Short notice, but the next workday will be Sunday 6th July at 12:30. Just an hour snipping back any encroaching brambles that are growing towards the path. Meet at the usual place where the notice board used to be.
I know that this clashes with a load of sporting events, but I will take my chances.
Got some exciting news about another conservation project that I am about to start. Hopefully have more details tomorrow.
Look forward to seeing whoever fancies it tomorrow.
Paul
The Rugby Sustrans group are doing some work on the greenway and we are invited along to help.
The plan is to try and connect the Western Relief Road cycle path to the greenway via a ramp by the bridge that goes over the Coventry Road (Home Rule For Crick bridge).
Meeting at 10am on Saturday 5th April and 11am on Sunday 6th April.
This is the springboard that we need to get back on it.
Everyone in welcome for whatever time you can give.
I am guessing a spade would be a useful thing to bring along.
See you there.
Paul
Today I ran down to the boggy bit from the Cawston end with GPS, and then down to the boggy bit from the Draycote end. It seems like we have about a quarter of a mile of really boggy water-logged ground that we need to work around.
We can either try and drain this patch, or route the path onto higher ground. The latter is a better option because it means we maintain a diverse habitat for wildlife.
I will post the next workday day soon but getting down towards Draycote is a fair way so bikes are really needed. I might just brush-cut a path myself and get it done.
We are making massive progress and a massive thanks to Andy with his brushcutter and Andy at Dunchurch Station.
Keep your eyes peeled for the next workday!
Paul
Exceptional workday – we thrashed nettles back from the picnic clearing all the way up to the entrance. It was hard work but we made it to the end. We also pulled the picnic bench back up to the top of the embankment.
Thanks to the guy with the brushcutter who has blasted a path through the section between Dunchurch Station and Draycote. It will not be long before we break through.
Looking at the greenway today, I have decided that I want to cut back everything on the plateau of the embankment. There is enough bank with mature trees and scrub so we will not lose anything.
The same with the base of the cuttings. Just clear it all out and slowly edge out the banks.
Great day today – thanks for all who came and helped (sorry no photos but the camera battery gave up!).
Paul
Time is upon is to start cutting back the greenway again.
The first workday will be Sunday 22nd September 1pm to 4pm. Meet under the bridge in the picnic clearing and work down towards the A45. Probably a good idea to come on a bike because it is a bit of a way to get back.
Any new volunteers who wish to join us are more than welcome to get stuck in.
Paul
Bit of an odd workday today with little direction. My fault – my head is on other things, but we did a good job of pushing back the path.
Believe it or not there are four of us working today, not that you can see us. With all the rain the greenway is growing quickly and we need to push the path back as much as we can.
Next workday is Sunday 9th June at 3pm at the picnic clearing, working down towards Potford’s Dam just clearing nettles. CANCELLED – SORRY DOUBLE BOOKED MYSELF!!!!
Thanks to all who made it today.
Paul
We has a lovely turn-out today with seven or so of us all arriving on our bikes. It just feels great to cycle down to a workday with minimal kit. Real bare-bones stuff. We got down to the what is probably the goods yard of the old Dunchurch railway station. Another 100 yards or so and we will be there.
Everyone working hard to cut back the nettles and scrub. Once we get to the station the terrain changes and we are confronted with a lot of standing water. However, we really need to pull back and maintain the path in the Cawston bit of the greenway on the next workday.
You can see from the picture, what a lovely path to Draycote this is. I urge you to come along and get involved. It’s fun, it’s exercise and it’s community – the very thing that keeps us all rubbing along and making friends along the way. And once we recognise that we are a community, we will start to see skill-sets and attributes in each other that we can draw on and utilise.
The next workday is Thursday 30th May at 10am thrashing the nettles on the Cawston bit of the greenway. Meet at the picnic clearing and work down towards Potford’s Dam.
Thanks to all who made it today. I do believe I have a bit of a tan so a good day all round 🙂
Paul
Great turn out today with six of us pushing on down the path. It reminded me of the early days on the greenway when we were just ripping out scrub week after week.
This is probably as wide as we can go at this point in the season, it will be nice to push out further when the bird nesting season is over, if we can get the man hours in, however the task for now is just to get to the end. Again, I remember well that goal whilst doing the greenway.
It was rather nice that we all biked down to the workday and it felt like being a shoolboy, when we all plonked our bikes down and started working.
Next workday is Sunday 26th May at 1pm. Start where we finished today and just keep pushing on.
Thanks to all who made it today. Good community spirit from all of us.
Paul
I am just putting up the pics of the flooded bit to see if anyone who sees them, has any ideas about how to tackle this bit.
Thanks for looking and any ideas welcomed.
Paul
Just me and Margaret on Sunday, but we got a bit done and also had a good look around on the section between Potford’s Dam and Dunchurch Station. This section is dry and just needs the scrub pushing back in places.
This shot shows scrub that needs to be cut back. It is just a bit too close for comfort.
This shot shows areas that are naturally clear already. It’s not a big job on this section but there are some big jobs further on.
In this shot you can just see the glint of Cawston Reservoir. It is going to be a big ask to get a zig-zag path down the steep bank to allow access and then further on is Cawston Bluebell Wood.
As I mentioned in the last blog, I have found drainage on the section from Dunchurch Station to Draycote. There is also a stream, so getting the water off the path should be manageable, in theory.
Priority now though is to cut back the bit to the old station. Just ease back the scrub so people can get through without getting snagged on brambles.
Next workday is Saturday 18th May at 11:30 meeting at Potford’s Dam and pushing on. Next workday after this one is Sunday 26th May at 1pm and I reckon we could have it done by then.
Finally as a little teaser, this is a pic of Cawston Reservoir close up. It will be well worth creating an access down to it.
Paul
Cawston Greenway 