Riff Raff Diary – October 2017

Published on: 16 Oct, 2017
Updated on: 16 Oct, 2017

Riff Raff Cottage and Weir

Riverbank tales from the local St Catherine’s lengthsman and weirkeeper

by Robert Craig

With the autumn equinox now behind us and the hours of daylight becoming shorter, the character of the river is also changing. The mists are heavier at dusk now and the temperature is falling. The last few house martins are gathering in preparation for their long flight back to Africa.

Fieldfare on Isle of Sheppey – photo Malcolm Fincham.

Soon we can look forward to the arrival of visitors such as fieldfare from Northern Europe and Asia, and redwings from Scandinavia. Also look out for the roe deer grazing in the meadows bordering the navigation.

A roe deer on the River Wey towpath to the north of Guildford, captured on film by Malcolm Fincham

During the past weeks there has still been plenty of mowing and strimming for
me to do, with the grass continuing to make plenty of growth. I’ve also given
the hedge at Stonebridge car park a final cut before winter and cleared the
ditch below it. Looking ahead, in the next couple of weeks I’ll be making a start on the annual winter cut back of the towpath vegetation.

Near the end of September we had the Wey River Festival at Dapdune Wharf. I helped with the setting up before and clearing away after the event, as well as
on the day helping with the car parking.

Wey River Festival 2017 – a lit narrow boat passes under the Town Bridge.

As with last year we were lucky in having good weather and the festival was very well attended. After dark the illuminated boat pageant took place, with the decorated boats heading upstream and mooring by the White House pub prior to heading back downstream to Dapdune. The spectacle was a treat for the drinkers outside.

The spectacle was a treat for the drinkers outside the pub and people crossing the bridge into town.