Basin Cleared (nearly!)

      It's just the beginning of April and finally we have the Basin cleared of the infill. Nearly, that is, as we have left a small ramp in one corner to allow the machinery access, and also to leave Bruce enough space to get his farm tractor and trailer in to his field.  By the end of Thursday (3-4-8) most of the infill had been removed and one corner of the Mill Leat aqueduct had been exposed. This has a nice curve on it, and we will nibble a bit more off of the ramp to see the other corner which should be a match. The soil removed from the Basin has been used to build up the big dips in the surrounding area and this will be grassed over.  A lot of stone was found in one corner and this has been separated and it will be used for repairs and to replace missing stones.

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Thursday 27-3-08
 



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The fence between the two sections of the Basin needed to be removed.


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In this corner of the Basin there was a lot of stone, probably part of the old aqueduct walls.

We found time to clear some of the mud from the leat.
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The track is very soft and rolling back and forth with the digger is one way of trying to compress it.  It's a nightmare when it rains hard!


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Thursday evening 27-3-08
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Thursday Midday 3-4-08  ( I had errands to run so I arrived late with the camera.)
Stone from the corner of the Basin.


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Soil from the infill being used to fill in some of the uneven ground.
 


A wonderfully sunny day.
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First sight of the corner of the aqueduct.
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A nice curve on the corner, but a curious ledge.  It appears that the top stones are set back a few inches. Will the other side be the same?
 



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The fence has gone.  There is a small dribble of water leaking into the Basin, but it soon drains away.
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Bob levelling the soil preparatory to us seeding it.

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A quick look down the canal bed from the lock. 

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We will soon start to remove the soil and rubbish from the lock in order to reveal it current condition.

These stumps are Elder and need to be removed soon. 

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Nice view of the cottage.
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The water level has gone down again.


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Nice and flat and ready for seeding.
This is our little hut. We now have somewhere to hide when it rains....


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.......and a patio to sit on to eat our lunch.
 


I couldn't resist taking more pictures.
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This ditch runs under the Mill Leat and has been flooding across the field turning it in to a mud bath.  It is the same field that we have permission to use as a car park for the Open Day.  So, with farmer Bruce's permission, we dredged out a section of the ditch and banked it up along the edge.  The water now goes down the ditch and the field is drying out.
 


Drying out.

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Thursday Evening. I was on my way home and couldn't resist a few last shots of the Thames & Severn Canal. Westward.


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To the East

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There is still lots to do.
If you would like to help please contact us.
Fund raising
Publicity
Negotiating
Research
Organising
As well as the the usual hands on work.