Riff Raff Diary: August 2018

Published on: 19 Aug, 2018
Updated on: 19 Aug, 2018

Riff Raff Cottage and Weir

Riverbank tales from the local St Catherine’s lengthsman and weir keeper

by Robert Craig

The last few weeks have been challenging, with the heatwave continuing. Apart from the business of working in those conditions the policing aspect of my job increased with the large number of people heading for the river.

Swimmers by St Catherine’s footbridge. Young men still jump from the bridge into the river despite advice not to do so.

Unfortunately, there were issues with people swimming and picnicking at the locks, which is obviously dangerous and hindered boaters attempting to use the waterway. Another concern is the use of barbecues with the grassland being tinder dry at this time. The hot weather seems to bring out the worst in a minority of people and there have been several instances of petty vandalism such as damage to the St Catherines Lock sign and lock gates.

I’ve managed to get a lot of mowing and strimming done though. With the hot weather, the lockside grass had not made a lot of growth but looked better for setting the cutter high and just taking the whiskers off. At Stonebridge Wharf the moorings, access track and car park had a cut with the ride-on mower – a very dusty job in the dry conditions.

The clolourful goldfinch.

Further downstream near Pyrford Lock I spent a day with fellow lengthsmen clearing a large Oak tree, which had fallen and blocked the Navigation. It took the three of us a day to clear it and it was a very satisfying moment when, having removed all the weight, the stump and root plate returned to an almost upright position.

Look out at the moment for the flocks of brightly coloured goldfinches feeding mainly on seeds, especially of thistle – a truly stunning little bird.

Cattle breaking down the riverbank on St Catherine’s Meadow. Days later part of the bank had been fenced off.

The Dragon editor Martin Giles spotted some new fencing on the bank of Shalford Meadow and wondered if it was my handiwork but it is not to do with me or the National Trust. It is on GBC land.

I presume that they are trying to stop the cattle poaching that section of bank until they repair it.

Millmead Weir

He also noticed some Environment Agency workers apparently trying to unjam a log from the upstream Millmead weir. I am going to investigate. I don’t think it can be a section of the fallen alder we cut up some months back, it would be quite a feat to get it in the river but I will investigate.

See you by the river.