“A book-ended weekend,” said restoration project manager Tom Fulda. “Aided by record volunteer numbers and favourable weather, the March work party saw several activities coming to an end while others began.”

Saturday’s attendance reached 31 volunteers – the highest ever for this project outside of work parties supported by corporate volunteers. We welcome young people (accompanied by guardians), and three Duke of Edinburgh Award candidates are now regularly attending. The age range of volunteers spans more than 70 years, demonstrating that there is something for everyone.

The final phase of this winter’s environmental programme saw further hedge laying and hedge planting. With strong teamwork and effective instruction, five new hedge layers have quickly developed their skills over the course of the season, producing excellent results. In total, 125 metres of hedge have been laid.

Towpath work has also concluded for the time being. Since November, 485 metres of towpath have been resurfaced. Apart from a short section near the current Schoolhouse Bridge compound and through the bridge itself – where a wash wall will be constructed later this year – the entire 1,100-metre stretch between Crickheath Bridge and Malthouse Bridge has now been resurfaced.

Attention has now turned to new activities. After several consecutive dry days, ground conditions in the channel were finally suitable for lining and blocking to begin. Even some overnight rainfall before the Friday start did not have a significant impact. Friday was spent on preparatory work, including further profiling of the channel and cutting the various liners to size in the compound.

This part of the site has no haul road, which requires several adjustments to working methods. Blocks are delivered from the compound along the bed of the channel, while the largest liners – colloquially known as “carpet” – must be carried manually to the work area along the towpath. The blocks extend to just below the waterline. Above them, the liners are secured with large aggregate (riprap) and covered with soil.

For the towpath bank, this material is delivered by power barrow, but on the offside bank both stone and soil must be placed manually using buckets. Space in the channel is restricted and, while lining and blocking operations are underway, excavators cannot operate within the channel to carry out profiling. As a result, further channel profiling will be completed in advance of the next work party.

Work began on Saturday, continuing from the previously lined and blocked channel in Phase 1B. Joining a newly restored section to an existing one can be intricate work, but by the end of the work party a further 25 metres had been lined and blocked, with riprap placed on the offside bank. Sufficient liner has already been cut in preparation for the next work party.