Future plans

WEDNESDAY 15th February 10 o'clock	We will wait and see what the weather does. If we can't work on the Leat aqueduct we can return to the Basin wall, and we may be able to start installing some shelving in the cabin.
WEDNESDAY 18th January 10 o'clock	A huge Russian Vine was removed from the Basin wall; we will now be able to assess this section more easily. The Leat was also cleared of the remaining debris; it now looks very good when viewed fro T&S towpath.
THURSDAY 15th December 10 o'clock	December workparty CANCELLED due to unpredictable weather conditions.
WEDNESDAY 16th November 10 o'clock	An exceptionally good day thanks to a large visiting team from Nationwide. The bed of the Mill Leat still remains dry, so we were able to remove much more of the weed clogging the channel and also tidy up around the junction bridge.
WEDNESDAY 2nd November 10 o'clock	A very successful day with the energetic assistance from a very enthusiastic Nationwide team. They continued to clear the mass of reeds that were blocking the Mill Leat and which would seriously impede the water flow when the rains (eventually) return. It also adds considerably to the appearance of the area. The Mill Leat and Thames & Severn canal have been dry now for several months. The water level in the adjacent gravel pits also well below its outlet pipe.
Thursday 20th October 10 o'clock	The area around the basin is so dry that not only has the Mill Leat been totally devoid of water for over two months, the bed of the Thames & Severn Canal is also bone dry and the level of the adjacent gravel pit is 18 inches below the overflow pipe. Taking advantage of the situation we cleared all the silt off of the remains of the Leat aqueduct and also exposed the edges to reveal that the tunnel under it is apparently still in very good condition.
WEDNESDAY 12th October 10 o'clock	The continuing good weather meant that, with the assistance of an enthusiastic group from BT, we were able to make very good progress on the east wall and on the leat aqueduct. We also cleared some more of the area by the parking place and salvaged some large stones from the mud by the flood relief aqueduct.
Thursday 22nd September 10 o'clock	Another really good effort with a visiting Group from Thames Water. As the Mill Leat was so dry we cleared across the aqueduct towards the bridge opening up the view and allowing us to get a better idea of its construction.
WEDNESDAY 14th September 10 o'clock	A very large group of volunteers from Nationwide meant that we were able to complete a section of the west wall, erect our new fence with a 16' gate, clear a huge amount of debris from the top of the aqueduct and clean over half of the west wall top surface. A really good day.
WEDNESDAY 17th August 10 o'clock	Another good day. Further work on the wall, strimming and mowing and even a short run with the Allen Scythe!!! We had another delivery of sand & cement that should keep us going for a few months, and also some 12 foot rails ready for putting up the new fence.
WEDNESDAY 13th July 10 o'clock	We have decided to change our scheduled workparty day to mid-week, as we are mainly all retired, and then can have the occasional Saturday as an "extra"
Saturday 18th June 10 o'clock	Typical summer day "Sunshine & Showers", but we had a good day. completed the front edge of West wall of Basin as far as this years target was planned. Prepared shuttering for rear ready for next WP.
Saturday 21st May 10 o'clock	Further progress on the west wall. We are well on target for this year. And we have been lent the East Vale Allen Scythe, a venerable old lady who trundles along in clouds of blue smoke. We hope to use it to control the weeds in the canal bed.
Wednesday 4th May 10 o'clock	A great days work by our visiting team from BT. The cement mixer worked well and they cast a long length of the west wall, plus a lot of clearance and earth moving from the aqueduct. And thanks to Jon, John and Phil the basin and surrounding area was mown and strimmed.
Saturday 16th April 10 o'clock	Thanks to Mike's engine rebuild the old cement mixer is now back in working order. Shuttering is in place ready for BTs team building team to get stuck into on the 4th of May. A bench was installed by the aqueduct for the benefit of walkers and the weeds were given a dose of "Roundup".
Saturday 19th March 10 o'clock	Repairs to cement mixer worked fine, but fuel stop cock snapped off; this will be replaced at an extra work party on the 22nd. We did some clearing on the west parapet of the aqueduct which has improved it's appearance.
Saturday 19th February 10 o'clock	In spite of the very muddy conditions we were able to prepare the west wall for the next stage. The cement mixer is out of action at present, but repairs look hopeful. A improved route from the cabin to the canal bed was made made so that we don't have to negotiate the little wooden bridge with the wheelbarrows. And the cabin was tidied up.
Saturday 15th January 10 o'clock	A really good day. In spite of the rain the site was not too muddy and the recently cleared ditches seem to be keeping the water levels in the adjacent fields lower than previous years. We completed six more large stone replacements on the east wall. Very satisfactory!
Thursday 25th November 9.30	Visiting teams from Intel helped us clear back a lot of the west wall, reposition stones on the east wall as well as some general tiding up. Their help is always much appreciated.
Saturday 20th November 10 o'clock	A great day. Work on the walls progressed well.
Saturday 30th October 10 o'clock	A good day. The tree root on the south-west wall was removed and the stones re-seated.
Extra work party Thursday 7th October	Progressed continued apace. Repairs to the wall continued, final section of garden debris removed from basin and a new section of wall cleared to expose another "small" root.
Extra work party Tuesday 26th September	An excellent day with over twenty volunteers from Nationwide Building Society. Footpath and ditches were cleared. Work started on rebuilding another section of Basin wall. A large pile of logs was relocated to a less inconvenient spot.
Saturday 18th September 2010 10 o'clock	More of the usual. Work on that root and continuing renovating the west wall.
Saturday 21st August 2010 10 o'clock	We made more progress on exposing the big tree root. Although it hasn't seriously damaged the wall the sheer size of it means it is a slow job. We were also very pleased to meet Mike from New Zealand who has been following our work via the internet.
EXTRA Intel work party Thursday 5th August 10 o'clock	A really good day. Side of the aqueduct cleared, basin mowed and work on the tree stump progressed well, plus a bit of strimming.
Saturday 31st July 2010 10 o'clock	Another great day. The next big tree stump has been attacked and the adjacent stones moved out of the way. It is now ready for us to carry on with on Thursday.
Saturday 3rd July 2010 10 o'clock	Another brilliant Day. the section of wall only now needs the heavy top stones replaced. We also attacked the weeds in and around the Basin as well as pulling up the Ragwort.
Saturday 15th May 2010 10 o'clock	A beautiful sunny day and an excellent job done. The "Stump" is out.
Saturday 17th April 2010 10 o'clock	Basin cleared, grass mown, Mill Leat surveyed for leaks and the fence repaired. A nice day in the sunshine.
Saturday 20th March 2010 10 o'clock	We used two brush-cutters to clear the canal bed from the lock down to the first bend. It is now looking Good.
Saturday 20th February 2010 10 o'clock	A nice Sunny, but cold, day and we are back again. A bonfire to remove some of the rubbish, a dozen trees planted amongst our new Hawthorne hedge and a general clear up.
November 21st Saturday 2009	In spite of the weather, we are close to reaching this years goal; one more day should do it.
October 31st Saturday 2009	We are nearly halfway down the wall and have started filling in behind. The next two work parties should see it nearly finished.
August 15th Saturday 2009	The work on the wall is progressing well. PICTURES
August 1st Saturday 2009 (July WP clashed with Fairford Air show!)	We are making very good progress replacing some of the missing large stones along the basin wall. Also spent a couple of hours pulling up Ragwort around the Basin. Common Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea, contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids which are poisonous to horses and other farm animals such as sheep and cattle and also to wild animals such as hare and deer. It is for pasture owners to recognise and control this potentially fatal plant.
June 6th Saturday 2009	Lots of strimming, more work on the aqueduct following up from an excellent work party by Npower. PICTURES
May 16th Saturday 2009	The big tree root is now out of the lock wing wall and the wall has been temporally rebuilt. We now have the sand and cement on site and we have started to sort through our collection of stone so that we can incorporate as many of the originals back in the basin wall, Visits from Intel and Npower continue.
April 18th Saturday 2009	With a little bit of a nudge the tree root on the entrance to the lock finally came out, and our marine division sailed its boat on the Leat.
March 21st Saturday 2009	A good day. Cement mixer started OK, new generator works well, and new tyres and tubes fitted to launch trailer. The entrance area was tidied up and is looking very attractive for walkers. The replacement stone cast last month looks good and should soon weather in.
February 21st Saturday 2009	Really nice early Spring day. Explored the hole on the aqueduct and the signs are good that the arch is intact. Also cast a stone as a replacement along the Basin Wall.
January 18th Saturday 2009	It all depends on the weather, but there is maintenance needed on the cement mixer and two wheelbarrows. Plus we need to plan how we will rebuild the basin walls and sort out how much of the original stone is still usable.
December 20th Saturday	A good days work tidying up around the Basin. Fence re-instated across the top of the lock. All ready for next year. BLUE is off to Foxham, but was well worth having.
November 15th Saturday	It was a bit muddy around the Basin, but that didn't stop us putting in a good days work.
November 1st Saturday	A good days work with BLUE immediately proving its worth.
October 4th Saturday	The promised rain held off long enough for us to finish clearing the canal bed in the areas attacked by INTEL earlier this month.
September 20th Saturday	We completed some more clearing in preparation for a visit from an INTEL workparty. We also had some visitors from CCT looking around the Junction after their AGM at Lechlade.
August 30th Saturday	Interesting day. While we worked on the Basin wall, CCT were part way through a week long work party at the junction. PICTURES
July 19th 2008 Saturday	Lots of Strimming done, plus lawn mowing which included some of the area reclaimed from the Stinging nettles. We have also started to rebuild part of the Basin wall which is looking good.
June 21st 2008 Saturday	We extricated the digger from the canal bed and it will shortly be on its way back to Wantage. Further clearance of the basin walls was also carried out following on from our two good days earlier in the month. PICTURES
June 1st 2008 Sunday	Open Day at the Basin. In spite of the rain of the previous days which made our planned car park un-usable the day was considered a success. We had a steady flow of visitors , including family members and everyone seemed pleased to see our progress. There is no doubt better weather would have brought out more people, but nevertheless its was well worth the effort. PICTURES
May 24th 2008 Saturday	Fencing finished, lots of strimming done and more infill taken out of the lock. Looking good for June 1st.
May 17th 2008 Saturday	Another great day. The lock clearance has really gone well and should impress visitors on the Open Day.
April 19th 2008 Saturday	Another great day, even the rain held off (for most of the time). Marvellous turnout and a visit from the Maidenhead Sea Scouts. We finished the fencing around the Basin. Sowed grass seed on the newly levelled area, and cleared a lot more debris from the lock area.
March 15th 2008 Saturday	We have nearly cleared the infill from the Basin, but the rain was causing too many problems. PICTURES Half of the safety post and rail fence around the Basin has been erected.
February 16th 2008 Saturday	A successful day. The flooding has gone down although the adjacent fields are still waterlogged. We carried on clearing along the canal bed, and also attacked the stinging nettles with animal friendly weed-killer.
January 19th 2008 Saturday	Postponed...............for the usual reason........Flooding.
December 15th 2007 Saturday	Good days work in spite of the cold. The lock has started to produce a lot of stones from the chamber.
November 2007 3rd & 4th Saturday & Sunday	WRG are held their "Bonfire Bash" on the North Wilts this weekend. Thanks to their efforts and the continuing work of our own team we have made some great progress. PICTURES
October 21st 2007 SUNDAY	A very pleasant day allowed us to knock back a lot of the recent growth of stinging nettles etc..
August 4th 2007 Saturday	Open Day at the Basin. CANCELLED due to flooding. A few of us were on site all day to explain the situation to anyone turning up. There were a few and I hope we spoke to everyone. I would like to thank these visitors for their understanding, interest and donations. We also found time to remove the old barbed wire fence across the lock entrance and replace it with a "post and rail" fence. Much safer and tidier. PICTURES
July 21st 2007 Saturday	The weather defeated us for this one. It proved impossible to reach the Basin. We will endeavour to make up the lost time before the Open Day.
June 16th 2007 Saturday	We continued clearing the aqueduct and lock and then our intrepid explorers followed the drainage ditch looking for the reason for the slow run off of the water. Most of this was done before the rains came.
May 25th 2007 Friday	A quiet day as expected, but we continued clearing the site and exposing some more of the aqueduct.
April 21st 2007 Saturday	A very successful day. The aqueduct wall is looking good. A constant flow of walkers were most appreciative. PICTURES
March 17th 2007 Saturday	We spent our time tidying up the area on the top of the Aqueduct and Lock, as well as continuing with our archaeological survey. PICTURES
Feb 17th/18th 2007 Saturday/Sunday	The two day work party with WRG was very successful. The site is now very clear and work has begun on the aqueduct wall. PICTURES
January 21st 2007 Sunday	Flooded fields, overflowing river and canal and one very large tree blown over. It all went to make an interesting day. PICTURES
Dec. 27th 2006 Wednesday	Another very successful day. A very good turnout and a great deal achieved. Several walkers commented favourably and appreciated our efforts. PICTURES

Any help is always welcome.
There are many ways in which you can help, and not just on work parties.
Fund raising, publicity, research.....