WRG’s London contingent have thoroughly enjoyed their foray north to scrub-bash on a short section of the Cromford Canal. Arriving at the Newlands Inn (always rely on WRG to find a pub) on the morning of Saturday 20th November they were swiftly briefed by working party leader Marcus before heading down to the work site for the day: the short section of canal between the culverted Newlands Bridge 34 and the eastern portal of Butterley Tunnel.

The trees had overgrown the short isolated section of towpath (in some cases quite severely) and covered the culvert bank up to the main road but by the time the light (and BBC cameraman) had gone all this had been cleared and a “good to excellent” bonfire created.

The equipment used ranged from bow saws and Tirfors (for pulling stumps) to chain saws, one of which was wielded by a newly qualified lady, who (I am reliably informed) is NOT to be argued with! [Alison later stated she’d had her chainsaw certificate for 2 years! - Ed] Some small stuff was chipped and some of the logs went out by rail, on the 2' gauge Golden Valley Railway which runs from the Midland Railway Centre to the back door of the pub – surely the best terminus any railway could wish for!

Reactions from the group were almost unanimously favourable: the accommodation’s good, the beer’s cheap (but then again, you could say that of almost anywhere in the country compared to London) and there’s plenty more in the way of scrub and trees to clear - so much so that a much larger work site has been identified for a Christmas / New Year Camp, subject to the relevant permissions being forthcoming.

Brian L Dominic

More photos are on the Friends of the Cromford Canal website.