Progress to date
The development of the Trust was such that by this time (1995) there was money available to acquire two large 360° excavators. In September, these and four hired in dumpers were put to work for one week in September. Many of the volunteers took the time off from work, and were joined by members of the Prince’s Trust and the RAF. A very successful week ensued where about half the Canal was dredged to the original depth and the spoil taken away for spreading on an adjacent field with the kind permission of the farmer. Interestingly, he found he had better crop yield from the material dredged from the Canal than from the rest of the field.

 

In 1996 the same routine was repeated, and by the end of another week the full 900 metres of the canal bed had been cleared and some of the ditches alongside the Canal had been cleaned out as well. It turned out that all the fill removed from the canal was good soil with no rubbish as we had been led to believe.

 

The following winter there was sufficient rain to fill the canal for the first time in over 100 years but unfortunately it did not last as the puddle clay had dried out to such an extent that leaks allowed it to almost empty again within a week. Volunteers Brian Fox and Mike Potts were able to take a boat along the full length of restored canal from the far end of Monkhide, under the main road, to Barrs Lock - about 1½ miles.

New volunteers are always assured a warm welcome from Chris High and the Yarkhill Team - to contact Chris please see our Contact Us page