5 Go Painting

Peter, John, Bob and Brian soon make a difference.

With at least 80% of the volunteer ranger's in the group there was certainly plenty of hands to help out on yesterday evenings workday. Luckily we had enough paint and brushes for everyone to get stuck in and make a real difference to weathered Millennium Milepost in Queen Elizabeth Park which is designed by Welsh artist Andrew Rowe which is based upon the nautical and industrial heritage of his native Swansea.

After good weather and light the milepost was soon finished within an hour and a half. John has volunteered to return back soon to finish of those trick edges which go the better of us all and I will look at the letter with the use of painting pens.

This is one of four designs spread throughout the UK by four artists from England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales which mark the openings of each new section of the 8,000 mile National Cycle Network, and by Midsummer's Day in the year 2000 there was nearly 1.000 of them in place. Find out where they are here.

Within the Grantham area we have all four designs out of the eight we look after as a group and just like the Connect2 portrait bench at Sleaford the milepost are part of the Sustrans Art on the NCN project which you can found out more here.

The first post was designed by John Mills and is entitled Fossil Tree, the post takes the form of an abstract tree with relief imagery of fossils depicting the passage of time from early primitive creatures to the ultimate demise of fossil fuel driven technology.
The second post by Scottish sculptor Iain McColl designed The Cockerel. The influences behind this one are Miro's "The Fork" and Branusci's "The Cock".
The third is by Andrew Rowe. (See above for description)
The fourth is titled "Tracks" designed by Belfast artist David Dudgeon. The main design on the post shows the tracks made in the landscape by cyclists. This is complemented by a piece of text exploring sensations and observations one makes whilst travelling through various environments.

Also discussed was the Time Trail metal disc which have pictures related to the theme of Time and also letters of a secret code. I've manage to track down an old copy of the record card and information about the Time Trail which you can view, download and print here.

Thanks again to all, a splendid job and I look forward to seeing you again at the next workday in Grantham on Sunday 8th September........ final location details coming to you very soon and new dates.

August Bank Holiday Boat Trips

Three Shires on her first trip after launching at Denton Wharf

Were all very familiar with the view from the towpath (NCN 15) along the the Grantham Canal, but the Grantham Canal Society are giving people an opportunity of different view of the canal from Harlaxton Wharf this Sunday (11-4) and Monday (10-4) where they will be running their trip boat Three Shires for 40 minute cruises at very reasonable prices of £2 (adult) and £1 (child).

Workday Reminder, Wednesday 28th August

Just a quick reminder for next weeks previously announced date for a workday at the milepost in Queen Elizabeth Park, Grantham. Full details are here.
The job in hand is to paint the milepost, I'll provide paint and brushes so just please bring along your artistic flare and painting gloves, etc.
Also looking at the way the evenings are currently going I am suggesting putting the start time back by 30 minutes to 17:30 with a no later than 19:30 finish, but if you find you can still only start at 18:00 then no worries.

See you soon.

Two productive Sundays

A lighter path shows the width when visited.

The last two Sunday workdays has seen John and myself on the old railpath of NCR 15 close to Woolsthorpe Top Lock with a job in hand to open up the entrance to the path and make more inviting and safer to users.

A heavily overgrown narrow path with brambles, nettles challenging users was soon fought back to expose the paths edges covered by at least 4-5 years of soil and vegetation build up during the first date. With the 11th workday also meeting at the same location as previously announced we both agreed a return visit was needed.

Today was less hacking and more scrapping with the entrance now clear of build up and a well polished surface thanks to John's hardy yard brush which soon had praise of thanks from passing cyclists and walkers.

This is not the only work that has recently been done on the path, 10 days ago I met with Barry Brooks, Sustrans maintenance officer for the routes in Lincs/Notts which saw him come for a site visit for Grantham to learn the access points, etc for his future visits. With the day being fine he took the opportunity to bring his small tractor which has grass cut a half metre verge each side of the path from Muston to the seating area near the milepost.

Barry will be returning to the area in around 3-4 weeks with Marcus Hopton, (previous maintenance officer- now 1 day contractor) to work on the rest of the route.