2002 saw the WRG Forestry Team involved in planning work to look at felling of areas of scrub and 60 mature trees growing on an English Heritage site - the Foxton Inclined Plane on the Grand Union Canal.
The incline was originally a boat lift designed to reduce congestion on the nearby locks at Foxton. The lift closed in the mid 1900s - Click here for further information on the Plane
Our project was to clear the trees from the lower sections where roots were causing damage to the heritage site.
We had hoped to begin the project towards the tail end of 2002, however, problems were encountered with local businesses, residents (including those using the bottom of the incline plane as residential moorings). As a result, the felling work was delayed until September 2004.
In September 2004 the WRG Forestry team of Graham Robinson, Dave Johnson, Clive Alderman, Sue Webster and Alison Johnson were joined by a number of other individuals - two newly qualified chainsaw operators from Essex WRG Bob and Paul, Jen Leigh of WRG Logistics, Max and Pete of Newbury Working Party Group, and supported by a number of enthusiastic volunteers from the Foxton Incline Plane Trust who joined us variously for one or two days. Special mention must go to Mike Beach of the museum who tirelessly slaved away for the entire week's working group, and to Martin Ludgate of London WRG who at short notice gave up a day of his time to lug branches up the incline.
There were a number of factors which created some difficulties for the group in the planning phase. Firstly, no vehicles were allowed on the site to minimise the damage to the concrete work. The site was on a steep slope and all brash had to be manually dragged to the top of the incline. Similary, no bonfires were allowed on site, which also prevented us from a simple solution to the piles of brash. Graham's detailed planning work for the job had enabled us to put in measures to deal with this.
Firstly, thanks to the Inland Waterways Association's support of the WRG training weekend, we were able to boast of having four NPTC qualified chipper operators able to take turns on using the chipper based on hard standing at the top of the incline plane. Working closely with British Waterways who assisted with provision of the equipment required, we were able to install an aerial ropeway with the use of a tirfor winch, and pulley system to enable us to pull fairly large bundles of brash up to the top of the incline.
A number of trees had been identified prior to the week's camp as requiring special treatment to enable us to work safely with respect to the boats at the base of the incline. The boats were moved a short distance away from the bank, and with the use of a second small tirfor winch, the trees were directionally felled whilst tension was applied from the winch to ensure that the trees would be felled up the plane without endangering the boats below.
We returned to Foxton for three days 11 to 13 February 2005. This time we had permission from British Waterways to use a tracked chipper on the incline. They must have taken pity on us from the September week when dragging the brash to the chipper had been an effort.
Joined for the weekend by our friends from KESCRG, Liz, Ian & Lou and by John & Tess Hawkins we continued to chip and to fell some of the remaining trees. Unfortunately gusting wind prevented us felling anything on the Saturday and with Dave not well, our chainsaw operators were much reduced.
We are pleased to see in the summer 2005 that the public house at Foxton Locks has been refurbished and re-opened. The pressure is now on to organise a return visit this autumn to continue the job!
October 2005 the work on Foxton was finally completed after several long weekends hard work, and an epic 5 day weekend put in by Graham and Jen. Relieved!
Never say the word completed. The team returned to Foxton again on 22nd September for a three day weekend. This time our task was the felling of a small line of trees along the edge of a footpath leading from the museum to the Inclined Plane. This was the initial work being done on the preparation of the footpath for an improved disabled access way. Because of the timescales for the project, the felling had to be completed during September, and as a result, additional care had to be taken for the local wildlife.
This involved the presence on site at all times of the Bat licensed ecologist from British Waterways, Hannah. Although only a small number of trees were felled, these were done with due vigilance for wildlife, as well as taking into account the hazards of the narrow access way, some adjacent heritage lock gates (immovable), and a steep drop and fence to one side. Needless to say the ropes and tirfor were put into great use in ensuring felling was controlled according to plan. Once again we chipped brash on site, although ivy covered trunks were left recumbant on the bank. The work was completed for much part in front of a large audience of boaters and walkers who were making good use of the local amenities, and strolling along the canal.