Extracts from reports by John Guyler Aug-Sept-Oct2026
Pinxton Wharf: Two work party members cut back a willow opposite the Boat Inn near the bridge to clear an angling peg, then removed another willow that had grown from a sapling two years earlier to span two-thirds of the in-water channel. At the weir, the water was about fifteen inches below its top. At the weir, the volunteers pulled balsam from the water’s edge, halfway across the usual channel. Several of the team were needed to remove a heavy, six-foot tree trunk from the sump beside the wood yard – possibly put there deliberately, it risked blocking flow when rain returned. A second log surfaced and was removed, leaving two large trunks and loads of blanket weed on the bank.
The revised signing-on sheet was first used that day to update information and record hand power tool use, in line with upcoming regulatory changes and insurance requirements.
Lower Hartshay: Volunteers built shuttering to rebuild a sunken section of towpath and wall, using wood from Beggarlee and boards donated to the FCC. Much Himalayan Balsam, still flowering and some extremely tall was also “pulled”.
Ironville, behind the Church: For the Ironville Gala weekend, the FCC work party cleared car park vegetation to allow stalls or parking up to the old canal wall. John Barker strimmed the field with our wheeled strimmer. John Dyson litter-picked the entire area to the reservoir, collecting three-quarters of a black bin bag. Malc & Ian used the handheld strimmer to clear the footpath and some feeder paths to the reservoir. Carol’s team quickly cleared the car park wall; John Sparam cleared the road wall near the far entrance. Baz filled a deep pothole there, covering nearby parked cars in unpleasant grey dust. Extreme heat prompted an early finish.
Ironville: Five volunteers cleared Himalayan Balsam and weeds covering the water beneath King William Bridge towards Lock four. Some balsam was extremely tall, with stalks at least two inches thick. They opened thirty metres of channel, revealing surprisingly strong flow despite the dry weather, then cleared balsam in Lock three chamber. Another volunteer stopped strimming behind the youth coach after twenty minutes because the vegetation was too dense. Litter and rubbish recovered half-filled a compost bag.
Eleven members split into two groups. One cleared more Himalayan Balsam from Lock three chamber, piling it on the wall opposite the towpath to keep the towpath-side channel flowing freely. Saplings atop the chamber were identified for winter removal. Malc Chisnall inspected the by-wash tunnel exit and found evidence of stonework dropping into the tunnel. The second group cleared blanket weed and vegetation from the reservoir overspill to the approach to Lock two, removing willow trees that had regrown after earlier cutting. Abundant garden mint gave the area a comforting scent as they worked.
FCC work parties again pulled Himalayan Balsam in Lock three before moving in front of the pottery. Three volunteers resumed strimming at the youth coach, abandoned two weeks earlier. Greater familiarity with the four-wheeled strimmer enabled effective clearance of a large area. They collected two and a half bin bags of rubbish and removed a large bramble bush concealing litter.
Codnor Park Reservoir: Malc Chisnall and several fishing club members removed and cut up fallen trees from the fishing pegs. Near Pinxton Arm Bridge, three volunteers replaced broken fence posts and rails, though the posts proved very difficult to remove.
Chase Road Ambergate: Eight volunteers cleared vegetation cut along the towpath by the DCC mower a few days earlier. One group worked towards Ambergate and the end of the in-water section; the other went past Percy’s cottage. The cuttings were easier to wheelbarrow to disposal points than heavy pulled reeds. One volunteer overshot a disposal point and was away so long that we were about to search for him when he returned with an empty barrow.
High Peak Junction: Three FCC volunteers investigated Browns Bridge after reports received about the bridge scraping against stonework when opening. A broken shop-end board was measured up for replacement.
DCC gave FCC permission to undertake these further temporary repairs to the bridge, pending replacement of the bridge in the Spring. At the eastern (ballast box) end, unsupported loads were suspected of causing renewed bolt catches on the steel plate and two internal bolts to rub against stonework, requiring ramp adjustment. Repairs were discussed with Consultant Bridge Engineer John Boucher. Suitable repair timber was sourced and collected locally. Damaged and rotted timber was replaced with new timber routed to shape, and bolts fouling the stonework adjusted. Tests confirmed correct operation.
Whatstandwell: Six volunteers removed cut vegetation from the towpath between Whatstandwell car park and just short of Gregorys Tunnel, again using DCC-supplied wheelbarrows and rakes.
Sawmills: A good turnout of volunteers cleared the heavy vegetation by hand and with strimmer’s along the overgrown footpath. The wheeled strimmer cut a good wide edge along the footpath; the area was looking good at the end of the day.
Gregory’s Tunnel: Nine coir rolls were fixed into position on the northern side of the tunnel and reeds previously pulled around Gregory’s Tunnel left to dry by the side of the towpath removed it all to disposal, the forks and wheelbarrows were again supplied by the DCC. In addition, the work party cleared the silt trap near Gregory’s Nip, this is a particularly deep series of holes and need to be treated very carefully.