Canal Cuttings
After a record dry summer, we had a record wet winter. So the reservoirs are full again and canal levels well up – sometimes too well up. However, that was the case this time last year, so we hope that the same scenario does not play out. It is good to see boats through the locks again and activity that has been sadly lacking since they closed due to water shortage last August. Some unseasonably warm weather also brought the visitors out now that there is something for them to see. Unfortunately the wet weather has not been kind to the towpaths and footpaths. The all-encompassing mud is a bit of a hazard.
Canal and River Trust (CRT) volunteers have been doing quite a lot of conservation work. This involved cutting back vegetation, and laying some hedges. According to the old British Waterways rule book, towpath hedges should be 4 ft high. This provides adequate stock protection, but clear sight lines for boaters. It would be wonderful if we could get back to that, as views out over our glorious Leicestershire countryside are now very much restricted. Work will cease soon as the nesting season starts. Hopefully at least one of our pairs of swans will nest again – if they can stop fighting each other. We were pleased to see two pairs of Goosander ducks this winter. We hope that they might stay around, although anglers are not so pleased, as they are fish-eaters.
Elsewhere on the canal system…
Elsewhere on the canal system this winter there have been some headline-making failures of canal embankments. Most notably, on the Llangollen canal at Whitchurch, where three boats were swept into the breach. Local firm Crouch’s of Kibworth were involved in their recovery. This of course will incur CRT huge expense to rectify. Some national publicity has highlighted the need for more government aid for the important asset of our inland waterways.
The Foxton Canal Museum has managed to secure enough funds through crowd-funding and donations to keep going this year, with reduced opening times. The Museum volunteers plan to open from Easter weekend and over the summer months. Volunteers are urgently needed to try and keep the facility open as much as possible. The work is interesting – volunteers welcome visitors from all over the world and help them to discover the Inclined Plane, including why and how it was built. The popular trails for families and site tours will still be a feature, and educational workshops for schools are taking place during term time.
There was a floating market above the top lock over the Easter weekend, with the usual collection of boats selling unusual things.
Mary Matts
