It was great to get back out as a group along the canal again for these first time this year. Amy set off early to do a litter pick along the way and found that our adopted section had become quite grimy again, as she filled a very heavy bag before we had even got started. We were joined by Michael, doing his first task with GoodGym, hoping to enjoy some volunteering without straining his body too much. Hopefully the canal task was a good start for you!

Beth from the Canal and River Trust joined us at Barkers Bridge and we took a load of equipment to the beginning of our adopted stretch of canal. Once there, Amy set off on another litter pick, Michael got to work on the weeds coming up through the cobbles with Beth and I set to the side weeds with a hoe. Liam joined us and got into the cobbles while Amy got the secateurs out to get rid of some of the thicker, stubborn weeds. At this point we were able to stop briefly for the rare sight of a canal boat passing as we work on the towpath. As we approached the afternoon the broom and shovel became the desired tools as we cleared up the defeated weeds and dust, before depositing them into a large grab sack. Liam and I dragged it back up to Barker’s Bridge, stopping along the way to chat to the cycling police about the quality of the soil running alongside the canal, before helping Beth to bring the last of the tools back to her van. It wasn’t my last brush with the law, as after saying goodbye and running home, I was stopped by a police van across the road from my house. I was wondering whether I was going to be asked about the way I was carrying my litterpick and hoop before I realised that it was my friend Kiran driving it and he had pulled over to say hello!