Flowing again

Thursday 4^th September

Almost all of the team attended on what initially looked like it would be the wettest day we have worked for a long time.

Ian, Martin and Jonathan took on the completion of the clearance of the down side low mileage toe ditch at the River Isbourne bridge (21A). This is the ditch that runs alongside the Winchcombe Industrial estate, with Winchcombe Reclamation being the immediate adjoining premises. They finished the vegetation clearance right up to the B4632 main road. This revealed an old gate from the roadside, however it is immediately above the ditch, so of no use for access with mechanical plant. The group cleared the two sections of ditch that was obstructed with soil; and also removed an obstruction at the end of the (non railway) culvert that runs under the B4632 road. The result of this was that water began to flow down the ditch, although slowly. Apart from the River Isbourne, this was the only flowing water the team encountered today.

The old gate is just visible above where the toe ditch ends. [Photo by Jonathan]

With the exit from the culvert under the road cleared, water begins flowing down the ditch. [Photo by Jonathan]

Ian (l) and Martin showing how shallow the River Isbourne still is. [Photo by Jonathan]

An afternoon task was the cataloguing of our stock of tubes for the manufacture of safety rails and markers. Some of this is bespoke handrail tube, but most of recycled scaffold poles.

The other seven attendees undertook the culvert and cross drain visual inspections and clearance for the day. They travelled north to Little Buckland; where they split into to teams. Dave, Nigel and Peter headed south to deal with cross drains 5D and 6A at Laverton; also clearing the up side toe drain chambers north of bridge 6. 

Nigel on the brushcutter clears around the 6A exit chamber whilst Peter removes a sapling with the loppers. [Photo by Dave] 

The end result - chamber lids exposed and access cleared.

Roger, John, Polly and Andrew headed north to Peasebrook to attend to cross drain 3A. On the way they cleared around the now disused field access on the down side – this to ensure we can safely turn our vehicles here. This reduces the distance travelled in reverse between Little Buckland and Peasebrook. Next item for clearing was the length of the down side toe ditch between cross drain 5B and the northern most foot crossing. Even after the rain over the past few days; there was no water in this ditch.

Adhering to our confined spaces procedure, Roger enters the exit chamber of 3A whilst John holds the gas detection unit.

John tidying around the down side of the northern most foot crossing at Little Buckland. 

All seven then met up at Meadow Lane bridge for lunch – slightly extended to await the passing of a short but heavy shower of rain. After lunch the final structure for clearing and inspecting was the syphon cross drain 6C, which is just north of Stanton Fields bridge (7).

The inspection and clearing team (well 5 out of the 7) finish off and start packing up at 6C. Stanton Fields bridge 7 in background.

Wildlife report: No interesting mammal sightings today. At Little Buckland we noted a buzzard hunting over the adjacent field, so probably there are some small mammals there. The work at Stanton Fields disturbed a family of crows. The most numerous creatures we encountered were arachnids. Every chamber we inspected seemed to have a resident spider or two. 

Apologies to anyone suffering from Arachnophobia.