We had a very enjoyable work day last month, with a lovely morning during which we cleared a channel and eased flow almost the full length of the leat. It was enormously encouraging to see the excellent work being done by the new landowners near Misbourne Farm and fun to have several young new volunteers joining us in getting wet and dirty!
Given the steady flow going in at the top of the leat for several months, its been surprising that flow has not quite made it the last few yards to cross Mill Lane at the ford. Hopefully, a combination of a few more autumnal days and filling a few more rabbit holes will get us across the road and on the way back to Chalfont St Giles. This is a crucial and quite rewarding time of year to work on the river and we look forward to a really good turnout again, please, for our next session on Sunday 21st October. Please let me know if you can join us. `Why not make a note of the 25th November (changed date) as well?
At long last it seems that Veolia Water (now Affinity) are able to advise some information regarding their consultants’ investigations into options for the future, i.e. 2015 – 2020. Initial indications are encouraging and we look forward to learning more at a meeting this Friday. Join us to mull over these and other issues at our “not-a-meeting” at The Ivy House pub next Monday 15th evening at 7.45 p.m.
Although not setting out to join either the “pro” or “anti” lobby, MRA is now represented on the local forum of associations meeting with HS2 to discuss mitigation of environmental and other effects should it ever go ahead. In that context, we are attempting to initiate a Misbourne focussed seminar involving various expert and local knowledge to challenge the robustness of the understanding of potential effects of tunnelling and excavations in the valley in the context of local geology and the vagaries of our river’s flow. Some of your reports and photographs are also finding their way to the environmental consultants who are studying the existing flora and fauna.
Chalfont St Giles Show again brought out the sunshine and the crowds. It was very nice to chat with a few of you who came and found our stand and also to welcome some new interest. Some people have explained that work parties are not for them but they would love to help us if they could. Well, if anyone is interested, one job (or two) that we could pass on is the washing of the HiVis tabards and work gloves between work-days. We are also moving towards a position where we could do with a few more tools, particularly strong rakes and brush or bill hooks.
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