Today turned out to be gloriously warm and sunny. A good turn-out of volunteers set to on a variety of tasks in and around Coed Gwilym park.

The first job was almost finished by the time your cub reporter arrived on the scene – Gordon had sawn down a tree that was overhanging the towpath and the volunteers retrieved the branches and brash that they carried back to the park. Some of the logs were used to make a bug hotel in the new garden.

Ronnie put the finishing touches to the monument that she has been renovating over recent weeks. It looks splendid now.

Mike mixed the mortar that Sharon, Sue and Aled used to point the wall around the enlarged garden. It is now complete and looking magnificent.

Toby the Farmer proved to be as adroit at gardening and knocking back the mortar as he is at farming.

Rhys took to the water for a litter-pick. He started off by dropping his picker into the canal, possibly due to impaired vision!

Alan T, Mike and Pete continued to tidy the store in preparation for the start of the hire season on Easter Sunday. Alan finally got the shutter to run smoothly.

We eventually got round to addressing the bank of silt that is being brought down from the mountain by a stream. First, Gordon and Alan W used the post-knocker to create a fabric barrier then Martin joined in to help them pile up rocks to divert the flow of water downstream. It is hoped that redirecting the flow in this way will eventually wash away the silt bank.

John and Chris removed a large log that had wedged itself into the off-bank.

Time for tea and talk. Whitethorns joined us and we all enjoyed Chris’s cakes.

A lovely day to be outside. So much was achieved – well done everyone. Phase One of the redevelopment of Clydach Lock is complete so next week the volunteers will be able to start work on lining the by-wash.