow people to walk side-by-side and not be brushing up against bramble, grass with bitey things hiding in it, and nettles.

We really are deep into the countryside here, with a wood to the north and plenty of public right of way footpaths going from the path, into the wood.

We only want to go as far as the RofW path R168, which connects the bridleway to the greenway.

The easterly end of the Dunchurch Bridleway connects to the National Cycle Network 41, so it really is our umbilical-cord to the big world out there.

And that really is that, for another week.

Please do pop along if you want to see what we’re all about, or just fancy a coffee and a chat. We’re all pretty much laid-back and chilled. I would hate to think of anyone wanting to join in but a little bit of anxiety is holding them back. I know, because that is me all over.

Next week we are at the Cawston Bridleway bridge ploughing on northwards with the path edges.

Until then,

Paul