November 2007
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Engineers Afloat |
Engineers were at York Stream in November 2007, as part of feasibility work
in readiness for the restoration of the waterways. A professional team from
Costain's Geotechnical unit, worked from a raft in the stream to remove samples
from the bed for laboratory analysis.
Volunteers have also commenced monitoring
ground water and stream levels at eleven newly installed boreholes along the
route using a measuring reel and sensor we have bought. The data collected will
be shared with the Environment Agency. |
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November 2007
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Let a 1000, No! 2000 Flowers Bloom |
We were delighted with the turnout of over 40 volunteers for our first
Bulb Planting event in November 2007, despite the showery weather.
Volunteers included many members from our own group, Furze Platt
Scouts, Rotaract and the Chamber of Commerce plus councillors David
Burbage (leader) and Derek Wilson. Against the odds we managed to plant
over 2,000 bulbs - twice as many as expected - by the Library on the
banks above the picnic area. |
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July 2007
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Water, Water Everywhere - Flooded Town Moor |
The exceptional rainfall in July 2007 caused serious flash flooding in many parts
of the country, as drains and flood defences failed to cope with up to 3 months of
rainfall in a single day!
In Maidenhead we saw water levels in parts of the York
Stream increase by a metre or more in a few hours. |
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June 2007
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Members BBQ at the Lakeside |
Around 30 members and friends attended a social and fund raising barbeque in June
2007 at Maidenhead Sailing Club.
The clouds cleared as dusk fell and an excellent
supper was complemented by a perfect sunset over the lake. Our thanks are due to
the Sailing Club for the use of the venue and to John Morgan and Colin Simmons for
organising the food. |
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April 2007
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Theresa May Tours the Waterways |
Local MP (now Home Secretary) Theresa May spent an hour in April 2007 walking the
waterways route with MWRG officials.
She was updated on our plans for the restoration work, progress to date and how the group has
developed and grown since its formation a year ago.
Mrs May is very supportive of the project aims and the benefits it would bring to Maidenhead,
as a key part of the emerging Town Centre-Towards 2026 plan (now the AAP). |
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February 2007
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Shadow Environment Minister Visits Waterways |
We were pleased to host a visit in February 2007 by the then Shadow Minister for the Environment,
Peter Ainsworth MP, who had been invited to visit by the local Conservative Group.
The Shadow Minister spent nearly an hour walking the route and being briefed about our restoration
plans. Mr Ainsworth was very supportive and said of the project, "The York Stream and the Moor
Cut/Flood Relief Channel are hugely wasted assets, right in the heart of town that badly
need the sort of improvements planned." |
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October 2006
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Lights, camera, Action! |
The Bourne End Video Camera Club in action taking a video camera to
Maidenhead's going's on down by the stream.
Members of Bourne End Video Camera Club and Maidenhead Camera Club have
joined forces to create a photographic record of the waterways as they
are today and during the restoration works. In October 2006 they completed
the first stages of the planned filming, which included the main town
centre areas and notable bridges that cross our neglected waterways. |
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Summer 2006
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York Stream Clear Up |
A huge Thank you! To everyone who joined us in 2006 for our first session
clearing the river bed and removing litter along the banks of York Stream.
Our thanks especially to Furze Platt Scout Group, Rotary, Rotaract and the Civic
Society who all provided help, also the Council for their loan of equipment.
Fifty volunteers turned out on the day
and cleared litter from the banks, cut
back the overgrown lower stream and
removed various "foreign" objects from
the stream bed such as, traffic cones, shopping trolleys, a door, a barrel, dead logs, branches, a
swivel chair, scaffold poles, concrete & wooden posts, pallets etc. |
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