Richard’s Wey July Diary 2014

Published on: 27 Aug, 2014
Updated on: 27 Aug, 2014

The latest of our riverbank tales from the local Stoke lengthsman Richard Cant

July started off exactly as June finished, with me trying to keep on top of the vegetation growth along the towpath. Thankfully the hot sunny weather throughout July meant that the grass has finally slowed down so that I was able to really concentrate on getting the locksides, fishing swims and visitor moorings looking their best ready for the increased number of river users over the school summer holidays.

The Steam Boat Association of Great Britain returned to Dapdune Wharf in spectacular style this July.

On the July 12 we took great pride in welcoming back the Steam Boat Association of Great Britain (SBA) who bought 12 of their fantastic steam-powered launches to Dapdune Wharf for the Puffing-A-Wey event.

This is the third year that we have jointly run the event with the SBA, giving their members a great venue for a boat rally and our visitors to the wharf an added bonus of the sights and sounds of steam powered boats as well as free boat rides.

The event proved hugely popular with not only the boat owners but also the 380 visitors who turned up to get a taste of steam power! Thank you to everyone who took part and helped to organise the event, fingers crossed the SBA will be willing to come back and show of the magnificent craft again next year.

The glorious sunshine and high temperatures that we enjoyed for much of July aren’t the typical conditions for fallen trees, but for some reason this month we seemed to get more than our fair share. These weren’t just on the Stoke length either, as I personally got involved in clearing one each from the Catteshall, Trigg and New Haw lengths and three from the Walsham length.

This can only be put down to the dry conditions making the trees and soil less flexible and resistant to cracking at a time when the added weight of the leaves not only puts more strain on the trees but also acts as a sail catching any wind that we do have.

Many of you that regularly use the towpath will be aware that it has been closed between the footbridge by the Odeon cinema and the railway bridge by Dapdune Wharf since the flooding at Christmas. This is because the flood water washed away the towpath surface and damaged a significant section of bank making it unsafe to use.

During July as the repair works started to come to an end I spent a lot of time with my volunteers cutting back the hedges, sweeping steps and access points and generally getting the section ready for people to enjoy. I am pleased to say that as I write this after months of heavy engineering and hard work by contractors the towpath is now back open, so next time you go into Guildford town centre please try walking the more peaceful route along the towpath.

Stoke lengthsman

07786 703 832

richard.cant@nationaltrust.org.uk

www.facebook.com/RiverWey