Phew what a scorcher! The sun beat down all day as the volunteers tackled a number of tasks in and around the Swansea Canal Centre in Clydach.

Before work commenced, we unpacked the machinery and tools purchased with a generous grant from the Monmouthshire Building Society. We are so grateful to the MBS for supporting us. Chris could not wait to put the strimmer and mower into action.

The gardeners, including Moira and Martin, were hard at work tending to the glorious bed and bank. The fennel is in full flower and attracting huge numbers of insects.

Sharon, Duncan and Andy bashed a huge growth of balsam. Just in the nick of time, as some of the stems were 8 feet tall and ready to pop. Another job well done.

The big job for the day, that continued both sides of tea, was to install shelving in the workshop. The necessary hardware had been retrieved from the Buried Lock site and stored in CRT’s Hebron Road store. It all had to be wire-brushed, by Mike F, Phil, Paul and Sharon amongst others. Then it was assembled by Mike F, Alan T, Andrew, Bob and others before being secured to the wall by Gordon. Andrew appears intent on advanced, yet cruel, dentistry. One section complete, and doesn’t it look good!

Tea was taken with cakes baked by Alan and Jan W. Mike C gave the plenary lecture, and can you name the Three Wise Monkeys? On a serious note, Alan W is still on sick parade. We all wish him a speedy recovery.

Work continued on the shelving after tea and, in addition, Gordon and Phil selected willow posts that we had cut many weeks ago. Gordon, Chris and Duncan then drove them into the silt to create a living wall. Andy, pehaps unwisely, advised Gordon to bang them in pointy end down: He then made his excuses and left.

Lovely day, lovely sunshine, lovely company. What more could a vol want? Loads achieved despite the heat so in the words of young Mr. Grace “You’ve all done very well”.