28th July 2020
There are weed cutters in operation on the canal in Derbyshire again this week.
The work is again being done by Somerset Boat Centre.
Water Plant Ltd., which used to do the weedcutting (click here) has closed, but many of their staff and some of their equipment are now part of SBC.
These photos were taken at Bluebank.
This is the weedcutting boat.
It cruises up and down.
The blades on the front work like hedge trimmers and the paddles give it propulsion.
Occasionally something gets stuck and has to be removed. This is a fertiliser bag..
Why look behind?
To allow a pair of canoeists to come through.
Meanwhile the other boat clears up the cuttings …..
….. and dumps them on the bank.
Both boats then headed up the canal …..
….. and backed under the trees …..
….. in order to shelter from the rain.