News
Work Party Report - January |
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| Posted by Merlin (Merlin) on 9th January, 2012 | |
| News >> Restoration |
January's working party was at the familiar (to volunteers that is) location of the eastern portal of Hincaster tunnel. The Lancaster Canal Trust has a contract with English Heritage and British Waterways to maintain the horse path over the tunnel which is a scheduled ancient monument. A visit earlier in the week by Trevor Cotton had immediately identified a number of trees that had come down in the recent high winds. As Trevor, who is one of our registered chain saw operators, would be unable to make the weekend work party he set to with his wife to undertake some initial clearance.
The six volunteers on the Sunday started work on clearing the cut branches and getting a getting a fire started. Anything suitable for burning on a household fire was separated and cut up ready for taking away. Steady work through the day saw the initial pile of branches reduced to ash and a growing pile of logs ready for collection.
Trevor will actually be returning during the week with a couple of helpers to cut up some of the larger logs with his chainsaw as well as fell a tree further up the path that has been damaged by the wind and needs to cut down for safety.
The team also examined a coping stone that had been knocked off the horse path tunnel parapet but unfortunately, although the necessary limestone mortar was available, it was deemed that the stone was too heavy to lift without mechanical assistance.
Fortunately the weather stayed dry all day and it was relatively warm for the time of year. Many thanks to Richard, Alistair, David, David, John and Mike, and to Trevor for his chain saw work.
