Regular Weekend Work Party
The weekend work party group meets usually on the second and fourth weekend of each month and undertakes a variety of tasks for the benefit of the canal and its users. The work parties occasionally host visiting groups to provide specialist skills.
The tasks include clearing the bank and overhanging trees, removal of weeds and debris, repairing banks and paving the towpath where necessary. Much of the work is project based for example, currently the group is constructing a 200m long mooring near Farnborough for long stay boats which was kindly funded by a bequest from the Holland family.
In 2018 the society engineering and boat maintenance teams replaced the floor in the Canal Authority’s “RoseBud” and refurbished the small launch “Bumblebee” which is now in use as a patrol boat.
It’s quite demanding work but always completed in good humour, and is a great way to keep fit and enjoy the outdoors.
Click here to see more about what the Society work parties and visiting groups have achieved over the last few years.
Details of the current worksite and how to get to it will be published through the email distribution mentioned below. Occasionally, last-minute changes of plans have to be made, and these will be circulated as soon as this is known.
We welcome new volunteers to join us, even if not for every assignment. For more information about these work parties, and to sign up to the email distribution list, please contact Janet Buckley at workparty@basingstoke-canal.org.uk.
Basingstoke Canal Authority
The Basingstoke Canal Authority also run a weekly volunteer work party to maintain the canal and towpath, normally on a Tuesday. Work includes clearing vegetation, painting lock gates, litter picking and towpath repairs.
Please telephone the Canal Authority on 01252 370073 for more details.