Today saw the volunteers busy with many different tasks in and around the Swansea Canal Centre. We had to dodge a few sharp showers but overall the weather was cool yet pleasant.

Alan kicked off with three very useful tasks. He set a stop in place for the main gate, installed a butt to gather rainwater for the gardeners and strimmed around the stone barge.

The gardeners, Martin, Chris, Moira and Dave, found plenty to do tending the beds around the centre.

John brought a Canadian canoe from Coed Gwilym Park and had a trial paddle. We hope to be able to launch canoes and kayaks from the centre in due course but first he needed to check the depth of water available. He paddled over the aqueduct with no trouble, so things are looking promising. Afterwards, Mike applied glass fibre buffers to the canoe to provide better protection. Sorry Mike – no photographic evidence but he was pleased with the outcome.

Rowan and Gordon completed another stretch of the walkway alongside the canal. Hard work, but the path is taking shape nicely.

Rainwater continues to fill the trip boat so after Bob spent some considerable time baling it out, we contrived to rig a tarpaulin over it. The problem, of course, is to prevent water pooling in the tarp so we added a steel pole and spread the tarp between it and the railings. A bit of a Heath Robinson affair with plenty of room for fine tuning!

Tea was taken in the comfort of the centre. Today’s baker was Chris. We were very pleased to be joined by staff and clients from Hendrefelin School, Port Talbot. They will be joining us to help out with tasks, and we look forward to that very much. Community engagement is so important to what we try to do. Maintaining the canal is essential but so is the involvement of everyone.

Another enjoyable and productive day. Full marks to everyone.