Reinforcing the Riverbank at Styal Mill - 22nd June 2014

Seven of us meet up at Styal Mill to make the short journey to the car park at Wilmslow carrs near the confluence between the rivers Dean and the Bollin. The task was to spiling the traditional technique of reinforce the riverbank by diving stakes into the mud and weaving willow branches (withers)  between them to form a low wall.

 

Four volunteer’s donned waders to work in the river while the other three of us went to cut the stakes and withers however Gordon found his waders bore too strong a resemblance to a sieve and soon joined us on the bank. In total we completed about 15 yards of spiling forming a very elegant curve in the flow of the river; on the bank itself we also planted willow withers witch should root and help strengthen the sandy soil.

A fine Pear and ginger cake was provided for brew time  (the receipt for which came from a National Trust cook book) and while we sat eating a vole checked us out before disappearing under a log.  When we stopped for lunch a field mouse was spotted sneaking up on use from behind, I think Lisa may have the strange superpower of attracting cute furry things. After completing the spiling we packed up and went to check out a group of volunteers clearing Himalaya balsam on the carrs and helped out a bit. The weather was great so three of us went to the pub for a quick pint before going home.

Thank to Tim the ranger for arranging a fun and interesting task.