Riff Raff Diary for March

Published on: 10 Apr, 2013
Updated on: 10 Apr, 2013

Riff Raff Cottage and Weir

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

by Robert Craig

With the warmer weather slow to arrive it has been necessary to content myself with the preparation side of the lock painting task, rather than the application of paint itself.

The painting of the locks is something we would normally aim to complete in time for Easter and the beginning of the boating season, but that’s not to be this year.

Two members of our Wey Navigation Conservation Volunteers joined me in finishing the removal of the white gloss paint from the mooring bollards at Millmead lock during March; the bollards will remain unpainted in future, in order to lessen the visual impact on the surroundings.

Primroses on the Railway Walk

The cold wet weather has also meant that the spring flowers have been slow to appear on my length. I always look out for a group of primroses which grow along the Railway Walk near Peasmarsh, by the remains of the signalman’s cottage. They managed to make an appearance in March, much later than usual.

The cutting back of overhanging alder branches at the entrance to Guns Mouth has now been completed and I took my work punt along the channel, which the Wey & Arun Canal Trust intends to widen. This is part of their plan to reunite the Wey & Arun canal and the Wey & Godalming Navigations but there were no bands playing or bunting to be seen for my visit!

As the temperatures finally start to rise I shall be busy around the lock areas catching up with the painting, so best not to sit on the lock gates – there will be signs!

See you by the river.