We headed for the Riverside Community Space at Ynysmeudwy today for another session of bank reinforcement, accompanied by the occasional light rain shower.

Without our master mixers Lance and Rowan, Phil took on the dirty work and Pete kept him supplied with water from a handy nearby canal! Bob and Aled filled the hessian sacks which John Gw barrowed down the towpath to Duncan. Mike F was up to his knees in water putting them in place alongside those laid in previous weeks.

Sharon tackled some stalks of Himalayan balsam, but there were relatively few as a result of our efforts over the past few years to eradicate it from this stretch.

Gordon cleared a section of towpath where grass was beginning to encroach and scraped up some chippings to fill dips and hollows where water collects. A small group from Hendrefelin school joined us again to litter-pick and prune along the path, up as far as Ynysmeudwy locks

At coffee break we enjoyed a great selection of tasty cakes and egg sandwiches provided by Annette, but no coffee! A communications error (hands up Alan!) left us with no hot water, but Gordon saved the day with an emergency supermarket trip for industrial quantities of Pepsi and lemonade (other soft drinks are available!).

Christina and Moira spent time at the Swansea Canal Centre at Hebron Road, making early arrangements for the Summer Craft Fair 2025 on 19^th July. No photos sadly of their efforts, but we’re assured they worked hard!

So, another productive morning saw everyone gainfully and enjoyably employed and a further length of bank protected against ongoing erosion. Much more to do another day, but every extra metre we repair helps.