Riverbank clearance at Styal on 8 December 2013

Ten of us worked today with ranger John Waller and Sunday volunteers Adam and Andrew clearing dogwood from a 30-meter stretch of the Bollin riverbank next to the millpond.  The dogwood branches on our bank (and the one opposite) were dipping into the river and a large patch of bottles/aerosols/polysytrene food cartons/footballs had accumulated behind.  The hope was that removing the dogwood would free the litter - if not today then in the next downpour.  (Towards the end of the day the 'litter slick' was breaking up in places but the litter was soon snagged on the riverbank further downstream.)

cleared riverbank with 'litter slick' behind

We lopped and sawed until 2:30pm, burning the cuttings on bonfires at either end of the footpath.  These were turned in at 3pm and then extinguised so that the public could walk safely along the footpath when we reopened it on departure.

dogwood burns well!

We had a fabulous sight at the end of the day when a kingfisher darted along the river in front of us.  Its vivid turquoise plumage was unmistakable.

During breaks and at the end of the day we went to the Victorian Fair in the mill yard.  Staff in period costumes were selling olde worlde sweets, Christmas wreaths/plants and serving hog roasts.