Work in Progress: 25 August

posted by keith vingoe on Sun, 28/08/2011 - 19:24

With regular website reporter, Nigel Thompson away this week, Dave Bloomfield supplied the regular weekly report on the days activities of the Thursday Gang regulars.

With completion of the deal between the L&B Trust, Devon County Council and the Highways Authority regarding the L&B trackbed and picnic site at Rowley Cross being imminent, and responsibility for maintenance of the picnic site subsequently becoming the L&B Trust's, and as General Manager, Martyn Budd was away on holiday, some of the volunteers decided to go and investigate what would be required in the initial clearance of the site.

Dave Bloomfield, Dave Drayson, Richard Willey, Martin Andrews and Graham Varney drove to the lay-by just off the A39 and after a quick check of the site, (it didn't look as though it had been touched for a year or more, with weeds at least 5ft high around the tables) it was decided that they would clear some of the weeds and rubbish. At first only two picnic tables could be seen but two more were found amongst the weeds. Martin Andrews collected several bags of rubbish from the site and car park whilst the rest of the team cut down and heaped the weeds so at least the tables are usable now. We went back after lunch to do some further clearing up and returned to Woody Bay just before it began to rain heavily.

1. The overgrown path leading to the picnic tables.

2. The corner of the site leads to the L&B trackbed, with original railway fence posts still showing.

3. The volunteers explore the overgrown cutting of the L&B.

4. L&B trackbed in the cutting near Rowley Cross. (After conclusion of the land purchase deal, it is expected that this autumn, a work party weekend will begin a trackbed clearance similar to last year's work at Cricket Field Lane, Parracombe.)