Riff Raff Diary – December 2015

Published on: 13 Dec, 2015
Updated on: 13 Dec, 2015

Riff Raff Cottage and Weir.

Riverbank tales from our local St Catherine’s Lengthsman and Weirkeeper

by Robert Craig

I spent November working at Stonebridge Wharf and on the winter cut back of the towpath vegetation.

As usual at this time of year, there were a lot of leaves to rake up especially with the winds we have experienced recently.

When we have high winds I carry out an inspection of my length looking for any fallen or damaged trees and submit an incident report.

This last month I only had small damaged trees to deal with and was able to clear them without the use of a chainsaw.

Also at Stonebridge I had some fencing repairs, cutting back of overhanging trees by the wharfinger’s cottages, a ditch to dig out, and a large hedge to cut.

During the last month I have also been able to visit two other lengths on the navigation in relation to a habitat box project I am undertaking.

The purpose is to identify locations suitable for a variety of nesting / habitat boxes.

So apart from the obvious small bird, barn owl, or kestrel boxes, they could be all sorts of things like hedgehog homes, a simple piece of corrugated iron on the ground for snakes, or bat boxes.

In Guildford the work on the new pedestrian bridge continues but unfortunately has been delayed by one week as the existing bridge abutments were found to be in poorer condition and additional work is required.

The bridge is expected to be open by December 18.

See you by the river.

robert.craig@nationaltrust.org.uk

Tel: 07786 703831.