22/02/15 Workday Review + Next Workdays

Well despite the threats of heavy rain and the challenge of Belvoir Road hill out of Denton village Bob, Peter and myself were present on the day, the job in hand to have a bit of a tidy up around the access ramp down to the old rail path. After a couple hours of scraping and brushing a well deserved cup of tea was served. Job well done chaps.

As mentioned in previous posting/s on the blog the next workdays in March are 8 and 22 March, details of these are as follows:

Sunday 8 March, 10:30- 12:30
Meet at: Stenwith tunnel bridge, NCN 15 between Woolsthorpe Top Lock- Muston. Map here.
To do: Sweep and clean out of tunnel path.
To bring: Spade and brushes to provided. Please bring tools for vegetation cutting as these maybe required nearby, workwear gloves, volunteer waistcoat and mug for tea or coffee.

Sunday 22 March 10:30- 12:30
Meet at: Woolsthorpe Top Lock, NCN 15. Map here.
To do: Signing ride bothways along rail path towards Muston village.
To bring: Signs and fixings provided. Hammer would be useful to have, workwear gloves, volunteer waistcoat and mug for tea or coffee.

Sustrans Dr Bike @ Grantham Tennis Centre

***UPDATE 09/03/2015***

My apologies for not getting back to you all sooner, the upshot is that the proposed date of Saturday 14 March is being pushed to another date towards the summer. Our meeting with the Tennis Club went very well with lots of ideas being born especially with regards Jon Moody's cycle training. Before and during the meeting they had realised what was once a small idea has grown bigger and needs more time to get their head around what they want and when.
We are still offering our services and information and once I know a date for definite then I will be in touch ASAP.



The Sustrans HQ last week was contacted by a committee member of the Grantham Tennis Centre with a view to seeing if Dr Bike services could be offered to them at the centre for the clubs members.

Filtering through HQ to Dave Clasby (Smarter Choices Manager) at Nottingham the proposal was put forward to Jon Moody (Schools Officer- Grantham/Sleaford) and myself, Jon has agreed to help out and new group ranger Wayne Priest has offered to assist him on the day having enrolled on a Cytech Level 2 training course in the near future.

I shall be meeting Jon and club member Ian Gordon next Monday to action a plan towards the clubs requirements, the club has said they would be happy to back up the Dr Bike with information on Sustrans, NCN, cycling and walking. So the proposal is to take along our stock of information that I hold to have one of our information stands.

The proposed date is Saturday 14 March, I should know by next Monday if this is the case and what sort of times we are looking at.

Obviously I can't confirm the date yet but if this is something you would be interested in helping out on the stand then this would be great to have you on board. Once I've got in touch with you again next week then you can let me know of your interest or not.

NCN 15 Path Works- Wyndham Park

From this Thursday (19 February) for 2 weeks work will be taking place on NCN 15 and connecting paths in Wyndham Park, Grantham. The path upgrading and resurfacing is part of Wyndham Park's Heritage Lottery Funded project to improve the park and it's facilities. The path works were due to happen in the later stages of the programme of work but SKDC/Wyndham Park Forum has now taken the decision to go ahead with the work now. It may require you to dismount or use diversion routes whilst the work is taking place, access to the Pavilion Cafe will still be available.

Next Workday- Sunday 22nd February

So a great start to the year with last Sunday's workday at Running Furrows Gate, many thanks to those who were able to make it, the path is really looking much better.
The next will see us out of town at the access point off Belvoir Road (Denton) leading down to the railway path (NCN 15 link), it's been a while since there so I'm sure we can find plenty to spruce up on the ramp and under the bridge. Full details below.

Sunday 22nd February 10:30- 12:30
Meet at: Railway path access ramp, off Belvoir Road (Denton). See map here. 
To do: General tidy up, cutting back, clearing of path debris.
To bring: Please if able bring any tools for vegetation/path clearance, gloves and volunteer hi-viz waistcoat. 

New Ranger- Wayne Priest

I met with Wayne Priest, a new ranger in our group last Friday to show him the town's routes and give him an insight on what he needs to be looking out for whilst checking the NCN.
On a bitterly cold morning he proved his worth by replacing a few ranger signs at Vincent Bridge on the Grantham canal.
I shall be meeting him again on Saturday 14 February where we shall be heading out west to see the routes along the canal, old railway lines and on road in the vale.
If you would like to join us on the ride or pop along and say hello then you can meet us on NCN 15 at the Grantham canal access point near the A1 flyover (opposite The Farrier PH) on Harlaxton Road, Grantham. We'll meet at 09:15 for a 09:30 depart.

Update regarding Laura Simpkins the other ranger who had recently been recruited for the group, unfortunately for us Laura can't now join our group as she has been offered and taken a job in Leeds, she has though still shown interest in wanting to still volunteer for Sustrans and will be doing so in Leeds.

08/02/15 Workday Review

Bob, Peter and myself soon got stuck in with the task in hand, with the vegetation along Running Furrows Gate having died down over winter the path was in need of a clearing up of the litter that had been accumulating for a while and was easier to get too. Working the full stretch up to the Running Furrows stream we soon had 8 full bags (as supplied by SKDC), 1 scooter and a hammer drill and quite a few conversations of support from users of the path.
To end the session a new addition to the workdays this year as I brought my Jetboil stove along as well as some tea and coffee supplies, after a matter of minutes hot tea was welcomed. I'll keep bringing the Jetboil along to our workdays, so if you have a favourite mug or want anything different than tea and coffee such as cup-a-soup, hot chocolate, etc. then do bring it along.

The next workday* is in a fortnights time on Sunday 22 February 10:30- 12:30, I'll be in touch this week with location and working details.


*I'm thinking that seat could do with a spruce up once it get's warmer!