Plenty to do and we were able to deploy our volunteers across a range of tasks. Two initially on either bank fishing out pennywort from between the moored boats, two in their canoe and a team of three in one work boat and four in another.

But before all of that, even before most had arrived, some of our volunteers were heading off to get the second work boat, WORKBOAT, ready for action.

Then when all had arrived and with the equipment distributed, WORKBOAT's crew were ferried across to her.

Next, the trip up the Long Pond to get to where the action was going to be!

Eagle-eyed pennywort-spotters can identify a small strand of pennywort from a distance.

As can one of the bank team who then came on board.

Skilled, tenacious and focussed. This team's efforts meant that soon a pile of pennywort was building up on board Buster.

And needing to be offloaded.

Meanwhile WORKBOAT's crew, and our pair in a canoe, were doing more valuable work on the other bank.

It's always wise to have a lookout!

You've got to hand it to our canoeists - they always deliver!

A change of skipper on WORKBOAT and another challenge at Heybridge Mill where we have spent so much time dealing with pennywort that grows out from the Private section the other side of a chain barrier.

Then the question we're hoping for! Should we stop for refreshments? Oh yes! We certainly should! Let's head for a decent mooring location.

Buster and WORKBOAT rafting up carefully together

And the welcome hot drinks to go with the snacks.

From the moment we arrived a very friendly robin darted around, perching very close to us and enjoying the generous offerings of biscuit and bread crumbs.

The robin was pleased. So were our volunteers!

The refreshment break over there was just time for a bit more weedbusting

Until it was time to head back to base.

A pretty tough work party. Lots of pennywort trapped in brambles and bankside vegetation. And whereas earlier in the year it can be drawn out as a whole strand or raft, now it tends to break up more easily. Very irritating!

Nevertheless, again our brilliant volunteers had an impact and made a difference. Thanks to all of them.

Like all outdoor woodwork it needs regular attention and sadly we hadn't paid it any attention since it was built.

So action was needed and thanks to the donation of a number of rusting cans of paint rescued from the back of a volunteer's brother's shed we had the opportunity to paint the outside. And sheer joy - this was not some modern funky, claiming to be the answer to everything water-based paint supposedly appropriate for outdoor use. This was your good, old fashioned, oil-based gloss paint for anywhere! Much better to use it on our shed than have it thrown away or worse still tipped down a drain.

Yes, it had been around for a while; on initial inspection did not exactly reveal the 'Ivory' colour we were expecting.

But sufficient stirring took it through the lumpy stage almost to the smooth-as-cream stage!

Adequate preparation is the key. And if we had had time and the materials we would have stripped all of the woodwork down to bare wood, primed it and used undercoat. But the sum total of the materials we had were several tins of ivory gloss! Needs must.

The paint went on surprisingly well and even if it wasn't ideal it was going to provide better protection than the existing covering.

Good progress was made - a thorough job all round.

And three hours later we'd completed our task.

Having two participants less than we had expected caused us to have to revise our plans, but nevertheless there were sufficient trusty volunteers to cover most of what we needed to do.

The inevitable final preparations in the car park - equipment and waterproofs (which would turn out to be essential today).

Then up to the two work boats we'd be using for this work party. Helpfully moored and left ready for us to use - thanks Essex Waterways Ltd! Here, the final preparation shows the men checking that we have the refreshments with us while the ladies unload heavy ladders from Workboat!

Is this typical of the way we operate?!! Well actually, yes it is. Everyone mucks in doing whatever is necessary to ensure the effectiveness and success of our CCT work parties. There are no stereotypical roles.

Three groups of volunteers on the water for today's work party.

A team on Workboat (yes, that's what it's called). It's a big beast needing skilful handling, but one that suits our purpose very well.

Another team on a work boat

And another team in a canoe, valuably doing the essential tidying up that makes the overall effort so effective.

All experienced volunteers we were soon at work. Team work at its finest!

Thankfully, the large rafts that we'd expected to be dealing with had already been removed meaning that we could concentrate our efforts on clearing up what the weedlifters had left behind and removing the smaller outbreaks of pennywort - of which there were many!

We weren't sure if the 9am deluge that had been forecast had come late, or the 1pm deluge had come early. What we did know was that it was starting to rain ever more heavily and it was a good time for a refreshment break.

Let's all raft up against Workboat and unload pennywort.

Permission to come aboard?

That tarpaulin cover on Workboat was much appreciated by many - as were the welcoming hot drinks and snacks. What a cheerful crowd!

The rain certainly seemed to have set in with a vengeance and, as volunteering on a CCT work party is not meant to be an endurance test, in the hammering rain our two canoeists set off back to Paper Mill.

Meanwhile, others decided that we'd head up to Little Baddow Lock and see what else awaited us.

Ironically the weather then improved, as can be seen in this picture as Workboat is skilfully turned in the weir pool at Little Baddow.

A considerable build up of stray pennywort in the weir pool didn't escape the attention of the work boat crew.

Another good haul.

And plenty to be proud of on Workboat too!

Finally, back to Paper Mill. A brilliant group having been ignited with enthusiasm and tenacity, undertaking more impressive work. Rightfully satisfied with their efforts.

Well, our volunteers didn't just like it, they got stuck in and made significant impacts. The fact that Essex Waterways staff had ensured that both work boats were ready for us helped us today, as it so often does.

The group starting from Sandford made a prompt start and were soon collecting strands and small rafts of pennywort as they travelled down to Cuton Lock

And by the time they got further down, to Stonhams Lock, the weather wasn't too bad!

Which made it a good time to have a break for refreshments

Then, more pennywort collecting and more pennywort offloading

Until heading back up through Cuton Lock

And back to Sandford.

But not before taking the opportunity to check out the pennywort situation in the mill stream.

Meanwhile, a prompt start for the Paper Mill team who had plenty of travelling to do before they got to their goal.

The plan was to check what could be done in the time available on the way up so that maximum impact could be achieved on the way back! So, going up to Stonhams Lock involved interesting observation.

Coming back downstream involved a lot of hard work pulling pennywort on board.

And having got it on board, having to offload it.

Refreshment time. The weather was cool and wet. The refreshments were hot and wet.

Then more of the same.

By the time this group reached Little Baddow Lock they'd done more than enough. Those huge clumps of weed in the mill stream would have to wait until another work party. Or a weedlifter.

We'd been fortunate with the weather being better than we'd expected. Nevertheless, it rained again as soon as we stopped! Lucky!

The Long Pond team, or rather two of them, prepared the work boat at Heybridge (with thanks to EWL staff for ensuring that fuel was available) and were soon ready to travel up to Fullbridge.

With 'on the move' pennywort-removal opportunities available on the way the travelling time wasn't wasted.

There should have been two more volunteers at Fullbrisge, but they had needed to drop out due to illness. Thankfully there was a late addition and this team were soon on their way up to the Beeleigh Flood Gates

Then weedbusting went into full swing, both on the work boat and, occasionally, from the bank.

It didn't take long for the boat to be full of pennywort and need unloading.

Soon after that it didn't take long for the need for a break and refreshments to arise.

Then onward for more. Our regular Buster Work Boat skipper couldn't be with us today; we had to rely on a deputy!

As everyone found in both teams on today's work parties, there was no shortage of weed. We'd removed the large rafts eleven days ago and we'd planned to return today to tidy up. But this was more than just 'tidying up'.

We like to think that we are flexible with our expectations of our volunteers. But going shopping during a work party...?! No, of course, returning a trolley to Tesco before it gets thrown into the Navigation.

Another haul. Another unloading!

Then time to leave Fullbridge and head back to Heybridge. But not without a further opportunity for another volunteer to skipper the work boat and for more 'on the move' weedbusting.

Meanwhile our Hoe Mill team of volunteers were busy too. Even more thanks to the Essex Waterways staff who had ensured that the fuel tank for the work boat based at Hoe Mill was full, secure, and ready for use. A pity that someone else decided that secure storage of the fuel and our tools was not going to happen and dumped them outside. A bit of reasonableness, maybe, please?! The work boat wasn't exactly looking like it was ready for action!

Nevertheless, our volunteers weren't daunted by these minor irritations and got on with the job in hand. Involving firstly dropping down through Hoe Mill lock to start the journey down towards Beeleigh.

For this team too, a pleasant morning to be out on the Navigation.

All three of them.

The weed being hauled on board soon built up.

And so did the need to haul it out onto the bank. As well as the need to bale out the work boat. Bringing Floating American Pennywort on board inevitably involves bringing on board a certain amount of what it is floating in!

Time for a bit of refreshment and a relaxation break.

Before getting seriously back to work.

And several more unloadings of pennywort onto the bank.

Before, finally, the trip back, up through Ricketts Lock and along the Navigation to Hoe Mill and the lock there too.

Another hard-working day for our volunteers. Thanks to them all.

The Long Pond team set off to make their way up to the Beeleigh Flood gates, reconnoitring on the way up in order to deal with the worst rafts on the way back.

There was certainly no shortage of pennywort.

If it was flourishing it had to be brought on board.

Early days - and nice to see the coordinated uniform! (the rest of us couldn't have received the memo!)

The pennywort has just LOVED the recent rain. At least one of us, with many years of pennywort experience, believes that it's rain at the end of the summer that causes a growth-spurt.

Justifiably proud of their haul!

Onward still - there's no time for slacking!

But there is time for well-earned refreshments!

Then onward for more of the same

Yet more unloading

And yet more pennywort-collecting

There's certainly no shortage of pennywort to be transported.

Another impressive pile on the boat that needs to be moved onto the bank where it can rot down.

Another group were also working hard, having started out from Hoe Mill, and with the huge benefit of the Head Lengthsman from EWL operating the impressive weedlifter. (or maybe that should be 'impressively operating the weedlifter'.)

Always good to welcome a new volunteer. And we hope that this one will be back - within only as short time he was working as if he'd had tears of experience as a weedbuster! Pennywort rafts were filling the boat almost as fast as the weedlifter was lifting other rafts onto the bank.

Loads of work done down as far as Ricketts Lock, but no pictorial evidence of it! Nevertheless, those refreshments were well-deserved.

The first of several unloadings of the pennywort-haul and then on for more - with direct lifting-out being employed if it was more effective.

Meanwhile the weedlifter was doing valiant work. Apparently its unsinkable!

Tidying up what the weedlifter had left behind was included in the tasks for this group.

Yet another load taken up onto the bank.

By no means had all of the visible pennywort been removed. But most of the rafts had. Like The Terminator, we'll be back!

And talking of 'back', it was time to head back.

Our new volunteer can definitely come back!

And good to look at a stretch of the Navigation that earlier that day had had several rafts of weed working their way out from the bank.

Again, huge thanks to our hard-working volunteers. It was a tough day.

At the 'top end' our group of CCT volunteers met and started off from Sandford.

With thanks to Essex Waterways staff for getting the workboat prepared and in the lock, an early start for this work party was possible.

It wasn't long before rafts of pennywort between Sandford and Cuton Lock were being successfully, and cheerfully, removed.

Down through Cuton Lock and heading towards Stonhams Lock. And not only pennywort - an irritating pink inflatable, as yet out of reach near Cuton Lock, was successfully brought on board!

Time for a well-earned break at Stonhams, among the materials and equipment involved in shoring up the weir.

Then the return trip. There was still plenty to do.

Typical of the new growth everywhere on the Navigation. Within a few weeks healthy pennywort has grown from trails floating on the water to lush rafts.

Removing burgeoning plants like this will put a stop to it forming another raft.

Up through Cuton Lock

And this team's speedy and successful work meant that they had the bonus of motoring up the mill stream, as far as our barrage, to clear pennywort from there.

Before finally bringing the work boat back home.

In 'the middle' our volunteers started at Hoe Mill; two on the work boat, one in a kayak. Again, our thanks to Essex Waterways Ltd staff (and not just any member of EWL staff!) for getting a work boat to Hoe Mill for our work party to start at 9.00am.

Soon after locking down through Hoe Mill Lock it was clear that this was going to be one tough work party with a number of challenges. Rafts of pennywort like these having sprung up from the water (or maybe sprung out from the bank) in a short time.

Back, it seemed, to 'the old days' of hauling huge rafts of pennywort into the boat

But it's got to be done! And that pile of pennywort in the boat gets ever larger!

All the while our volunteer on the water was doing valuable tidying up, and ferrying his haul to the work boat.

Amassing huge quantities of pennywort in the boat only to have to unload it onto the bank is tiring work. All credit to our 'Hoe' crew for taking this on and dealing with a pretty knackering experience.

As soon as one raft has been removed there's another one waiting its turn.

And all the while further supplies are arriving!

It seems that however much that pennywort might be happy in the water it's just not going to be allowed to stay there!

So much pennywort. Only so much time. This group worked on way past the intended finish time. Our grateful thanks!

Down at the bottom of the Navigation - the Long Pond - there was similar action occurring. With the work boat prepared and ready, the start was from Heybridge Basin.

Much of the Long Pond having been cleared by a volunteer the previous weekend, Heybridge Mill was one of the first ports of call. We were pleased to have a new volunteer with us. He earned his keep and we hope he'll be back with us again.

Like the other groups, as soon as one raft has been removed there's another one ready to be brought on board.

We need to keep an eye on this area - the pennywort growing in the private area of water here, inaccessible because of a chain across the entrance, has the potential to continually reinfect the Navigation itself. Let's hope the owner is aware of the predicament!

More hauling out; more pennywort collected onboard.

As with the other two groups, after that amount of work refreshments are not only deserved, but necessary.

However much gets pulled out there's always more waiting.

But our volunteers look justifiably proud of their efforts.

And of course they carried on to eventually get to unload yet another boatload of pennywort.

Huge thanks to all of today's volunteers for their admirable efforts!

With thanks to Essex Waterways Ltd for the use of one of their workboats we were soon on our way. We were tempted by a few small outbreaks of pennywort we spotted on our way upstream.

However, having been advised that there was much more pennywort further upstream a better strategy seemed to be to head up to Stonhams Lock, assessing on the way where our work would be most effective, and then work back down.

It is always good to let others who have never seen a lock being operated observe what goes on, as well as give a new volunteer her first experience of locking. Well done!

Careful monitoring on the way up allowed us to assess the extent of our tasks for the day. And, as we'd all agreed that we could work until later than a regular work party, we reckoned we could deal with all the pennywort we saw.

So quite simply it was down to serious work.

Ongoing work

Regular weedbusters will know that one of the most challenging places to remove it is where strands of pennywort grow out from between tall reeds like these. Getting to the source is almost impossible. But every effort is made to get every strand out.

All credit to our weedbusters for working on through some pretty heavy rain.

That pesky weed is also especially challenging when it grows in, on and around branches in and out of the water! Even more irritating when we came across it having thought we'd cracked the last raft of weed and we could head for home.

Although it's a physical struggle there's something additionally pleasing about emptying the final boatload of the day onto the bank.

Eventually back to base, the unloading of tools from the workboat and the baling out of the water we'd inevitably collected (through a net to ensure no fragments of pennywort get back into the water).

Thanks to today's volunteers - it was another hard-working session. But very worthwhile.

From Sandford. The work boat was prepped and ready to go.

Our jolly crew wasted no time heading downstream.

Collecting the only two patches of pennywort they could find on their way.

Down through Cuton Lock

And then on to the more serious work that the next section dealt up. We do like an enthusiastic volunteer!

There was plenty to keep our hard-working volunteers busy. This section has always challenged us, partly because of the difficulty accessing it and partly because pennywort just loves growing there.

Eventually arriving at Stonhams Lock it was time for well-earned refreshments.

Who can't resist the traditional 'refreshments' pic?!

Then back on the other bank for more of the same.

Again, that getting close and personal technique is never far away!

Meanwhile further downstream another workboat had been prepped and was making an early start in order to get to Fullbridge to meet our other volunteers.

It was a fine day!

At Fullbridge the work boat workers were ready!

And soon everyone was either on, or in, the water (intentionally!)

There was plenty to do from the get-go with the work boat crew seizing the opportunity early on.

Who can't resist a pic of a cool volunteer with a smile on their face when they are waist deep in water!

Our two canoeists are always good value!

Good contributors to the 'pennywort' effort

As, of course, were our work boat crew

That pennywort is not going to get onto the boat by itself! Of course, even more getting close and personal is the answer.

It's coming on board

And, with a smile, it's going ashore!

And all the while there's even more getting up close and personal!

Then back to base and the farewells. And time to buy petrol for the work boat's fuel tank so that it will reliably get back to Heybridge; lucky there's a petrol station nearby!

Thanks to our amazing volunteers for the work they do in such good spirits. It really does make an important difference.

We are only too aware of the ability of pennywort to grow from a concealed weedlet in the bankside vegetation, to healthy raft, in only a few weeks.

So, with the opportunity a cancelled work party offered, a couple of our volunteers, aware of new growths of pennywort that had been reported along the Long Pond, set off from Heybridge on our jointly owned work boat.

And it wasn't long before many of those cunning, think they were concealed enough, pieces of pennywort were being removed.

It was hot work. But done meticulously.

Despite this section of the Navigation having been 'zero-toleranced' only a few weeks ago there was still too much for our plucky volunteers to deal with in one session.

So they hatched a plan. Work meticulously up to Black Bridge. Then whizz (well at 4 mph) up to Beeleigh, do a bit of maintenance work on our yellow boom at Beeleigh, and then deal with any extra-challenging pennywort on the return journey, noting what would need to be dealt with at a future work party.

And then head home

With a respectable haul of pennywort that won't any longer be causing problems.

Which is why a brilliant group of volunteers agreed to head out on an additional work party, looking for any pennywort that might be about to make a break. Thankfully they were a determined group (as are all of our volunteers, of course!), prepared to deal with the issues thrown at them.

Issue number one - an unreliable outboard engine. Answer. Bring another one along!

Issue number two - blanket weed blocking the propellor. Constantly. Answer. Keep clearing the prop and where necessary tow the boat by hand!

Struggling through the blanket weed to even get along the lock cut was a challenge in itself, taking up valuable time. But eventually a turn into the mill stream allowed better progress, as well as the collection of the first of the day's haul of pennywort. We've spent a lot of time ensuring that this area is kept as free as possible of pennywort and, although there was some, it wasn't anything like as bad as it could have been.

Next, further up the mill stream to the point where a feeder stream across the water meadows enters. This is the line of demarcation between the area we take responsibility for and a stretch looked after by a contractor.

There was pennywort either side of our boom.

There was. There isn't now!

Next, down the mill stream, into the main channel, and a trip down to Cuton Lock. Some pennywort to be collected on the way, but again, not anything like as much as there would have been had we not patrolled and cleared this section regularly.

Then a well-earned refreshment break at Cuton Lock.

Maybe it was fortuitous that the windlass didn't fit the new lock mechanism at Cuton. Thus, time to return to Sandford.

And to lock the work boat up through the lock and return it, and its own enginee, to its mooring.

Not an easy work party. But an effective one with a valuable impact.

Thanks to our four volunteers!

Starting from Heybridge up the Long Pond one of our pairs worked between the boats to remove pennywort that had taken advantage of these locations to make a sneaky start at growing. Some boat owners are very astute and remove pennywort as soon as they see it; others just let it grow!

Then clear of the boats onwards up the Long Pond with the Long Red Poles, as always, coming into their own.

Removing every last trace of pennywort will save us much work later in the year.

This team worked all the way up to Wave Bridge. A superb effort!

Starting from Hoe Mill and working downstream were the canoe team. Regularly out on the river these guys know a pennywort weedlet when they see one. And it doesn't stay in the water for long.

More of that 'getting up close and personal' going on!

As each of our three teams found, despite our previous efforts there's still the potential for pennywort-growth around. Here's the sort of thing we mean.

And here's the sum total of this team's haul. That's a lot of pennywort that won't be growing into rafts later in the season.

Starting from Sandford and working downstream, our final pair of volunteers, now short of another two who would have originally been there, nevertheless made good progress in the limited time they had available.

A very familiar story. Find the pennywort hiding in the bankside vegetation and haul it out.

So much concentration on keeping the engine going and clearing the prop that there wasn't much time for pictures.

Nevertheless, by the time they were at Cuton Lock there was another good haul; another batch of pennywort consigned to rot down on the bank rather than rage rampant across the water.

Apologies to half of our volunteers who do not feature in any of the pics. It doesn't mean we value you any less!

Thanks to all of our volunteers who worked so hard today. You managed the workload despite the absentees!!

Tom the Boatbuilder was ready for us with a list of jobs.

We all felt that hole-plugging under Susan wasn't something any of us were going to be enthusiastic about. Someone else is going to need to do that. But there were plenty other tasks on Tom's list which was available in hard copy.

Hole plugging the side planks, sanding down, scraping of tar and painting were tasks that were offered. Our brilliant volunteers signed up for them willingly and were soon assembling the materials and tools they needed.

One side of Susan had been caulked.

Which meant that some preparatory work could be done, ready for painting her sides.

Meanwhile there was work to do in the weedhatch 'tunnel' scraping away tar that had run from the joints.

One of the worst jobs was the scraping away and sweeping up of yet more pigeon droppings from the inside planks. This task has been needed every time we've been there. But it was necessary again today in order that the planks could be painted.

Hole plugging! It's second nature to us now. Our hole plugging team were soon on the case.

Preparation for more painting at the stern, too. Sanding, cleaning, masking were the order of the day.

Before the application of a couple of coats of primer.

No one complained when it was suggested we stopped for a refreshment break! Why would they? We'd all worked hard. So, a break was well-deserved.

There's always something new to learn and today, with one side being fully-caulked, we were interested in how the hemp that's used for caulking is prepared before being inserted into the gaps between the boards.

Up above, continuation of the scraping and brushing clean and then and then painting of even more inside boards.

Now a major push was needed if one side was going to get a complete coat of primer before today's session was brought to a close.

And success! One side was completed - looking very different to the way it had at the start of the session.

A final joke to be shared

And clearing up and cleaning of hands - and clothes in some cases.

And time for our merry band to call it a day. A good day. Another productive day.

We'll be back!

Just two of us doing the weed work. One in the water.

But a valuable hour and a half's work meaning that we got up to the furthest point where there was any visible pennywort.

Then back upstream and time to return the workboat to its mooring.

What's not to like?!

The Long Pond

The plan here was to patrol from two directions. Heybridge up and Beeleigh down. Again, good luck at Heybridge potential problems with our work boat Buster had been resolved and where a volunteer had dropped out at the last moment, but thankfully only a few days earlier another had said that they could be there!

With thorough early preparation having taken place it was patrolling from the very start

The focus for many of our volunteers today was on the small fragments and weedlets of pennywort that we know only too well, given a few weeks and some good weather, can grow into the large rafts that we've routinely dealt with before (and were today dealing with elsewhere!).

Common across everyone's weedbusting efforts was the fact that in many places pulling out pennywort also involved pulling out copious amounts of blanket weed.

And also common across all groups was the fact that to get to those sneaky little weedlets it was necessary to get up close and personal

But that's not to say that it wasn't enjoyable!

On their way down from Beeleigh, also keeping a close eye out for anything that might become a pennywort raft later in the year, was the canoe patrol. These guys are great because, as well as participation in our monthly work parties they are also out every week patrolling other sections of the Navigation.

The further they travelled the more they collected

And after working so hard why not meet up for some refreshments and a friendly chat?

And to pose for further pics!

Well done this team!

Hoe Mill

Having successfully overcome the challenge posed by a lack of fuel tank for the Raider our Hoe Mill team headed off slowly downstream, finding the same small fragments that were common to all groups. The engine wasn't playing ball, not happy to just tick over, and making it almost impossible to make the slow progression along the bank needed for this sort of work.

Nevertheless, the work had to be done, and willingly and cheerfully it was.

The plan had been to patrol as far down as Beeleigh, but who wants to get stuck two locks down from 'home' with no engine?!

In the face of adversity spirits were nevertheless high and yes, that need to get up close and personal was clearly demonstrated by this group too!

Keen to maximise on the time available to them, between the occasions when the engine could be encouraged to run, they even took their break while floating, engineless, along the Navigation! What some stars! Then a struggle back to Hoe Mill on reduced power, even having to pole the Raider back to Hoe Mill lock for the final part of the journey

All credit to our skipper (not even a photo of him, sadly) who at the end of the session, with the engine still not playing ball, single-handedly not only managed intermittent engine running to move the Raider, but also locked it back up to its home.

Sandford

Another example of triumph over adversity here! If it hadn't been for the foresight of one of our volunteers we'd have arrived to find a workboat full of logs and in the wrong location. By the time we'd assembled all had been sorted and this team could set off on what they knew was going to be a physically-challenging task.

Access was not going to be easy. The only way we were going to be able to even access the pennywort was to get to it through a bank of nettles, then dog rose, then scrub!

Hacking and slashing seemed to be the only way to do it.

With a path eventually being created, sufficient to get our tools and a not-yet-inflated (but going-to-be-much-needed) inflatable dinghy through.

Eventually the explorers got to the target - some very large rafts of pennywort, the like of which we haven't seen for a long time, and which had grown even more lush in the eight days since it was last surveyed.

It's all about teamwork. We've been there; we've done it; we continue to do it!

There was no way we could have done such a thorough job at this location without having a craft on the water.

And yes, that theme again of having to get up close and personal!

In terms of unpleasant places to work this location possibly challenges the Langford Cut!

However, the task of getting rid of the rafts having been efficiently completed (although we think we'll be back!) there was still time to do some work on the main Navigation. Somewhat depressing as only eight days ago two of us were at this location, at that point having removed all visible pennywort!

Then, well-deserved, a bit of a rest as this group travelled back to base.

Thanks to all who took part in today's Chelmer Canal Trust Work Party. Everyone's efforts have made a real difference. Our strategy of working along several sections of the Navigation at the same time - only possible if we can get multiple craft in the water - seem to be paying off handsomely!

The reason for today's emergency session? For some unknown reason one of our booms, which we've installed - to stop pennywort leaking out of it's breeding grounds - had been grubbed out, allowing rafts of pennywort to drift into the Navigation and to infect stretches of the Navigation which we've previously worked hard to clear.

However, the problem offered an opportunity, and the emergency repair in one location gave us the opportunity to instal an additional boom in another location, to collect scientific samples of pennywort for analysis, to remove whatever pennywort we could find along the length of Navigation we travelled, and to check our third boom. And assist Essex Waterways Ltd in getting their work boat back to Sandford. What a day!

A bit of car-positioning went well (and needed to fit in with road closures in the area) and it was really helpful that the work boat had been usefully moved into the filled lock at Paper Mill, making a quick departure possible.

Naturally we used the opportunity of travelling up to Stonhams Lock to spot any pennywort and we stopped to remove it where we found any.

Up through Little Baddow (Kings Mill) Lock.

And onwards to Stonhams Lock. As we approached the backwater it was clear to see why effective use of booms can be advantageous. The amount of flourishing, dense, pennywort in this backwater needs a specialist team with sufficient time to get in and deal with it.

In the meantime a boom across the mouth of the backwater would hold it back.

We are, by now, quite well-skilled at boom-installation! Our volunteer Keith has welded up some excellent ground anchors which we believe will hold firm in even the strongest currents. Perhaps not too clear, but here the 'start' end of the top of a section of boom is being tied to the eye in a ground anchor.

Then two further section of boom are joined together

And eventually to the far side where the end of the boom is similarly anchored

And an opportunity to feel pleased with the end result.

CABI (https://www.cabi.org/about-cabi/) had shown an interest in our Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation pennywort and we were keen to collect samples for molecular analysis they will undertake.

First, collect a sample that fits CABI's specification.

Wash it in fresh water, blot it dry and seal it in a sample bag with the desiccant silica gel ready for posting to CABI. Repeat twice more.

Here's hoping the strain of Pennywort on the Chelmer and Blackwater is the sort the pennywort-munching weevil 'Listronotus elongatus' likes and that, it having been released for the first time into the wild last week, we can get some of the little blighters working on our pennywort here in the Chelmer Valley!

Time for a quick refreshment break and then time to set off up past the Stonhams weir (note our new boom in the background).

A few challenging strands of pennywort to deal with on the way. But thankfully this section, a real problem area in the past when pennywort has blocked the width of the Navigation, isn't, at this time in the year, showing any flourishing pennywort (which of course is different to saying that it's not there!).

The damage to our boom at Cuton Lock, irritating and time-consuming, could have been much worse. Our ground anchors were damaged but are potentially repairable, and it was the end of a boom that had been damaged, not the middle.

A bit of tidying up of the site where an attachment eye has now been installed at one end

A new ground anchor hammered into place at the other end, and the boom attached

And of course the opportunity taken to remove any obvious pennywort,

We'll be back!

We believe some pennywort escaped when the boom was removed, so time was spent just below the weir removing what we hope was the stray pennywort. Dedication shown in getting at it!

Then onto our final location for the day. Up through Cuton Lock and along to the Sandford Mill Stream, of course collecting any pennywort we could spot on the way.

Our original boom - about which we've been complimented by those in the know!

And yes, a patch of pennywort being held back by the boom and which was easily removed.

It had been a long day. But a productive one. Thanks to our excellent volunteers for being prepared to undertake today's tasks.

Naturally we are always keen to see what progress has been made on Susan since our last visit - which on this occasion was a month ago. 'Knees' and bolts and things with boating-specific' names had been created and installed and although there's lots still to do, it's now even more possible to imagine the point in this project when Susan will be able to be floated out of the dry dock and towed back to Heybridge.

Having been a bit concerned, on our first visit, about the conditions in the dry dock that we'd be working in, it's all second-nature to us now. Crossing the gangplank, descending the steep ladder and working surrounded by, and sometimes in, pigeons and pigeon 'guano', are now taken as read (and actually it's not necessarily as bad as might be imagined; care in accessing the dry dock, and vinyl gloves, face masks and protective glasses help us minimise any risk).

So, four of us working on Susan today, plus Tom the boatbuilder. Two worked as an efficient team, two went freelance and Tom oversaw and did bits and pieces.

Given the offer, three of us preferred not to work in the restricted space underneath Susan, plugging holes above our heads. Totally understandable and acceptable. Being too tall was one reason. Not wanting to exacerbate bad backs was another. Nevertheless, with one volunteer prepared to take on the challenge, and with his glamorous assistant there to supply the ready-primed plugs, this team worked consistently hard throughout the morning. The bespoke wheeled seat helped. And again, one stayed on when the rest of us left at the end of the session (that seat must have been SO comfortable!),

Meanwhile, you have to admire the tenacity of another volunteer who has taken on the task, at every visit, of clearing out the debris from inside Susan. Over our visits this has developed from, initially, scooping out all manner of huge quantities of nasty debris in shovel-loads, to today vacuuming dust and small particles from the many crevices inside Susan. It could be the feather duster next! Susan is looking much smarter inside than we've ever seen her. Clean and tidy; so unlike our first visit.

The use of a special tool to scrape out the gaps between the planks attracted our fourth volunteer.

Pic is for demonstration purposes only - the tool is used at a more horizontal angle to chisel out any obstructions. Over the years since the planks were installed - and even when the planks were installed - all sorts of bits and pieces have blocked the gaps in places. Not the least, molten tar that has run, resin applied to plugs above by over-enthusiastic volunteers, keen to ensure there was sufficient to keep the plugs in place, swarf and dust (and yes, that stuff the pigeons produce). Removal of all of this, so that the caulking can be efficiently and effectively inserted, was needed. It's when you come to cleaning out the gaps in the planks from bow to stern that you get a reminder of just how long Susan is!

Such was the concentration on the tasks in hand that in the intervals between the vacuum-cleaner being used, the only sounds were often just those of the pigeons cooing and plugs being hammered.

An hour and three-quarters in and time for a break. It's become a tradition. Refreshment box on the conveniently-situated bench and the wide selection of drinks and snacks are on offer. Often something new to try (mainly as a result of Tesco's Clubcard offers!).

Then back for another session.

More cleaning up inside

More hole-plugging underneath

And a change of task for our fourth volunteer - tar-scraping inside where it has run from underneath the capping plank, and back to plugging. But these plugs are inside Susan.

Another very successful session. Another step closer to Susan's completion.

It needs a very special weedbuster to spot and remove the weedlets, but our experienced volunteers know only too well that every singe one of these apparently harmless little plants can form rafts that could block the entire Navigation by September.

Pennywort liked the environment in South America and, via UK garden centres and garden ponds in Essex, it's got to like, and invade, the Navigation.

So, for today's work party plans were in place for four teams to patrol four different sections of the Navigation. And, despite a couple of glitches (one volunteer didn't turn up; two workboats, without a bit of good luck, wouldn't have had sufficient fuel in their tanks) our brilliant volunteers completed their tasks with care and attention to detail.

Sandford. This was our 'non-workboat' team. Three volunteers in two canoes using their tried and trusted technique of a canoe patrolling each bank,

Here's the view from a canoe patrolling one bank across to the other bank.

Fine work by these three volunteers, clearing every weedlet they could find between Sandford Lock and Stonhams Lock, taking in the monitoring of a feeder stream at Cuton Lock.

Despite being weedbusters some just couldn't resist doing some litterpicking!

Paper Mill. We were lucky here. A chance comment the previous day had meant that a work boat that would otherwise have had practically no fuel and been below the lock when we wanted to use it, was above the lock, adequately fuelled and ready for use. Thanks, Del.

The team here would have comprised three volunteers. But a phone call to the Heybridge team identified the fact that that team was currently just one person! Work there couldn't start as the second volunteer hadn't turned up. So, having just driven from Heybridge to Paper Mill via Hoe Mill, one of our volunteers headed back to Heybridge.

Meanwhile our Paper Mill team headed upstream, their final destination being Stonhams Lock where they met briefly with the Sandford Team. No opportunity for a group refreshment break there! The heavens opened. This team didn't even open the refreshments box!

Careful scrutiny, eyes peeled constantly on and into the bankside vegetation, was needed to spot those cunning little weedlets.

Each of which was carefully removed

One task that had to be left for another day was this area of the system at Stonhams Lock. Too much for our team of two to take on today. But an area having the potential to cause problems downstream.

We'll be back!

Hoe Mill. Another of our teams that was in place early, ready for the tools to be delivered and to get the work boat down through the lock. Their task, to work down to Beeleigh and back.

Like the other teams it was those tiny weedlets that were the focus of their work. Another excellent pair of volunteers.

Sadly, no pics to show!

Heybridge. A late start having to wait for a volunteer to return from Paper Mill. But then it was all go, moving slowly up the Long Pond to Beeleigh, the only team that didn't need to go through or orund a lock.

Like those in the other teams, it was those tiny weedlets that they were after.

And when they were found, out they came!

Under other circumstances this amount of pennywort would have been pulled out in one go. Today this was the sum total of the day's haul. But nevertheless, an impressive collection of tiny weedlets.

Those hundreds of innocuous, weak, little plantlets, having been removed by our four teams, aren't going to grow to bliock sections of the Navigation this year (but there are plenty of others that inevitably were missed and will potentially do so. Watch this space).

Another excellent work party which has significantly reduced the amount of work that will be needed later in the year.

Our next 'Pennywort' work party is on Saturday, 4^th June. Watch out for further details. All are welcome!

We are not unused to boom installation. This is our third and we've learned all the tricks of the trade by now!

Thankfully our excellent volunteer Keith has all the tools we needed so the provision of some lengths of boom from the EA, along with Keith's skill in both tapping a hole and installing an eye in the metal shuttering, and manufacturing a securing anchor for the soft bank, meant that the job was fairly straightforward.

An hour on Buster the workboat to get from Heybridge to the Beeleigh Flood Gates and we were soon in action.

First, a hole to be drilled in the metal shuttering

Then a thread tapped into the hole

The eye screwed firmly into the threaded hole

The end of the first section of boom attached to the new eye

Several sections of 'boom' joined together to create sufficient length of boom to go diagonally across the end of the Cut, and the end secured into the bank.

And hey presto, a firmly secured boom that will hopefully trap stray pennywort.

Just one more task to complete before leaving - securing a very large log to the bank to prevent it floating down the Long Pond and causing problems for boaters.

Sadly, three of our number who'd planned to be there weren't able to make it (appointments, illness - understandable), but all of our volunteers are workers not shirkers so five of us were still able to make even more progress getting Susan ready to return to the Navigation.

Here's the dry dock that Susan is in, again.

And here are four of our five volunteers.

Before we started it was good to have a bit of a catch-up on what work had been done on Susan since our last visit.

And good to get a reminder of the overall amount of work that has been done and is still needed. Susan is a big girl!

It was more of the same (so we must be getting it right). And thankfully, not only did we finish the plugging of all of the holes in the outsides of all of the side-planks, progress was also made on some of the holes on the underside. AND we (well, one valiant volunteer to be fair) cleaned all of the muck, sawdust, shavings, baby pigeons and so on from the inside of Susan. (O.K. Don't call the RSPCA! We left the baby pigeons in their nests for their mums to return to them. Which they did).

One team plugged along one side

While another plugged along the other side.

Working on the top plank meant that the very helpful platforms could be brought into use.

By delaying our refreshment break we'd managed, between us, to plug the remining holes in the outsides of the planks.

And the considerable amount of messiness inside Susan was significantly diminished.

Yes, we deserved our refreshments!

Then back to more of the same but elsewhere.

Some plugging inside Susan and some plugging of her underside. In fact, one of our number stayed on after the work party had finished to do even more!

And, all credit to our volunteer who completed what, literally, was very much a sh*t job!

Another good session at St Osyth.

Next time we think we will maximise on our time there even more by, those of us who can, working until 2pm.

In fact, with one of our members being called Susan we had Susan working on the Susan in the Susan (the dry dock is called Susan!).

A good strong band of volunteers were ready for action at 10 am!

All of them undeterred by the challenging way of accessing Susan in her dry dock.

Across the gangplank

And down a ladder

For some this was their first visit and an opportunity to understand what had only been left to their imagination until now - the dry dock we'd be working in for this work party.

Revision for some, new techniques for others - the materials we were about to use if we were involved in 'plugging'.

For those who are interested in the detail, here goes......

The holes we were about to continue plugging (we'd done the lower plank, hopefully today we could complete the next two planks) had been made to allow the hammering of the rosehead nails through the planks.

Most had been done; a few remained,

For our 'plugging' operation a support team would mix the two-part glue, create the filler, and deliver it to the three pairs of 'pluggers' who would work at various locations around Susan.

The pluggers would firstly clean each hole, prime the hole with glue and insert some filler.

The plug would need to be placed so that the grain was horizontal

And then primed

Ready for insertion into the hole.

Hammered in

And hey presto, one hole had been plugged (just needs the extra filler to be wiped away)

Now just a few hundred more to do!

The plugs we had glued into place last month were ready to be trimmed off in preparation for the final sanding down. First, expertly chiselled off

Then planed

Our plugging teams progressed efficiently along the planks

Meanwhile, two volunteers (yes, they volunteered!) were up inside Susan clearing up a monumental amount of debris

An unenviable task, removing not only sawdust and swarf but all sorts of other detritus including the odd dead pigeon!

Was it now time for refreshments? Oh yes it was! Apart from a welcome break some of us needed to warm up in the sunshine - it had been colder than expected down in that dry dock!

Then back for more of the same - with continued commitment, enthusiasm and skill.

Susan was looking well-plugged.

And she also had a lot less muck in her. The valiant clearing of about 1/3 of the inside had produced a hippobag-full of 'stuff'.

Travis Perkins are unlikely to want this back!

Of course, progress is being made on many aspects of Susan's rebuild. Here is one of the rudders

With perfect timing the resin ran out just as our 'pluggers' were completing the plugging of the last few holes. And the time was right for us to finish this excellent session.

The view from the bow of Susan. Maybe ironic that she is looking across the mud towards this wreck! Without a lot of hard work achieving the funding needed to rescue and rebuild her she might well have been in a similar state!

We are really pleased that we have been able to contribute to the work on Susan. We need to be getting back to our Pennywort duties at our work party in May. But in the meantime we are planning another visit to work on Susan on a 'midweek' day in April. Look out for details of this extra session in an email, or for the details posted on our website.

Built for Brown and Sons for use on the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation, 'Susan' has an interesting history (read all about it here.) She's now been languishing in a floating dry dock at St Osyth for some considerable time and CCT had offered to do some work on her in order to help make progress towards her being seaworthy enough to be able to be brought back to the Navigation.

We'd originally thought we'd be mainly doing clean-up work, removing what we had been led to believe was quite a build up of, shall we politely call it, 'pigeon guano'?! But thankfully there wasn't too much of that and our volunteers were to undertake a task that contributed more directly to the boat-building - Hole-Plugging. There are about 2,000 holes created in nailing and bolting Susan together and they all need to be plugged!

We are always impressed that all of our CCT volunteers come with a 'can do' attitude and don't mind taking on whatever is asked of them. Today was no exception. Saturday morning saw four of us meeting in Chelmsford ready to share transport and travel to St Osyth, meeting two more volunteers at the boatyard.

The early arrivals posed for a pic in front of the dry dock. Yes, that rusty, covered, barge in the background really is the dry dock!

If working on Susan was going to be a challenge, getting to her down in the dry dock was not a walk in the park! First of all, down the gangplank, quite steep as the tide was low - and that handrail wasn't anything like as secure as it seems!

Then through a low hatch and Susan was in view, down below. A clamber down a ladder (half as long again as the one resting on the stern of Susan) and we were in our morning's workplace.

Firstly, a bit of tidying up of the detritus that has accumulated on the floor of the dry dock. Next, a really helpful scraping off of the 1cm thick layer of wet nastiness on the floor, making it then much more pleasant to work along the outside of Susan.

Then an introduction to the materials and techniques of hole-plugging. We swiftly moved from being unskilled cleaners to being talented boat-builders! Well, that was the aspiration!

Firstly, an introduction to the preparation of the epoxy glue that would hold the plugs in place, along with the mixing-in of silica to form a filler.

We were all, of course, attentive trainees!

The training over it was time to collect what we needed and get started.

Three teams of two volunteers taking on three areas of Susan's bottom side plank.

It didn't take long to establish the correct routine: clean any detritus from the hole; paint glue on the inside of the hole; insert filler into the hole; apply glue to the plug; insert the plug into the hole, ensuring that the grain of the plug matches the grain of the plank; push fully in. And move to the next hole. Each group developed a good working technique within their pairs.

One team starting on the port bow

Soon with an impressive line of filled holes showing good progress.

Similar progress being made at the stern

Meanwhile further excellent progress was being made on the starboard side of Susan.

Each group settled down to a routine, returning to base every so often to restock on plugs, glue and filler, as well as replacing sticky vinyl gloves.

A couple of hours' work and practically all of the holes in the bottom plank had been filled.

Depending on what progress can be made, a further task might be working inside Susan. This is what she currently looks like.

In order to keep the momentum going we'd foregone the opportunity to take a mid-session break for refreshments. But having made what we feel is a good start on this initiative, feeling positive about the progress we made, we awarded ourselves a bit of a sit down, some warm drinks and some eats, before heading back home. With the tide having come in, and the dry dock now floating, even getting along the gangplank had been easier.

We've made a good start and are planning to return to do some more hole-plugging - and maybe more. Thanks to today's wonderful volunteers.

Whereas for our last work party it was ice that could have caused problems, today it was rain and high winds.

Having got both work boats tooled up and ready to got it need a nifty bit of towing of one boat by the other to get her off her mooring safely without endangering any of the boats moored either side.

It was a grim trip up the Long Pond.

But the mood was lightened by the fact that by 9am (or just a bit after!) we had a group of volunteers keen to get started on the jobs in hand, whatever the weather might throw at us. (seems that the camera that took some of the pics was suffering from the wind and rain too!)

Briefing and Health and Safety issues dealt with, and a little bit or re-jigging of plans to fill a few gaps, and it was time to sort out tools and equipment and get underway with the various tasks in hand.

We were to have strong presence along this section of the Long Pond, and make an impressive impact. Buster, WORKBOAT, and two canoes.

Today on the Long Pond was more about removing recent growths of pennywort than it was about dealing with large rafts - equally if not more important work. Buster's crew had plenty to deal with.

With their haul receiving a regular top up from the two canoeists who diligently hand-picking remnants of pennywort that will otherwise form next year's outbreaks.

What gets brought on board by whatever route also has to be offloaded.

Meanwhile, WORKBOAT's crew were valiantly battling the wind to get in place in order to deal with their share of the weed.

As long as the boat was skilfully kept in place the crew could use our range of tools to get at that pesky weed.

All the while, with less human resource than had been expected, other volunteers were working on a pond near the Lower Blackwater that we have visited many times over the However, we generally don't find Pennywort in this upper section (which should not be mistaken for the pond itself)

All credit to all of our volunteers, but especially to those who get so fully involved! A new pair of chest waders, enabling the wearer to get up close and personal, contributing hugely to effectiveness of the operation - and doing so so cheerfully! What's not to like? (well actually, driving rain, cold wind and smelly mud!)

Twenty minutes of hard work and our starter pond was clear.

On to the main pond where the trusty coracle had already been in action, doing what comes naturally - removing the Pennywort that can't be accessed from the bank.

This group, probably like others, almost lost track of time they were working so hard, and didn't notice it was time for a refreshment break. However, as soon as word goes round that it's time for refreshments, no time is lost in heading back for them.

Always a dilemma about where to meet for the mid-session refreshments when there are volunteers spread out across a range of locations. But Beeleigh Lock, and the use of a balance beam as a preparation area, seems to have become custom and practice when we are working in this area.

We all deserved a break. Several deserved two breaks they'd been working so hard!

But as usual, by majority if not universal demand (it was cold!), the decision was made to head back for more of the same. Now with a redistribution of personnel - the crew of WORKBOAT kindly joining the group dealing with the pond.

Of all of the craft we use, Buster, the work boat we jointly own with Essex Waterways Ltd, is possibly the best boat to manoeuvre and to work from.

Enabling our returning crew to justifiably feel very pleased with the overall effort that had achieved some fine results.

Meanwhile, with the valued added human resource, work had still been going on along the banks of the pond.

Following our efforts today, this pond was now looking much better, free from so many rafts of Pennywort. We are hopeful that our work here will now mean that the Ilford and District Piscatorial Society, who have the rights to fish here, will be pleased and will be able to maintain the pond in this condition themselves. (But we'll be happy to come back if needed).

We wanted to ensure the task was as complete as possible and put some extra effort into removing the last areas of pennywort that we could access. (there's also a coracle down in there somewhere!)

That was supposed to be the end of the work for today. But one of our party, who happens to be a seasonal shepherd, had heard what he considered to be the sound of a sheep in distress. And it turned out he was right. A sheep had become entangled in brambles, making it worse for itself by struggling and getting its wool even more trapped. The delicate task of removing very thick bramble stem from around its body (sometimes a crome can be so useful!) was completed and the sheep (technically a lamb), which had probably been trapped there for a few days, was ready for release. But not before the photo opportunity.

Back to base. Canoe deflated or stowed on the roof, damp gear off, equipment packed away and returned to Buster, the coracle almost back (with a rather large hole in the skin!) and it was time to leave. For home for many. For Heybridge Basin for the work boats.

The opportunity on the journey taken to put WORKBOAT back together (removing the poles makes it easier for us to use our Pennywort Removal Tools)

Further along, the option taken to take more than just Pennywort on board! The final haul - a Hippo bag of Pennywort, several Tesco trollies and a buckled bike (which had potentially been buckled by being in contact with many boats going over it - won't have done the boats a lot of good either!)

Once more, huge thanks to our brilliant volunteers who took part in today's work party. We just wouldn't be where we are today without the continuing support of such a great group of lovely people.

However, at Heybridge Basin and along the Long Pond where boats are moored, there was no ice. So, we were good to go. Hot water in the flasks. Fuel tank attached to work boat Buster's engine, tools and equipment loaded onto Buster, and it was time to head 100m across Heybridge Basin to collect our second work boat, EWL's appropriately named WORKBOAT!

There wasn't a lot of fuel in either of the fuel tanks, nor was there any reserve fuel around anywhere, so we hoped for the best, knowing that we wouldn't be a million miles from a filling station if we ran out.

Out of Heybridge Basin and up the Long Pond to Beeleigh.

The weather was getting better and the temperature was rising.

Useful that WORKBOAT is a steel boat as further up the Long Pond there was plenty of icebreaking to be done.

Eventually, arrival at Beeleigh and final preparations to enable our lovely volunteers to undertake their work.

Eleven volunteers arrived and it was time for the briefing and explanation of the plan for the day.

Then we were off, with the two work boats taking on a bank each

and a canoe and an inflatable dinghy following up and undertaking the valuable task of fine-picking the bits the work boats left behind.

One of the reasons for us wanting to work from WORKBOAT was to find out how well it would work for us on pennywort-clearing work parties and especially today, if we could trim the brambles that trap pennywort making it difficult for us to remove. Once we found which tools worked best - and we had a selection - the teamwork worked well. Cromes, secateurs, shears and red poles all came into their own and enabled the various tasks to be undertaken efficiently..

The crew on Buster were multi-tasking too, not only working along the bank removing pennywort but also helping others upload their haul.

We are well-used to operating on Buster and the regular offloading of pennywort onto the bank is second nature. But nevertheless, hard work.

It was all tough work in cold weather. Some were able to keep warm because of the amount of moving they were doing; others doing equally-valuable work didn't have that opportunity being restricted by the small craft they were in. It seemed only fair to take a break to warm up. The rush back to base probably started that warming up!

During Covid times we've been careful with our refreshment-preparation, sanitising hands before eating and drinking and arranging things so that everyone selects their own eats and drinks.

As usual our volunteers enjoyed the break and the refreshments.

But more work awaited us so it was all too soon that we were back to our tasks. We'd all settled down in 'Round One' to what we were doing and the way we were doing it so it didn't make sense to change roles.

Over the years we've fine-tuned the tools we use, upgrading and updating them so that we can be as effective as possible in removing pennywort. And, with thanks to volunteer Keith, here, in the foreground, is the latest addition he's made - a wire basket that clips onto our red poles.

Ideal for removing stray pieces of pennywort and not suffering from the damage that brambles can cause to our netting nets.

Meanwhile all of our brilliant volunteers remained committed to the task - and still looked like they were enjoying it!

Eventually we had done all we could for one day and it was time to call it a halt.

Back to base, farewells, and just the job - not ours, and thanks to whoever does it - of craning out three Hippo bags-full of pennywort, brambles and other bankside vegetation. (just look how clean the deck of WORKBOAT looks!)

It should then have been an easy task of cruising back down to Heybridge Basin to moor the two boats up and offload the tools. It didn't quite work like that! But that's another story!

Thanks to our loyal volunteers. Our next regular work party is on SUNDAY, 6^th February.

Well, that was the plan! And for our Hoe Mill pair, with the EWL Raider having been ready for action when they arrived (thanks, EWL), all seemed good. A pleasant trip downstream.

Until they got to Ricketts Lock. A bit of a struggle getting the top gates open but they managed it and moved the Raider into the lock. But when 'emptied' could they get the bottom gates open? NO! There was no way that Raider was going to get out of the lock and on its way to Beeleigh (and judging by the amount of water flowing over the bottom gates at Beeleigh Lock nor would they have got through Beeleigh Lock either). A quick discussion with 'mission control' at Beeleigh and it was agreed that the best plan of action was to return to Hoe Mill.

Well, that was the plan. However, the amount of water flowing over the top gates was still an issue.

As before, the water level above the top gates was so great that they couldn't be opened. Maybe they would have to wait a day or two for the level to drop! Maybe they thought of Popeye and should send out for cans of spinach! Maybe some body-builders would turn up. No! Ingenuity won the day and through some clever 'water management' they managed to get the top gates open (what a relief) and head back to Hoe Mill.

Workers not shirkers, though, rather than justifiably feel that they'd done enough for one day and go home, they ventured further upstream to work on pennywort above Hoe Mill. The weather helped.

And, never ones to miss opportunities, they were soon 'on task', doing what we were there to do - though not intentionally at that location today - removing pennywort.

Meanwhile Buster, our jointly-owned work boat, had been prepared and driven up from Heybridge by two more early-risers.

Arriving early there was just one interested soul there to great us.

It was a good day for birds. A Kingfisher had been spotted on the way up to Beeleigh and successful Kingfisher-spotting continued through the session.

A revision of plans due to the lack of one of the two work boats that had been anticipated. In order to ensure that our workforce was most effective a team of three would work in the Langford Cut, two volunteers would work on the Long Pond from the bank and three would work on the water from Buster.

Fully equipped the 'bank team' set off.

Having ferried the Langford Cut team across to the far side the Buster crew soon got to work.

Plenty of Pennywort to be collected and it wasn't long before they were offloading their first 'cargo'.

And it seemed not long after that they were arriving with yet another boatload.

Which was quickly offloaded with the help of the Langford Cut crew who had dealt with one side of the Cut.

Efforts have been made before to describe the horrors of working in the Langford Cut. The water is only accessible by pushing through a barrier of brambles, the edge is undefined and there is little room to work. It continues to amaze us that our volunteers are willing to work there - but they are!

With no coracle out on the water to help us get the distant pennywort our long red poles came in handy.

In fact, we probably did one of our most efficient pennywort-removals in this part of the Cut for a very long time. Helped by the fact that previous work we had done there had significantly reduced the amount of pennywort needing to be removed.

Just a small amount of tidying up was possible on the ferry trip back to base.

And then good to see our bank party had arrived back

It was an ideal time to take a break for some refreshments.

Nice to relax in the sun and enjoy each other's company. And if you've recently received a gift of two picnic chairs why not use them?!

All too soon it was back to do more of the same.

More work for the crew on Buster, again pulling impressive amounts of pennywort on board.

The other side of the Langford Cut to be dealt with. Did we mention that there's not a lot of room to work there?!

And that it's a pretty grim place to be?!

Finally, for everyone, it was time to end the session. Another hard-working day for all of our volunteers. Again, spending time doing this valuable work goes above the call of duty and is much appreciated. Thank you.