Yarkhill Open Day 16 August 2009
Chris High’s Yarkhill Team of volunteers was in attendance to man the stalls and exhibits set up at Yarkhill village hall, and to accompany visitors on guided walks from the hall to the restored section of canal.
Fortunately, we were graced with good weather as the team gathered early on the Sunday morning to set up signs, erect banners and bunting, and finalise arrangements for the raffle, bazaar, refreshments and sales stalls together with the exhibition display at the village hall. An estimated two hundred plus visitors were led by Bernard, Paul and Ralph on a tour of the canal throughout the morning and afternoon. The village hall was a continual hive of activity with Colin, Eileen, Janet, Penny, Peter and Stella providing excellent supporting services.
Our first sale was soon after 10 o’clock and Chris set off shortly afterwards to lead the first organised canal walk. During the walk our visitors were told about the canal and the Yarkhill Team’s voluntary work. The site of Barrs Lock was visited (the work here is carried out with the kind permission of Mr P Clews of Woodmanton Farm). Returning south along “wild side” of the canal, which has only just had its first levelling to make it accessible for maintenance, our plans for further levelling and bank profiling were explained. Approaching the southern end the restored length, an overgrown section of the canal was shown to the visitors to give an understanding of the canal’s condition prior to restoration work. Clearance of this section is another job planned for the near future.
The Yarkhill Open Day 2009 was judged a great success, and our grateful thanks are offered to all our visitors and to the Team for attracting six new members to the Trust, six potential new volunteers, and well over £500 for Trust funds.
