3rd March 2016
Our boats are not just used for taking passengers. They also help with routine maintenance. To see when Python was helping the Canal & River Trust, click here; to see a Seth Ellis clean up, click here.
Today, Madeline, the Eckington School boat that does trips from Hollingwood Hub, and John Varley, that does trips from Tapton Lock, were helping the Derbyshire Countryside Rangers to cut back overhanging trees between Tapton Lock and St Helena’s.
One of the Rangers was using a chainsaw on the end of a pole.
There goes a hunk of willow.
As you can see, he could reach right up into the canopy.
Steering the boats to give the cutter a steady platform is a lot harder than it looks.
Other Rangers were hauling the wood out of the canal, including using a grappling iron on a rope.
Of course they had to stand back when a tree came down.
Getting ready and …..
….. there it goes!