On another thankfully bright day, we split the group between Coed Gwilym Park and the Swansea Canal Centre in Hebron Road. There’s always lots to do at both places.

At the SCC, the tiling in the wet room, toilet and shower cubicle has been completed by Gordon and Alan T. Today the tiles were sponged down and cleaned by Alan W and they are looking really good ahead of the next phase of work.

Outside the Canal Centre Chris, Carly and Moira weeded the stone barge monument and carefully took out any grass in the wild flower garden. As we are approaching ‘No Mow May’ we cut back the grass round the barge to a width of about three inches, leaving the remainder of the meadow to proliferate.

Behind the Centre Rowan, Phil, Duncan and Lance made a start on sorting the bricks from the demolished back wall of the old building into salvageable and non-salvageable piles. The plan is to recycle the good bricks for building a perimeter wall, and other schemes. When a bonfire was lit, we knew the guys really meant business!

We hope to start work soon on building a second driveway to the parking area at the front of the Canal Centre. Traffic will be one way in, one way out, making it much safer for drivers and pedestrians. Martin and Moira made a start on the task of grass removal between the car park and the stone barge, but they forgot to take the ‘after’ photo! Let’s just say it’s a work in progress!

Meanwhile at Coed Gwilym, John Grav continued adding rubber protective strips to the bow and stern of another four canoes, to prevent damage if (or when!) they are sailed into the bank! Repurposed bicycle tyres are just the job! Also with better protection in mind, Mike F and Alan T installed rubber bumpers along the edge of the slipway to prevent the sides of the canoes from scraping on the concrete wall as paddlers climb in and out.

Bob continued his work on the big trip boat, fitting a new jockey wheel clamp and replacing screws to strengthen the hand rail fixings. Its gradually coming together and may not be too long before it gets its bottom wet!

Coffee and cake break as always was a time to natter and catch up, and the weather held until the end of the session. With spring definitely on the way we’re looking forward to getting more of our outside jobs completed ready for the summer.