A lovely, cold winter’s day saw the volunteers back at Ynysmeudwy to carry on with the work started last week.

Alan W kicked off by planting daffodils that he had left over from a bulk purchase. They will bring a splash of brightness in the spring.

Chris, Moira and Ronnie trimmed back the hedge bordering the towpath below the lower lock.

Most of the volunteers either removed the weed piled up last week or pulled out yet more – the task is never-ending!

The modern metal bridge to the Lengthsman’s Hut allows work to continue both sides of the lock.

Reflections in a stream: Andy and Sue, with Cerys guarding the site, clear the mound of vegetation outside the Lengthsman’s Hut. It is always worth remembering that the Lengthsman would often have to live in that hut when the canal and the two Ynysmeudwy locks were busy.

Tea was taken in the car park, accompanied by delicious sweet and savoury treats provided by Ronnie.

After tea, the weed-pulling continued but most volunteers tackled the lower lock by clearing years of overgrowth on the top stones.

As we trudged our weary ways home, we looked back on the vastly improved lower lock and pound between the locks.

We have not worked at Ynysmeudwy for over a year. The last two week’s work show how a rather neglected part of the canal can be improved by a bit of hard labour.