Nicely therapeutic workday snipping back anything growing into the path. We worked from the Rotherham Close entrance to the underpass, and back.
The wider the path, the further people can see ahead and the less intimidating it becomes. Sustrans recommend 1 to 2 metres.
Looking up and down. It feels nice and open.
I am in the process of trying to do something with the underpass. Just waiting for some ideas bouncing back and forth with Sustrans to formalise.
Will keep everyone posted.
Paul
From next week we are back loving our fantastic nature trail. We have loads to do and limited numbers allowed, so we will just have to do what we can.
Last week I got the connection to the Dunchurch Bridleway sorted.
As soon as the bulbs arrive, we will be creating a wonderful area. Until then we need to cut back the wildflower areas and also rescue the bench that was thrown down the embankment.
In my mind’s eye, from now to December, the above, and from Jan to March just cut the brambles right back.
Hope to see the many path users soon.
Paul
Two person workdays are allowed, so we put a bench in with an amazing view.
Lots of work to get it straight and flat.
Followed by a coffee and Jaffa Cake break
This is where our English snowdrops and English bluebells will start from. I can see myself spending a lot of time here over the next few months. Not that I am complaining!
Paul
We can now have workdays but only with two people and very limited tasks. I am not doing anything until the kids are back at school anyway. When they are back I will put my phone number on the workdays and if anyone wants to join me it will have to be on a first-come – first-serve basis. This is a pleasing step in the right direction.
Today I put our third batch of rocks out. They are absolutely superb and hope that they bring a smile to your face.
I hope you enjoy searching for them.
Paul
Batch two of Maggy Anne Rocks have gone in…
A link to the facebook page is here https://www.facebook.com/Maggy-Anne-Rocks-102238844924141/
Some are well hidden and some are easy to find. Go have fun searching for them!!
Paul
Not really a workday, just a stroll and seeing what needs fixing…
Got permission to create a hole in the hedge to connect with a Right of Way up to Dunchurch Nature Trail.
This is Right of Way R168x which has been the bane of my life for the last 10 years…
We have a new partner Maggy Anne Rocks https://www.facebook.com/Maggy-Anne-Rocks-102238844924141/ so please like the page and spread the love.
Loads more good stuff coming your way.
We keep trying to make this place the best ever experience for everyone.
Paul
This week was just a bit of “light touch” maintenance. Actually staining one of the picnic benches.
I will give it another coat and do the underside, on my next visit.
It was a good time to enjoy the path. Over the last ten years, we have cleared a horribly overgrown and nasty rubbish tip and turned it into an interesting biodiverse nature trail.
We have permission to route around the corner of the field near the irrigation pond to get to Dunchurch Nature Trail, and all of the Right of Way paths that lead from this. Please do not trespass onto the land around the irrigation pond.
There is further to venture, or just enjoy the Cawston Nature Trail for what it is.
These are the guides that we work from. Written by experts who understand how to create a balance between totally wild, managed scrub control and a path that is usable by the general public.
Sustrans are still advising that no group workdays can take place. As soon as I hear that we are allowed back as groups I will post up regular weekly workdays again.
Plenty of good stuff in the pipeline that I am just itching to share, but I do not want to spoil the surprise. Keep your eyes peeled!!
Paul
Sustrans have given us the green light to work on the disused railway, but not as a group (unless from the same household) and only to do very light work. A great step forwards.
I started at Potford Dam and have been slowly making my way up the path snipping back brambles. I have got to Berrybanks so far.
There is plenty of evidence where others have been lightly cutting back, or picking up litter, so well done everyone.
The greenway is getting a huge amount of use over this last few months and this is keeping it pretty open and wide. Plenty of people thanking us as a team for creating it, too.
I have tried to capture the amazingness of the path with a couple of video-clips.
It is just another level of interest that might engage people. I will get a handlebar camera for my bike and see what fun I can have with that.
THE DUNCHURCH BIT
Those who know me, will know that I am near-obsessive that a path must lead somewhere, and not just peter out in the middle of nowhere.
With this in mind, I have hooked up to the Dunchurch Bridleway that connects with National Cycle Network 41 and takes the route onwards towards Leamington Spa, or cuts back into Dunchurch with plenty of Rights of Way paths to get back to Cawston.
I snipped back bramble runners on the Dunchurch Bridleway bit so it is all good to go.
Great to be back out there and really looking forward to when we are allowed to become a working group again.
Paul
Just managed to catch up with my emails and Sustrans are asking for no volunteering that involves social interaction.
We can do stuff on an individual basis, but not together.
Dave, Marcus and Paul made it this week and we got a load of wildflower seeds down. It was hedge bedstraw and lady’s bedstraw that David from Sustrans gave us last year. This is a good food source for our bloody nosed beetles. I also had a load of locally collected wildflower seeds. however, I cannot remember what they are apart from ox-eye daisy.
It will be a nice surprise in the summer!!
Other than that, we just had a general tidy up and coffee break.
And kept the bird feeders topped up.
Well, that’s it. I feel quite deflated but our health is the most important thing to consider.
I will keep everyone posted.
Paul
Cawston Greenway 