Inland Waterways support the Wendover Arm Trust Waterways Recovery Group Family Camp

Family Activity in the Wendover Pocket Park

The idea of the Family Camps, sponsored by the Inland Waterways Association, is to encourage the youngsters to enjoy the outdoor life and get satisfaction by learning new skills through conserving our heritage waterways. The Wendover Arm of the Grand Union Canal provides a scenic and tranquil route from Bulbourne to Wendover – built as a feeder to provide much needed water to the Tring summit on the Grand Union. The canal was used for the carriage of coal, timber, straw and manure until 1904 when the canal ceased navigation due to leakage. It is currently being restored by the Wendover Arm Trust volunteers.

Thirteen children with their guardians arrived on a Friday evening late October at Green Park with the purpose of beautifying the new parkland alongside the canal at Whitehouses. First task was to produce some model clay toppers for the bamboo canes, this was enthusiastically done, with the resulting multi-coloured models of – animals, boats, flowers and many other cartoon characters coming to life.

Next morning the weather was not looking good, but nevertheless the planting of the 2000 snowdrop bulbs started, surrounded by the garden canes. Meanwhile the bonfire was lit to consume the branches left from the recent adult work party.

At one pm we made a hasty retreat by minibus back to Green Park our accommodation base. Included in our facilities was a large bubble room which we used to assemble the bird boxes/bug houses. As a granny, this is not an easy task, so I left the instruction on sawing and nailing to Alex (IWA) and any other parents willing to help.

Sunday proved sunny so the rest of the snowdrop bulbs were planted, and an enormous bonfire built which enabled marsh mellows to be toasted. All six bird/bug boxes were nailed to available trees to encourage more wildlife in future. In the afternoon the scrubland along the towpath was cut or sawed back to give more room for passing. Many walkers paused to thank us and enquire which group we were from. All this gives good publicity to the Wendover Trust and the IWA.

During the coming winter months, why not choose a sunny day to walk the towpath between Drayton Beauchamp and Little Tring. Originally this section was dry, but over the last 10 years various sections have progressively been re-watered. The Pocket Park is at Whitehouses between the two wooden foot bridges on the opposite side to the towpath. During 2020 this section will be re-watered, benches installed in the Pocket Park and the historical pump site at Whitehouses will be given new explanatory signposting boards.

As this proved to be a successful weekend, a further Family Camp will be included in our programme of events for 2020. Please check out the following websites for future events:-

For further information – please contact

www.waterways.org.uk/wrg > family volunteering

www.wendoverarmtrust.co.uk > events team-Jenny Brice

or call Alex Melson, IWA Coordinator (WRG) on 01494 783453 ext 611 or 07983 824438 or email  alex.melson@waterways.org.uk

Jenny Brice

WAT (Wendover Arm Trust) Events Team      07841 168043