Riff Raff Diary June 2018

Published on: 29 Jun, 2018
Updated on: 29 Jun, 2018

Riff Raff Cottage and Weir

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

by Robert Craig

With the rapid vegetation growth at this time of year, much of the past few weeks has been spent mowing and strimming.

The moorings at Stonebridge were strimmed (a two day job for me normally), as well as St Catherine’s and Millmead locksides.

Broadford allotments access and car park have been cut, and on the towpath the narrow sections from Weir House meadow upstream to the roller near St Catherine’s.

The vegetation on the sharp bend by the roller was cut down to aid visibility at that point in the navigation.

To round off the month I had the ride-on mower for a couple of days and was able to mow Stonebridge Wharf and the towpath, luckily avoiding the thundery downpours.

There was time, however, for some jobs other than mowing and strimming. In Guildford there was some damage to repair to the towpath bank caused by dogs entering the river.

The signs on Broadford Bridge had a clean and on bank holiday Monday I helped out at one of the lengthsman team’s event at Thames lock Weybridge.

Here we set up a working model of a Wey lock, which proved popular with the children and some adults too.

The operation of the lock and model Wey barge was very enthusiastic and if scaled up to our own locks would have led to a lot of damage!

See you by the river.

robert.craig@nationaltrust.org.uk

07786703831.