Snow brought work to a halt on Friday, and although other parts of the country were far worse affected, the impacts of Storm Goretti resulted in different conditions each day: snow on Friday, frosty but bright weather on Saturday, and cold, damp and breezy conditions on Sunday. Restoration Project Manager Tom Fulda commented on the challenging weekend.

Overnight snow on Thursday came with Met Office amber warnings across large parts of the country. As a result, the Friday work party was abandoned, apart from four local volunteers who managed to reach site in the afternoon to carry out housekeeping and preparatory tasks. Continued significant rainfall since the December work party meant the channel south of Schoolhouse Bridge remained out of bounds. However, plant activities in the channel north of the bridge were still possible, albeit in muddy conditions. Most volunteers therefore focused on higher ground, where good progress was made on towpath and hedging works.

Building on work completed last month on the Phase 3 towpath, the remaining 100 metres of base layer aggregate (Aggregate 3) was laid and compacted. Attention then turned to laying and compacting aggregate up to the top of the boards. With three deliveries of aggregate having arrived in the compound since the previous work party, there was no risk of material shortages. Prolonged rainfall meant conditions were wet and claggy, making raking both difficult and ineffective, so the aggregate was manually levelled between the boards. Working from Malthouse Bridge back towards the compound, a total of 175 metres has now been completed, representing half of the required length. Progress is expected to become quicker and easier as the remaining distance reduces.

In Phase 2, north of the compound, a mini digger was used to level the towpath area, greatly simplifying the installation of towpath boards. By the end of the work party, 65 metres of boards had been laid and were ready to be filled with aggregate.

Channel profiling also continued in Phase 2 in preparation for lining and blocking works, which will commence once weather conditions improve.

Hedge laying and the planting of whips to fill gaps continued in Phase 2. Brash and arisings from hedge works and overhanging branches on the off-side bank were removed and burned. Several ash trees near overhead power lines, which were suffering from die-back, had been removed by Scottish Power Energy Networks contractors before Christmas. A number of logs and trunks were left in the channel for volunteers and local residents to collect.

Despite the cold weather and some volunteers being snowed in, turnout remained strong and a great deal was achieved. While fresh air is a constant, the range of activities reflects the diversity of the volunteers, with something suitable for everyone, provided they come appropriately dressed.

Anyone interested in becoming a member of the Shropshire Union Canal Society or making a donation to support the restoration work can find more information at shropshireunion.org.uk/membership.

(Pictured) Ebony.