Our membership is growing ...

I have just had an email stating that our membership is now 2378, which I believe is the highest that it has ever been. This is really good news. More members, more influence, more funding. This increase is due to all the hard work put in by our volunteers, running events, boat trips, giving talks, spreading the word with friends and on social media and websites. On a recent fact finding visit to the Wey & Arun Canal Trust that Chris and I made, they were just reaching their 3000^th member. I don’t think we will make such dizzy heights yet, but perhaps we could aim for 2500 by the AGM?

 Our project at Studley Grange, Royal Wootton Bassett, is progressing. The healthy population of water voles there at the moment have to be trapped and translocated and work started on that last week. They will be taken off-site to a mink-free river and allowed to breed.  When the dredging and restoration of this section is complete we will be able to restock or allow them to recolonise naturally.  Derek Gow, a water vole expert, is surprised by our very good vole habitat on the Wilts & Berks while they are still struggling to increase their numbers in many other locations. We will just have to keep those mink away.

Don’t forget the opening of the new Waitrose store at Wichelstowe on the 10^th. Our trip boat Dragonfly will be there on the day and on Easter Saturday and Easter Monday, Swindon branch will be manning a display at the store to tell everyone about the canal and our plans and hopefully recruit some new members.   The Trust will also benefit from the Green Disc scheme. 

Chatting to some boaters today at Semington whilst walking the dogs, I realised how important the new Melksham Link will be in spreading the word about the Wilts & Berks.  To be able to turn off the Kennet & Avon and head up to Melksham will be very popular. Boaters love a new challenge!

The AMEC report on the economic and tourism benefits for Melksham, that I promised in my last blog,  will be out later this week so watch this space for the headlines!

Kath Hatton