Ian Keetley Visit

With us being at the Grantham Canal Discovery Day in October I had invited our Volunteer Coordinator Ian Keetley from Nottingham to join us on the day and to get to know us, unfortunately he isn't able to come that day but has volunteered to help out and come and visit us on our next workday on Sunday 29th September at the Stenwith bridge/tunnel. Full details here.
The work in hand is quite minimal so it is something we should be complete within an hour giving us some free time which I am proposing that we head north up to the The Old Forge Tea Rooms at Muston for some refreshments and enable Ian to get to know us all.
I don't normally call for confirmations but if you can/can't come to the 29th Sept workday then I would appreciate you getting in touch.

The 8th September workday saw a trio of rangers at the access point off Harlaxton Road, soon Peter, John and myself got stuck in and cut back the overhanging vegetation and made a nettle free route for the many users on the route that day and to follow. Many thanks again for your time.

New Sustrans Midlands Maps

Sustrans with Four Point Mapping are steadily producing cycle maps showing large areas, ideal for overviews and touring, I have used the south coast series recently whilst touring from Portsmouth to Margate and was certainly very helpful in guiding me in the right direction when needed.
An information leaflet issued with the maps shows that future maps will be covering just above our region shown below. The East Midlands map and Fens map would certainly cover the western and side of our region, see below.
I am going to see if Sustrans can supply a small amount so we can sell at the Discovery Day in October.

Individual maps cost generally £4.99 or area bundle pack cost £15.00 with free p&p.

For the full range of maps visit http://www.fourpointmapping.co.uk/shop/

Sept/Oct Workdays

I can now confirm a workday location for this Sunday's date which I previously announced to you some weeks back as you may remember. I have kept it local to the town so it doesn't using up to much off the day and will keep you nearby the town if it was the case that you wanted to see Mallard at Grantham Station on the Sunday p.m. More on that at http://www.mallardatgrantham.co.uk/

Sunday 8th September, 10:00- 12:00
Meet on NCR 15 at towpath entrance, Harlaxton Road, Grantham. Map here.
Notes: Please bring along vegetation cutting/pruning tools that you can for the cutting back along NCR 15 from Harlaxton Road down to the towpath.

Some new dates now.....
Sunday 29th September, 10:00- 12:00
Meet on Woolsthorpe- Muston NCR 15 rail path at Stenwith bridge/tunnel. Map here.
Notes: Please bring along any suitable tools that you can so that we can look at clearing built up debris from inside the tunnel to help with winter drainage.

....a short break then for the Newark groups forthcoming Grantham Triangle ride and our attendance at the Grantham Canal Discovery Day.
Sunday 20th October, 10:00- 12:00
Meet on North Parade, at Running Furrows Gate entrance, Grantham. Map here.
Notes: Please bring along any suitable tools that you can so we can look clearing built up leaf debris, etc along water run offs to help with winter drainage.

See you soon.

Sustrans @ Canal Discovery Day 2013

Brian and Bob at the 2012 event.

After a successful 2 years of the Grantham Canal Discovery Day organised by the Grantham Canal Society it returns again for a 3rd year on Sunday 13th October, 10- 5 at the Canal Depot (behind The Dirty Duck PH), Woolsthorpe-by-Belvoir.
Read more about the event here.

As you will know we attended the last two and have been invited back again this year to provide cycling and walking knowledge, information, maps and hope to persuade more people to discover the canal (NCN 15) and other ways nearby by foot or cycle.

I have accepted the invitation and the event organisers will once again provide us with a table and space with in their marquee. Such an event will tick box the groups suggestion of one promotional event per year and I am now getting in touch with HQ in Bristol to make arrangements for them to provide us with materials, signage and small items to sell and tee shirts for new event volunteers.

A call for volunteers!!!
These types of attendants can't run on their own so I am calling for volunteers to help man the stall, it maybe 2 hours, half a day, nearly a full day day that you can provide, please don't worry if you haven't done this kind of thing- it really is easy and is just a case of telling people about Sustrans and the huge benefits that the NCN brings.

Please have a think over the next 2-3 weeks and let me know asap if this is something you could help out with.

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.