Riff Raff Diary – September 2017

Published on: 10 Sep, 2017
Updated on: 10 Sep, 2017

Riff Raff Cottage and Weir

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

by Robert Craig

Heading into September my time will be spent on strimming the towpath vegetation, bank repairs and some hedging now that the nesting season is behind us.

Last month it was still possible to continue pulling up some of the invasive Himalayan Balsam growing along the navigation – now though the majority of it has gone to seed and I shall have to wait until next year to resume that particular battle.

Ragwort

Even though the vegetation growth has slowed a little I still seemed to have spent August mainly strimming and mowing, as well as attending to all those routine tasks like mowing the lock sides, moorings and towpath as well as strimming the narrower sections on the length and clearing any overhanging branches. There was also some ragwort to be pulled up before it set seed.

A few weeks ago, near Ferry Lane, a large Alder tree growing in Shalford Park fell over into the Navigation. Even though that section of river is broad it still blocked the whole width of the waterway and even part of the towpath.

As the tree belonged to Guildford Borough Council I contacted their tree officer and it was dealt with quickly. In order to enable boats to pass whilst waiting for contractors to arrive the smaller end of the tree was cleared by our maintenance team and members of the crew on Surrey Care Trust’s boat Swingbridge2.

It was a joint effort, resulting in the Farncombe Boat House hire fleet being able to return on time that day.

A house Martin distinguishable from sand martins by the lack of a chest bar.

Looking skyward you may have noticed recently all the House Martins gathering in order to make the long flight back south to Africa for the winter, the Swifts having already departed.

See you by the river.