ENVIRONMENT
The Cotswold Canals Trust's trip boat
'Inglesham' which operates from the
Riverside Park, Lechlade every weekend and
Bank Holidays, weather permitting. The boat
is also available for private charter for up to
12 people. Picture by Ron Read
Lottery fund, for the restoration of a
four-mile length of the eastern section
and a further grant of £80,000 from the
People’s Millions Lottery to be used to
restore the walls of the port at
Brimscombe.
While the trust has “armchair”
members, whose support is welcome and
vital, others are very much hands on.
Regular work parties take place,for
which the trust’s own volunteers are often
joined by members of the Waterways
Recovery Group,who come for a week’s
“camp” to put in a spell of intensive work
on a particular site.On the Thames and
Severn section, recent projects have been
the rebuilding of Ruck’s Bridge,a“big
task” according to Liz Payne,and
excavation at Eysey Lock; these twoExcavating under Ruck's Bridge. Picture by Ken Burgin
locations are between Latton and
Kempsford.
While there has been infilling on some
lengths over the centuries,fortunately
very little of the beds of the canals has
been built over.“Simple infill is not too
difficult a problem,” says Liz. “It is just a
matter of digging it out.”
A more enjoyable part of the trust’s
work is the fundraising and awareness-
raising exercise of running the pleasure
boat, the Inglesham,on the River Thames
from Lechlade during the summer
months.“It’s all great fun,” says Liz.
These popular trips run from the
Riverside Park at weekends from Easter
to September and have a large take-up;
the boat can also be booked for private
charter trips.Acommentary is provided,
describing both the riverbank scenery
and wildlife,and the section of the canal
that can be seen at its junction at
Inglesham. Here the passengers can see
the Round House,the former home of
the lock-keeper,and the former
warehouse.The warehouse is now a
private home; the Round House,
although now empty,was formerly let as
a holiday cottage - just the place to watch
the world go by.
Anyone who would like to support the work of
the trust by becoming a member can contact its
Cirencester office on 01285-643440, any day
except Friday.Eysey Lock restoration in progress. Picture by Ken Burgin
www.cotswoldessence.co.uk 47COTSWOLDESSENCE September - November 2008
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