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Large rafts in the weirpool were tackled by an expert canoe crew and an equally expert bank party. Using excellent teamwork the two people in the canoe detached weed and brought it to the shore; two volunteers in the mud at the side of the weirpool brought it onto the bank and two more volunteers dragged it high enough up the slope that it would not get washed back in or continue to grow on damp soil.
The crew of two in the Workboat, after initial outboard engine problems, made it up to Beeleigh in record time.
Five canoes with six eager Weedbusters set off from Beeleigh Lock.
Two parties, each of four people, set out on foot from Beeleigh.
Another four people crewed the Raider down from Hoe Mill.
Again, Weedbusters worked hard both to remove the large rafts of weed which continue to grow at this time of year, as well as hand picking the small growths nestling in the reeds and other waterside vegetation.
In the middle of all the hard work some of the Weedbusters stopped for their well-earned refreshment break
But so keen were other Weedbusters that they worked on through the break, and many of those returning to the water after the break just wouldn't stop at the usual finishing time of 12.30pm (In fact one intrepid Weedbuster was so late home that his wife, assuming he must have drowned, was checking the Insurance Policy!). One of the groups working from the bank, having helped the Workboat through Beeleigh Lock, decided that the lower gates were leaking too much and wouldn't leave until they had emptied the lock again and set the gates to a much better fit - such attention to detail!
Reflecting on the morning's effort most people agreed that a massive amount of weed had again been removed, and having an impressive number of people - 12 - on the water had meant that much otherwise inaccessible weed had been dealt with. However, as always, even more weed could have been busted if we'd had even more boats or canoes.
Another impressive job done by the Chelmer Canal Trust volunteer Weedbusters, The next Weedbusting session is on Saturday, 2nd December - everyone is welcome!
With only about 1 'hours of daylight in which to get the task done, fourteen volunteers got to work with enthusiasm to remove weed that was showing those dangerous signs of prolific growth if not checked. A party of four took the Raider into the weirpool at Hoe Mill and filled the boat with an impressive amount of weed. This area will need careful ongoing management to control the weed as it is rooted in the mud below the shallow water.
A lone canoeist worked valiantly to attack the weed which is starting to grow from the bankside weed beside the meadows downstream of Hoe Mill.
Below Ricketts Lock three people in two canoes not only cleared weed from the lower section of the Ricketts weir stream - further progress having been halted by fallen trees across the stream - but also joined the fourth party of six people who removed significant rafts of weed which had started to grow away from the bank between Ricketts and Beeleigh Locks. Some frustration was caused by the horses which seem to be responsible for treading the weed into the banks where they drink from the river, causing it to root. They seem totally disinterested in eating the weed while it is in the water but ate it enthusiastically when we served it up to them in a giant pile on the bank!
The agreed view of the evening's work was that significant effective weedclearing had taken place and impressive quantities of weed had been removed - but the oft-heard comment was re-inforced yet again - "if only we had more people in boats on the water".
Well Done Everyone!
One of the groups of weedbusters is shown in action:
Trying to estimates how long it would take to do the job was difficult as it depended on how much litter was present and how accessible it was. Some items took longer to remove from the canal than others. Whereas the canoeists could cope with bottles and bags, they need strong bank back up to handle the shopping trolleys, road cones, bike frames, pallets, fire extinguishers and chairs, including one arm chair!
Our mobile communications system, well- honed over the years in dealing with the pennywort, enabled us to coordinate a coffee break at the Holloway Road bridge. Also to use the site as one of the collecting places that we had arranged with Maldon District Council - the other two were to be Tesco bank side and Beeleigh car park. Approximately twenty bags of rubbish were collected at all three sites in addition to the other items mentioned. The Beeleigh area was cleaned by a group from the Inland Waterways Association who had arranged to operate there.
All in all, the canal and its banks were restored to their natural state and no longer constituted an eyesore and a navigational assault course. The splendid example set by the volunteers made the point that if you want to continue to enjoy the pleasures of an attractive environment you sometimes have to make the effort to conserve it. Various onlookers commented upon the good work that was done and said how important such actions and gestures are.
It is a sad fact that a minority of people use the canal as a rubbish dump. Such fly- tipping attitudes are difficult to change. But we can work towards persuading people to take the dreaded plastic bags and bottles home with them or to use litter bins. The fact that one of the most beautiful places in Essex is in danger of being spoilt by lazy and thoughtless people needs constant publicity.
Many thanks to Saturday's volunteers who took matters (rubbish!) into their own hands and made such a valuable contribution towards preserving our heritage.
Dudley Courtman
At the end of the morning we all assembled at the lock to celebrate an historic moment. After constant battling against, what at times looked like overwhelming odds, all visible pennywort had now been removed from 12 miles of waterway from Sandford to Heybrigde Basin. It had taken three years and we had finally made it! Iced champagne was the order of the day- it tasted good! With luck we can now put our chromes away for a little while, hopefully forever, although we won't be able to say the same for the canoes for a little while yet.
This great success was achieved by the fantastic efforts of a loyal and committed team. They are all gold medallists!
Dudley Courtman
A gentle paddle and walk down to Cuton Lock served as a good warm up activity. Once there the canoeists searched the south bank for traces of pennywort,
and the bank party pulled out the cress beds on the north bank( towpath side), starting from the right angled bend half a mile downstream from the lock.
The original attention was to clear the stream above the Hoe mill pond. We were looking forward to it as the previous session, on the stream below
Ricketts weir, had been quite a change from the canal proper. However, our plan had to be modified because the recent heavy rain and snow melt had washed most
of the pennywort away. There not being enough weed left to occupy our main party we diverted it to the grazing meadow upstream of Ulting church.
A party of four was thought to be sufficient to clear the mill stream, especially as it included Nathan, a professional from Goss & Co who had come to give us a hand.
A drainage ditch next to the automatic flood weir was cleared first- this was a new find, and, luckily, was easy to deal with, unlike similar ditches we had encountered upstream.
Our canoe came into its element for reaching the weed where the dense vegetation made the bank inaccessible. In the mill stream the canoeist had to cope with a fast
flowing current and several fallen trees - some limboing was required! In places the tree branches had to be sawn so that the weed could be released and removed. Nathan
went for a swim at one point to guide the weed to a friendly bank! The whole job didn't take too long and at the end we had time to spare for a leisurely chat and coffee.
The chat and coffee experience was also enjoyed by the main party who managed to clean the margins of the grazing field in even quicker time. This area was much infested
with pennywort because the horses which grazed it had trodden down the banks where they drink. In some places they made the surrounding banks so boggy that the weed
had started to spread into the field itself. These places will need special treatment as the weed, although substantially reduced by us, will probably reappear in the spring.
The pound from Rushes lock to Hoe Mill lock, including the mill stream is now nearly completely clear of pennywort.
Very many thanks to everyone for turning up on a damp January day and showing the weed who is in charge. Another very encouraging and pleasing outcome.
SOME CHELMER CANAL TRUST ORGANISED WORK PARTY
REPORTS / PHOTOS TAKEN
DURING 2006.
Weedbusters.
Saturday, 2nd December 2006.
Despite torrential rain increasing the flow of the river the previous weekend, and large amounts of pennywort being washed further downstream, there was plenty of weed left for the 12 volunteers who turned up to deal with it on Saturday, 2nd December.
Weedbusters.
Saturday, 4th November 2006.
The day dawned clear and cold as the November Weedbusting session saw an impressive 20 people turn up to do their weedclearing thing - with one enthusiast, keen to see how we deal with American Pennywort on the Chelmer and Blackwater, travelling from Leicester to join in (look out for an article on Leicester American Pennywort in the next edition of Coates' Cuttings).
Weedbusters.
Saturday, 7th October 2006.
In total ten Weedbusters turned up to tackle the continuing onslaught on the American Pennywort weed on Saturday, 7th October. Three groups went their separate ways to deal with rafts of weed which were starting to grow out from the banks. It is at this time of year that we either manage to get the weed under control, or leave so much that it easily gets the better of us the following year - which is why we need as many volunteers as possible.
Not only was it a pleasant day, but one of celebration too, as we were pleased to have Dudley (looking very healthy) back with us having recuperated from a major operation.
Two intrepid Weedbusters set off from Beeleigh flood gates down towards Heybridge. They did an impressive job, especially on the section between Chapman's Bridge and the bypass bridge. This group weren't content with gathering weed - they collected various branches, a bike and the ubiquitous Tesco trolley (what weedbusting trip on the Long Pond would be complete without the supermarket trolley?!)
Four weedbusters (two in canoes and two working from the bank) dealt with the section from the Beeleigh flood gates up to Ricketts Lock. They managed to remove the main rafts of weed from the Navigation - but a lack of time and human resource meant that they had to leave some American Pennywort to continue growing.
The 'builders afloat' group of four weedbusters started at Hoe Mill and made their way down to Rickets Lock. Again, the amount of weed growing along this section meant that they had to limit their efforts to the larger rafts, but you can see from the photographs that they were enjoying themselves!
Of course, volunteers need refreshments to keep them going - and thanks to Miriam there were plenty to go round - so taking time out for drinks and cakes was important.
All in all an excellent day - but there is still plenty of American Pennywort - and if we can't remove it with our volunteer efforts we'll need to hire a contractor, meaning that '20,000 which could have been spent on other aspects of maintenance and improvement of the Navigation will be spent weed removal (and we don't think the contractors are as careful as we are!)
Weedbusters.
Saturday, 2nd September 2006.
The weather forecast was for high winds and torrential rain, but nevertheless ten intrepid volunteers turned up to continue the battle to stop the invasive American Pennywort taking over the Navigation. In fact, apart from a slight sprinkling of rain, the bad weather held off until milliseconds after we got in our cars and drove away!
From Hoe Mill down towards Ricketts Lock three enthusiastic volunteers crewed the Raider and removed enough weed to fill nearly four builder's bags with weed. They noted that despite their success there was still significant pennywort growing in the reeds fringing the water. Hopefully we can get at this as the reeds die back later in the year.
Two parties set off from Beeleigh Lock. Two volunteers crewed the workboat (towed up the previous night from Heybridge Basin and guarded overnight - its engine is too delicate to be able to make the journey by itself, but too valuable to leave unattended!). They removed impressive amounts of weed from the section of the Long Pond between the flood gates and Chapman's Bridge as well as feasting on greengages and blackberries while they worked!
The pictures show some of the volunteers in action - apologies to the Hoe Mill Raider crew who didn't get into the frame! Our plan to have as many people as possible in the water - where at this time of year the weed can best be accessed - had certainly worked well.
By the end of the morning huge quantities of pennywort had been removed from the Navigation, but as always, there is still a lot we didn't get to, and that will continue to grow. One of the reasons that the pennywort is being kept so effectively under control is that between the organised weedbusting sessions, individual weedbusters go out by themselves, patrolling sections of the Navigation and removing what they can.
Weedbusters.
Wednesday, 16th August 2006.
The target areas for the latest Weedbusters' work on Wednesday, 16th August were from Hoe Mill to the Langford water intake below Ricketts lock.
Work Party Report - Litter Pick at Heybridge
Sat 1st April 2006
We managed to avoid the early morning downpour by not starting at our usual time of 9-30am- a fortuitous bit of planning! With the eventual sunshine came the litter pickers in abundance - an inspiring turn out of twenty five volunteers, including six canoeists. A survey during the week had confirmed that both banks of the canal downstream of Tesco, as far as the Wave bridge, were very polluted with rubbish and litter. The upstream stretch to Beeleigh was not so badly affected. So the plan was to work downstream first and to see how we got on. Just as we started an Essex youth group arrived, so they were able to work on the upstream stretch as well.
Swans amongst the litter
Dont Throw Rubbish in the Canal!
The Beeleigh team with their pile!
The Tesco pile!Work Party Report - Sandford March 4th 2006
"Farewell to Chromes?"
This was to be a celebratory occasion, the completion of the final part of the battle to clear the invasive pennywort from 12 miles of waterway.
WORK PARTY REPORT 4th FEBRUARY 2006
Cuton Lock to Stonham's Lock
The work party met at Sandford Lock. The idea was to move down to Cuton lock, below which there were large masses of cress mixed with pennywort.
We had a good turn out, three canoeists and a sizable bank party: all had braved the cold, grey, February morning to come and see how the work they
started last year was progressing - they were not to be disappointed. We were pleased to welcome a new recruit, Sophie, from Chelmsford County High School;
she wanted to make a contribution towards her community service project.
The canoeists really had to look hard to find any pennywort. Only a few small individual plants were found, usually hidden amongst other floating weed in quiet corners.
It was so reassuring to realize that the river was virtually clean and that only a few small plants still remained. (see photos).The smallness of the plants made them very difficult
to see when they were mixed up amongst the cress. We knew from our regular surveys that they were there somewhere, so to make sure we got the pennywort we pulled out
all of the cress. Needless to say there were quite a few pennywort plants hiding amongst it.
The marginal cress beds are a natural habitat for the pennywort: it was due to them that the Long Pond became impassable. The pennywort hitches a lift and grows out from
the margins of the cress which is denser and doesn't extend too far from the bank into the main current or deep water. The floating pennywort is more buoyant and is able to
spread well out into the river - as we well know.
The bank party worked hard and managed to clear the cress from the north bank all the way to Stonhams Lock- an excellent effort as there was a lot of cress. Their sterling
efforts, combined with the handpicking of the canoeists, insured that the whole pound was cleaned completely of visible pennywort. Yes, it's true, not a leaf to be seen from
Cuton to Stonhams. This is a first! An historic moment in the Pennywort Campaign. Congratulations everyone! A team photo was taken to prove that "I was there".
WORK PARTY REPORT 7th JANUARY 2006
Hoe Mill mill stream and the grazing meadow west of Ulting church
The first Saturday of the New Year saw us all assembled beside the lock at Hoe Mill on a damp, overcast, chilly day- just right for tackling pennywort!
CLICK HERE FOR SOME CHELMER CANAL TRUST ORGANISED WORK PARTY REPORTS / PHOTOS TAKEN
DURING 2005 .