Wilts & Berks Canal 9 | Pewsham Locks & Naish Hill

I have a look at canal restoration progress on the Pewsham Locks near the town of Chippenham in Wiltshire and a wander down to the Naish Hill site.
Wilts & Berks Canal Trust website:
www.wbct.org.uk/
Volunteering with the Wilts & Berks:
www.wbct.org.u...
#canal #restoration #wiltshire

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

Double bridge was double the width as when the canal was built the land was mixed between 2 farmers who had land in each side. They built it double width with a wall down the middle so each farmer could run livestock across the bridge without mixing them up. Just below double bridge there’s another wildflower meadow as well as loads of tree planting, newt ponds and some scrapes have been dug out very recently. It’s all managed by a chap called Howard Yardy who is the main environmental guy for the trust. It’s turning into a very beautiful area full of wildlife. You’ll notice all the dead head hedging which is the trees cut out of the bed of the canal, they will also be teeming with life next year. Just after double bridge there’s a fence to your right, that’s the end of a culvert which runs under the canal, there’s a hole in it which is what keeps the canal from filling. The towpath in that whole section needs raising but the bed looks good and the culvert needs patching then it’s ready to fill. Sorry for all the messages, I thought it might help for next time and doesn’t hurt the engagement ;)

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thanks Stephen! Coincidentally, to land at the same time as both of our videos is one from Howard Yardy over on the official WBCT KZbin Channel about the work taking place at Naish Hill - it is a good and informative watch. I am looking forward to seeing the wildflower meadow in the springtime. Take care, Paul

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

@@westcountrywanderings I haven’t watched the trusts video yet, I’ll try and catch it tomorrow. A Tuesday and Thursday is always good to catch work parties down there, Howard is often down at the meadow. He’s sometimes on another site called green lane

[@DarylW426]

It's a good feeling knowing that there is an interest in the restoration of these locks and canals. So important for history. Thank you Paul.👍

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Daryl! Yes, the volunteers who do work for the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust do a great job. Take care, Paul

[@michaelpilling9659]

Good Evening Paul and greetings from Poland A lovely video. Work on restoring the canal has certainly progressed. The volunteers have been busy. Still has a long way to go but for sure, the whole of this waterway will be back in use and added to the national network in the future

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Michael! Glad you enjoyed it. Yes, much has happened at Pewsham since I was last there. A lot still to do, but good and steady progress and good to see the environmental things happening there too. I do hope the plans can come to fruition at the Abingdon end soon. Hope you had an enjoyable weekend. Take care, Paul

[@Kimspics59]

What a beautiful area that is Paul. The way they do the canal restoration & how they plan it all just as fascinates me. It’s great to see how far they have come with it all. Good to see the spillweirs too. So interesting. Thank you Paul for the great way you explain it all for us to understand. Boswell has been busy! It does look beautiful there 👌🏻 Thank you so much for sharing with us. X💕😊

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thanks Kim! It is a fabulous restored section of the Wilts & Berks - good to see restoration progressing on it well. Glad you enjoyed it. Take care, Paul

[@Kimspics59]

How gorgeous that bit of canal looks at 18.55 👌🏻😊

[@westcountrywanderings]

Yes, it really is a beautiful section of canal Kim!

[@royedwards8713]

Hi Paul nice canal video and info ,and have a good week😀

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Roy! Glad you enjoyed it - hope the holiday is going well. Take care, Paul

[@Somersetmanwalking]

Lovely Paul, really nice spot! you definitely picked the Right day to film this one before the Storm! loved the Swans, as you probably know by now i do love Swans. Great Video as always Paul. Best Wishes Darren👍👍👍

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Darren! Glad you enjoyed it - yes, this is definitely my favourite section of the Wilts & Berks canal - a 'sister' canal to the Thames & Severn Canal. Good to see restoration progress on it. Always lovely to see swans on it. Take care, Paul

[@eadiew]

Great video! It really gave me a clear understand for the “lay of the land” around Pewsham locks. Loved seeing those spill weirs. Of all the canals under restoration, the Wilts & Berks is my favorite. Cheers from Atlanta, USA!

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it. Yes, the spill weirs are wonders of construction and design, aren't they? I do hope to bring more from this canal in the future. Cheers, Paul

[@faithg9766]

What a beautiful walk & wonderful to see the restoration. The double width bridge looks so good.

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Faith! Glad you enjoyed it. It was good to see progress made there with restoration. Take care, Paul

[@mattrishton]

Lovely uplifting video Paul; Thanks so much...

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it. Cheers, Paul

[@davidberlanny3308]

Hi Paul, lovely walk on this stretch of the canal. It wouldn't be a canal walk without swans!! Interesting double width bridge, very well restored. Looked a very cold day to be out, hope you got home ok All the best!!

[@westcountrywanderings]

Hi David! Yes, the swans! Good that there were a pair of them on this stretch of the W&B Canal. It was a cold day, but I like it cold, when it is sunny. I even managed to do some Christmas shopping in Chippenham afterwards. Hope you have a good week! Take care, Paul

[@michaelmiller641]

Gteat bofro, Paul

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Michael! Glad you enjoyed it. Hope you are keeping well. Take care, Paul

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

The slip way is used every time they have an open day. They have a couple of boats in the compound that they only put in for the trips. That culvert is still there, I think it’s a syphon Culvert. The towpath was done as part of a cycle way deal some years ago. It’s maintained by the trust, the bit further down before the meadows is due to be raised To the same level as the canal.

[@westcountrywanderings]

Ah, I wasn't aware of Pewsham open days. I keep looking on the WBCT event pages but must have missed it. Yes, there is a syphon culvert on the T&S too near the Stroud Brewery site. Cheers, Paul

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

@@westcountrywanderings they have them dotted through the warmer months, there’s usually some cake, some boat trips and occasionally tours of the locks and other bits

[@westcountrywanderings]

@@CourtAboveTheCut Thank you! I am hoping to film a boat trip on Nonsuch at Royal Wottoon Bassett next year.

[@Jennyo8xx]

I've been watching them build it for 20 years, i think.

[@dianarolph1770]

I don’t think I have seen one of your previous videos on this canal! You had a lovely day for filming it! The latter part you showed of the restoration was very attractive with a good wide well restored pathway ( considering the awful weather we’ve had.) Well positioned seats and that lovely idea of a bee meadow!! And the bridge just set the scene. Just to say that a canal boat video came up in my suggestions- I watched it - they were in Gloucester- and they said at the end that they have been invited by the Stroudwater Canal Trust to have a tour of their restoration in their next video!( not out yet) - if you are interested the channel is Floating Our Boat- you may already know of it- thought it may interest you! Thanks Paul.

[@dianarolph1770]

Ps Episode 203!

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thanks Diana! I have a friend who is a volunteer on the canals locally to me and she is friends with the Floating Our Boat team. She had a meal with them when they were on the Staffs & Worcs Canal just north of Kidderminster earlier in the year. I am familiar with them, but, unfortunately, as other KZbinrs will tell you, there just isn't enough time to watch others channels sadly, apart from one or two. That's good that they have been invited by the Trust for a tour. The more the restoration can be highlighted (in terms of money coming in and help and volunteers) the better. Thanks again! Take care, Paul

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you!

[@colin125gwr]

Thank you interesting video

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thanks Colin! Yes, lots of restoration on the Wilts & Berks on many sections of it at the moment. I must get over to the Montgomery Canal again soon. Take care, Paul

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

How very random! We’ve both gone for the same place this weekend

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

You beat me on your recent Cotswolds video, I had been up twice to scope some bits out on practically the same area, I’m going to do that in a few weeks instead