Highs and lows of successful season
LOW water levels on the Cromford Canal caused the cancellation of some of the popular trips on board trip boat Birdswood, which was stuck on its mooring.
According to the Friends of Cromford Canal, the cruising season was officially due to finish on October 30 but at the time of writing, it was anticipated that this could happen earlier. There is a bi-annual in-water inspection by inspectors of the Maritime & Coast Agency during November, which means all the fixtures and fittings in the boat must be removed to allow the floor panels to be lifted.
In addition to the low flows from the Bonsall Brook, the water source that fills the canal at Cromford Wharf, the canal owner, Derbyshire County Council, has been actively investigating potential leaks. It has already undertaken ground penetrating radar surveys and has been trying to identify the worst leakage areas with the intention of fixing the leaks by using a contractor.
Birdswood has had a very successful season with the new extended trips which focus on industrial archaeology, wildlife and ecology with an FCC guide, proving to be highly popular.
Passengers, having travelled from Cromford, disembark at Leawood pump house to be met by guides who conduct the passengers, in three groups, to Leawood Pumphouse, Aqueduct Cottage and Wigwell Aqueduct.
Initially two extended trips were planned to see what the take-up would be, but these proved so popular that several more were organised. Unfortunately, at the end of the season the FCC boat committee and crew had to cancel the last two trips because of low water levels. However, due to their popularity, they will be a significant part of next year’s cruising programme. Meanwhile, the official launch and opening of the Aqueduct Cottage, which has been under restoration for three years, has been delayed until April 2023.
One exercise which started midway through last season and continued fortnightly this year involved a group of female work party members, together with some of Birdswood crew, cleaning the boat inside and out.
The pride of those volunteers doing that job has been great to see and the Friends group has recevied many positive reviews about the cleanliness of Birdswood from passengers, verbally and on the Birdswood website and Trip Advisor.
The Friends group has also been presented with new hi-viz vests for the work parties and the Birdswood crew by Amber Valley Rotary Club.
The work party presentation was held at Sawmills, where an original wall of the canal was being rebuilt.
The party from Amber Valley Rotary Club, then moved to Cromford Wharf to hand over the green hi-viz clothing to the Birdswood crew before the boat set off on its afternoon sailing.