Latest News
…The Three shires – A Regeneration project…
Visit our Photos and Videos section to see our new video “The Three Shires – Our Regeneration project” to learn more about our activities and how to support the Grantham Canal society
…Grantham Canal in the news…
You can read / watch the BBC Look North report on restoring two more canal locks at Woolsthorpe-by-Belvoir here: www.bbc.co.uk/news/
…Ash tree die back disease (chalara fraxinia)…
From The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust
Ash dieback disease is caused by the fungus Chalara fraxinea. It results in leaf loss and crown dieback in the affected trees and has the potential to devastate the ash tree population.
Most of the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust’s woodland nature reserves are noted as oak/ash woodlands with fine, mature examples of both species being found. A diverse range of insects and lichens are also found living on ash trees. The loss of ash trees in these woodlands, and in the wider countryside, will fundamentally change the character of our woodlands and landscape. Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust field staff are fully aware of the symptoms of the disease. But with the autumn leaf fall, tracking the disease is going to be difficult.
This latest threat to the countryside emphasises the need to act local. There should be no need to import ash trees. All Lincolnshire tree planting schemes use tree seedlings of local provenance: using seeds that have been collected locally.
Ash dieback disease was first confirmed in Britain in February 2012 at a tree nursery in Buckinghamshire. The cases at the Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s Lower Wood reserve in Ashwellthorpe (an ancient woodland and a Site of Special Scientific Interest) and the Woodland Trust’s Pound Farm woodland in Suffolk confirmed that the disease had spread into the wild.
Detailed information on the disease and recognising the main symptoms can be found on the Forestry Commission website at www.forestry.gov.uk/chalara
Woodlands Trust http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/en/Pages/default.aspx#.UKtj8eSvEos
Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust rshaw@lincstrust.co.uk
GRANTHAM CANAL SOCIETY
invite you to a
DISCOVERY DAY
to inform, inspire and involve
at Woolsthorpe by Belvoir Depot/Carpenter’s Shop
behind the Rutland Arms (Dirty Duck) Public House
NG32 1NY
Sunday 7th October 2012, 10.00am – 5.00pm
Activities for all the family
Boat Trips starting at 10:00
Heritage Displays
Fun and Fundraising
& 2nd Annual Dirty Duck Race
Sunday Lunches at the Dirty Duck
01476 870111
Light Refreshments Available in the Depot
Donations of saleable items welcome.
All proceeds towards the maintenance and restoration of the Grantham Canal.
More information from:
Rosemary Gibson, RhuMaere@aol.com 01476 978896/07971173069
‘Wollaton Hall’ to be sold to fund Grantham
Canal Restoration!
The surprise news is that historic ‘Wollaton Hall’ is to be put up for sale to help pay for the restoration of two 200-year old East Midlands canals! Well, not the actual Elizabethan masterpiece on the western edge of Nottingham but the name and number plates from the 1940 Great Western Railway steam locomotive named in its honour.
Peter Stone, Secretary to the Grantham Canal Partnership for the past 7 years, has treasured the plates since purchasing them from British Railways in 1962, when locomotive number 5999 was withdrawn from service and scrapped. But transport historian Peter is also a Trustee of both the Friends of the Cromford Canal and the Grantham Canal Society and, right now, feels that the societies’ needs are greater than his own. So the solid brass numberplate and brass and steel nameplate are to be sold at an auction of ‘Railwayana’ taking place at Derbyshire County Cricket Ground on 8th September and all the proceeds split between the two canals. As the name and number plates from the other side of the engine are owned by the City of Nottingham and displayed at the Hall, this is a unique opportunity for private ownership of such artefacts!
Both canals were built in the 1790s by local engineer William Jessop and played major roles in the growth of trade in the East Midlands. The 17-mile Cromford Canal, which ran from Cromford and Pinxton to join the national inland waterway network at Langley Mill, was vital to the development of the industrial revolution.
By contrast, as most readers will know, ‘our’ 33-mile Grantham Canal ran from the then market town of Grantham, through the Vale of Belvoir, to join the River Trent at Nottingham and served an essentially agricultural community. Both canals are now best known for their towpath walks through stunning scenery – but leisure boating is once again possible on the 4 miles of the Grantham between the A1 and Woolsthorpe and the purchase of ‘Mudlark’ and restoration of the Woolsthorpe flight of locks will accelerate progress. Meanwhile, in Derbyshire, the FCC is striving to re-introduce a trip boat service from the historic Cromford Wharf.
Peter – who, with his wife Chris, has just re-located to the New Forest – says ‘the restoration of both of these beautiful canals is gathering pace but there’s an enormous amount to be done, requiring much more money. Each of the charities promoting the conservation and restoration of the canals has exciting plans for extending navigation, implementation of which are currently delayed by lack of funds. Hopefully, my gesture will help and I hope that many others will also subscribe money or volunteer their time for these outstanding causes.’
GCS members and supporters are urged to spread the word about the 8th September Auction. Such events are a fascinating day out and the Grantham Canal Society will benefit to the tune of 50% of all the proceeds of the ‘Wollaton Hall’ sales + Gift Aid!
Volunteers needed for Grantham Canal
The Grantham Canal Society is appealing for volunteers to help with the vital work done by its support team. Roles are wide ranging and offer a great opportunity to make a real contribution to boosting membership, organising events and helping to run education programmes with local schools, says Mike Stone, chairman of the Grantham Canal Society. He added: “Volunteering is a brilliant way to build new skills, extend your social networks and make a significant contribution to developing and protecting the 33mile stretch of the Grantham Canal – an amazing resource that is loved by so many ”
There are three admin roles to be filled on the membership team; an events and sales assistant is needed to support current marketing initiatives and work with local schools curriculum programmes to promote the canal. A social secretary is also required to organise events and meetings for society members.
Many of the volunteer roles can work easily from home, but access to a computer would be useful. If you would like to get involved, please email chairman@granthamcanal.com
“The Grantham Canal Society and the Grantham Canal Partnership are committed to improving the recreational and conservation value of theGranthamCanalas part of its long term strategy of restoring the canal to navigation.”
The majority of the 33 miles of theGranthamCanalbelongs to British Waterways, apart from approximately 350 yards which belong to the Environment Agency above Lock 1 nearLadyBayBridge,Nottingham, and approximately 1.5 miles within Grantham which belongs to South Kesteven District Council.
Canal and River Trust (previously British Waterways) has very limited resources to maintain remainder waterways (non navigable waterways) and is having to increasingly rely on the support of volunteers. The Grantham Canal Ranger initiative is intended to step in and fill the gap, ensuring that the canal remains a first class amenity for all users. The aim of the initiative is not to undertake ‘hands on physical restoration work’ or to replace paid British Waterways staff but to provide additional value to the canal and improve the experience of users of the canal.
If anyone wishes to become a volunteer with the Grantham Canal Society please go to www.granthamcanal.com for contact details.