The plan was to move upstream, working from boats and the bank, clearing litter and weed as we went. Again, we were well resourced with three boats and a coracle on the water and a large number of people on the bank – nineteen volunteers in total (and two of our regular volunteers had rushed back from the Royal Opera House to join us).

But at last we were off, with the volunteers on the bank making fast progress and those on the water finding that their task was somewhat more fiddly and time-consuming.

The general view from those on the bank was that there was not much litter for them to collect – possibly because the paths had been cleared recently, possibly because not a lot of litter had been dropped, but more probably because the growth of the bank-side vegetation had obscured much of what had been brought downstream by the floods.

Some of what was found was just too big to deal with (but if someone is interested in earning the scrap value of a long (and heavy) piece of cable – be our guest – its about Ό mile downstream of Barnes Mill)

Having worked so swiftly, many of the bank party were ready to return to Sandford

But then the call came through that bags of rubbish and other detritus, possibly left uncollected from previous litter-picks, were waiting to be thrown back in the river just upstream of Barnes Mill Lock. So, with time running short, the workboat was diverted from normal duties and asked to go to collect it.

Some stalwarts were ready to load the boat

And in double-quick time the workboat was loaded up and this extra, impressive, haul was taken back down to Sandford Lock.

As the first of our RiverCare contributions it seemed that our efforts had met with approval!

For many it had been a good evening. At the very least, there had been the opportunity to talk to the press. The walk up to Barnes Mill Lock and back again had been enjoyed and the total number of bags collected was impressive.

But this being Sandford there was an extra bonus – a much appreciated supply of hot drinks and cakes to end the evening off! Thank you!

The task for this workparty was to continue the litter-picking of the previous month. Some PW had been spotted in feeder streams and ditches further upstream, but much of this had been dealt with by our intrepid, and original, volunteer Dudley.

It was another event of perfect resources - three boats, a canoe and a coracle with the labour of a total of 14 volunteers (including the very important refreshment-provider and Stella the dog). Two of our regular volunteers had decided that they liked being on the water so much that they were off trying larger boats in wider expanses of water.

Moving steadily downstream from Paper Mill, and taking great care not to disturb nesting birds, our volunteers were able to work from boats and from the bank.

Reminders of how high the floodwaters had been were still present - as was the rubbish that had been intercepted by objects in its way

Meanwhile, two of our most regular regulars were working upstream from Hoe Mill

A lot of thinking went on

Meeting up at Rushes Lock for the mid-morning break all of our volunteers looked like they were enjoying themselves (including the dog!) - probably because of the continuing excellent standard of refreshments!

It was good to have Dudley back working with us.

Our Hoe Mill boat headed back home, collecting remaining litter on the way

And our Paper Mill transport also headed back to base - but not before they had dealt with some high-rise debris (the result of high-jinx rather than high water, presumably)

It had been another good day's litter-picking. Practically all visible litter between Paper Mill and Hoe Mill had been removed - another five bags of rubbish being the fruits of our labours.

With the Navigation still having such small amounts of Floating American Pennywort (henceforth referred to as PW) that we can leave it for another month, our efforts were again to be directed towards litter-picking (to the great delight of some of our volunteers). Paper Mill Lock was chosen as the starting point and volunteers began to arrive early

There was probably the best mix of volunteers that such a workparty can comprise - three people to crew Buster (the workboat part- owned by the Chelmer Canal Trust), a volunteer in a canoe, another in a coracle and two volunteers on the bank.

Passing a group of volunteer colleagues from Essex Waterways Recovery Group who were there to do some work on fallen trees and blocked streams our party headed downstream to do the business on the rubbish that had been washed down in the floods.

The two volunteers on the bank were so fast and went so far that even the telephoto lens on the camera couldn't catch them in action. Meanwhile the volunteers in the coracle and the canoe did a thorough job removing rubbish in and near the water.

And the crew on Buster moved around wherever they were needed to collect rubbish from the bank, the water and the trees

What at one point looked like it was a piece of water-level monitoring kit turned out to be an ice maker, but like the hire boat which passed us we couldn't find the power supply and so the Navigation remained ice free for another day (however did it get there?!!)

With good progress being made it was time to collect the matching-capped volunteers on the bank from a distinctive tree, empty a bin with the most disgusting contents and head back upstream for the refreshments.

With due attention being paid to hygiene as a result of the previous bin emptying, refreshments were quickly prepared and swift progress was made working through the excellent range of cakes provided earlier by two further volunteers who provide vital (victual?) support to our work parties. Luckily we had all that was needed to prepare the drinks!

Onward and inward after the coffee break - observing all necessary Health and Safety guidelines our volunteers showed the same tenacity needed to remove litter from deep in the undergrowth as has been seen before when clearing vegetation.

With the addition of a wheelie-bin and the black sack contributions of our bankside and coracle volunteers it was soon time to head back to Paper Mill.

Not a bad morning's work - although we didn't find favour with the locals who, quite understandably, weren't too happy about even more rubbish being dumped temporarily near their boats.

En route our heroes collected a substantial load of "goodies" from Barnes Mill lock and duly arrived on time with the first haul of the day.

Our regular bag lady was there to greet us however, someone was missing and a search party was sent out - to no avail.

No doubt a bleating excuse will be made by a very sheepish member in due course.

Onto the boat and soon we realised that because of the recent floods a busy time lay ahead.

Our first stop, the sluice gates, which yielded rich pickings.

Then on down river, working the banks and meeting up with our man in the coracle who can reach the parts that other boaters only dream of.

As anticipated there was a lot for us to clear

We did manage to to get ourselves a TV but reception was very poor

Our haul for the morning,before brunch, included 2 bags of recyclables, 4 bags of rubbish, 1 tent, 1 roadsign, a laptop bag and the TV

Despite the appalling weather it was a very successful workparty and of course the bacon butties, courtesy of the Sea Scouts, were mouthwatering lifesavers.

With no pennywort in evidence our plan was to work on the overhanging vegetation which, if left, will offer an anchor to floating weed later in the season. The task was not easy, with our volunteers having to contend with a mixture of blackthorn and brambles, frequently not only intertwined above the water, but often also extensively rooted under the water.

Having cut back vegetation which would soon be dipping in to the water(but avoiding exposing potential nesting sites) the 'spoil' was either towed away to where it could be easily removed or thrown onto the bank' One of our volunteers went ashore to rake, burn and pillage. However, we don't burn - as vegetation left on the bank forms useful habitats for a range of wildlife, pillaging was out as there was nowhere pillageable in sight, and so the simple act of raking vegetation, important as it was, was all that was left.

It was slow progress, but work which would potentially pay off later in the season, and with a range of techniques being used to deal with the challenges.

With one of our regular and enthusiastic litter-pickers unable to be with us it was good to be joined by a bank-side volunteer who had no difficulty filling black sacks with a range of detritus.

Eventually we had more than earned our refreshments which as usual were ample, and although they presented something of a (very acceptable) challenge - there is a maximum number of hot cross buns and chocolate chip cookies that any volunteer can eat - like all of our challenges our volunteers rose to the task!

Refreshments over our volunteers returned with enthusiasm to the task in hand, and despite one or two near-wettings, trimmed a considerable amount of vegetation further along the bank. As always, there was more we could have done if there had been more volunteers, but nevertheless it was a good day's work, and a satisfied group of volunteers, having rescued the tools and emptied the workboat, returned to Hoe Mill.

The plans had to be somewhat curtailed though as the flow of the water over the lock meant that the original plan (to take the Raider downstream of Hoe Mill Lock and work on overhanging vegetation) had to be shelved - it would have been impossible to open the lock gates,

If the Raider couldn't be taken downstream it should at least have been possible to use the towpath (or so we thought) and with loppers and litter pickers we set off.

However, progress was blocked by the very swollen river which had completely overflowed the towpath making any further progress downstream impossible. Not to be outdone, and wanting to make sure they put sufficient effort in to the session, our volunteers headed upstream from Hoe Mill where the litter picking was particularly productive. However, just when they were getting into the swing of things, progressing upstream, that swollen river restricted their progress one more time.

Those who know what the weir usually looks like might like to see how it was on this particular day

The water that didn't go over the weir went round it

So our volunteers returned to Hoe Mill pleased with their haul of litter

Restricted by floods upstream and floods downstream the only thing left was to stop for refreshments - which were served on the bridge by the Mayor of Maldon!

And that was about it - although wanting to see how extensive the flooding was two of the team travelled round to Beeleigh and walked upstream.

Ricketts Lock was overflowing well

(the opposite bank of the river is where the thin line of reeds just pokes from the water - the 'field' is beyond the reeds!)

Starting from Heybridge Basin the plan had been to work along the Long Pond with a group on either bank and a group on our workboat, Buster, all collecting whatever Pennywort weed and rubbish was in their range. However, the thickness of ice on the Long Pond meant that use of Buster was not necessarily going to be practical. So the Heybridge crowd decided to do without the workboat and got tooled up ready for the morning ahead.

We were pleased that THE original Chelmer Canal Trust volunteer was able to join us and, having collected rubbish sacks he headed of to Beeleigh to see what rubbish could be found there.

Back at the Long Pond four volunteers tackled the tow path side, clearing any visible weed and a not inconsiderable amount of rubbish

Three volunteers dealt with the opposite bank, working along the canal-side where access to the water was possible and clearing litter back down to the Lake where it was not.

(tho the frost was cru-el!)

Eventually both groups met up at Hall Bridge

Further progress was made up to the Wave Bridge at Bentalls before returning to Heybridge Basin with three sacks of rubbish. Both groups, it turned out, were slightly perplexed by one aspect of their litter picking - why do some dog owners collect their dog's mess in a bag and then hurl it into the bushes to hang there until the bag decomposes?

In the meantime, working on his own at Beeleigh, Dudley had found the inevitable treasure-trove of rubbish which he set about with a vengeance.

Easily outdoing the Long Pond groups Dudley collected four sacks of rubbish.

With everyone returning to Heybridge Basin it was time for refreshments. Much-appreciated cakes and drinks were served by the Mayor of Maldon, one of our regular volunteers.

Lack of access to one section of the bank had meant that it had been impossible to collect some of the rubbish, including a signpost, which had been spotted further up the Long Pond and, perfectionists to the last, our volunteers decided to make an attempt at retrieving it using Buster. With Buster doubling up as an Ice-Breaker, and with a feeling that the ice must now have melted sufficiently, she made it as far as the Daisy Meadow landing stage, and the crew were on board, ready to smash their way through the frozen wastes.

However, careful analysis of the thickness of the ice (i.e. a carefully-aimed blow with a crome) indicated that it was still much too thick to justify the fuel and disturbance that would be needed to venture up the Long Pond and so Buster was returned to her moorings beside the crane to end a cold, but successful, morning's work.