Offside vegetation cutting on the T&M between Armitage Tunnel and Burton on Trent

[Grassman]

Starting in early October me and my fellow IWA volunteers together with CRT's contingent, will be dealing with the overgrown offside vegetation between Armitage tunnel and the Dove Aqueduct in Burton. We (IWA) will be surveying the stretch (in our own boat(s) during the next 2 months while there is full leaf growth, and noting the places we think need addressing, but any feed back from you others (either locals or passing through) would be most welcome, either on this thread or by PM to me. We use What3words as a location preference, or bridge numbers if the problem is nearby.

 

Sadly we are limited to working only from October to end of February because of nesting wildlife, so we sometimes have to concentrate on just the most critical parts such as on narrow sections, bends (including restricted sight-lines), bridge holes, approaches to bridges, opposite popular moorings, winding holes, low overhanging branches etc.

 

Due to the time constraints, if the veg is something like hawthorn or brambles which are hugely time consuming to deal with (e.g and hour to do a 3 metre section of it), we might leave it, providing it's not on a bend and there is ample room for boats to pass each way either side of it, in which case it's just a matter of one boat holding back to let the other through. 

 

Unfortunately with weeping willows we can only give them a 'haircut' which is pretty ineffective, because all of the overhang is leaf growth which re-grows so quickly. They need the actual branches cutting but they are usually too high to reach even with our 15ft extendable pole chainsaws. So it has to be a case of us and boaters snipping a bit off each time as they pass.

 

I'd like to do past Armitage up to Great Haywood. We work for CRT Fradley and used to do it, but sadly after CRT last year changed their boundaries, that section is now controlled by their Stoke depot, and presumably their budget too. 

 

So as I said, any feedback from you others would be welcome, and if anyone reading this lives locally we'd love some more volunteers, so please let me know if you're interested in finding out more. Between our IWA and the CRT volunteers we have enough to do 4 days each week but we'd love to increase this to 5 days.

[tothecut]

We cruise on stretch between bridge 33 and Dove aqueduct regularly, the worst bits in terms of offside vegetation are: north of bridge 33, west of bridge 30, west of bridge 29A (reeds!), north of bridge 29, and in some spots between bridge 28 and the aqueduct.

[stagedamager]

well done

this is a positive move and will be very much welcomed. to save you time, may I suggest logging the areas which don't need vegetation work. it may be quicker....🤣🤣🤣

[Grassman]

1 hour ago, tothecut said:

We cruise on stretch between bridge 33 and Dove aqueduct regularly, the worst bits in terms of offside vegetation are: north of bridge 33, west of bridge 30, west of bridge 29A (reeds!), north of bridge 29, and in some spots between bridge 28 and the aqueduct.

 

Thanks for your feedback tothecut.  Sadly we cannot sort the reeds because dredging them is the only way.

 

One thing I've noticed on our boating travels is how overgrown some of the towpath sides have become, in my are at least. A few years ago CRT said they were going to reduce the number of times a year that they would cut the towpath growth right to the waters edge, from four times a year to twice a year, but assured us that there would be lots of places where they'd continue cutting to the edge so that boats can moor (I think is was every KM).

 

Well not only have they not left as many moorings as promised, but much of the towpath side is now so out of hand that they obviously haven't even been doing any cutting at all for a year or more. In many places tree saplings have appeared, some of which have now become small trees. and in time will be much harder to deal with. 

 

I appreciate that in some places the growth is quite floral and looks nice, and that CRT are so strapped for cash, but there are limits I think, particularly when it's sometimes so high that it severely restricts sight-lines on bends, something which CRT probably aren't aware of because most of their staff aren't boaters. Also I think there's an issue with their contractors not doing some of the work that CRT paying for because nobody is checking up on them.

 

With CRT carrying out much of their maintenance based on the number of complaints they receive, perhaps if more people submitted complaints about the reduction of moorings and the sight-lines on bends problem they might get something done. Our local IWA are already looking into ways of helping them with this issue by using their volunteers, but it's going to take more than that I think.

 

Rant over, and I'm braced for the backlash of being called a moaning old git 😉, I know I am!

 

 

Perhaps I'm being picky, and those of you who frequent the K&A probably wonder what I'm moaning about  🙂, but around here I've been used to something better. Not looking for it to be manicured but just a little TLC.

[Quatre_Bougies]

I’d like to ask, what happens if as a boater you cut, strim a section you moor at?  Is this okay or should it not be done?

 

Thanks.

[Arthur Marshall]

35 minutes ago, Quatre_Bougies said:

I’d like to ask, what happens if as a boater you cut, strim a section you moor at?  Is this okay or should it not be done?

 

Thanks.

I always carry a strimmer now. Can't say I'm interested in whether CRT approves. For a start, it means you can see where all the dog crap is, though you do have to be a bit careful strimming till you can spot it...

[Hudds Lad]

11 hours ago, Arthur Marshall said:

I always carry a strimmer now. Can't say I'm interested in whether CRT approves. For a start, it means you can see where all the dog crap is, though you do have to be a bit careful strimming till you can spot it...

We'll trim our spot with shears, but then have a five min walk either way with secateurs if the path is narrow and there's overhanging brambles etc. Always try to snip at bridge holes too whilst underway, not always successfully  

 

[Ewan123]

12 hours ago, Quatre_Bougies said:

I’d like to ask, what happens if as a boater you cut, strim a section you moor at?  Is this okay or should it not be done?

 

Thanks.

So long as you're sensible about it, entirely OK! Basically just make sure you're not taking out a bird nest and you're good to go. 

 

In fact, from the recent boaters update, CRT are actively encouraging this on the towpath edge (wash wall). Their guidance is a bit OTT but they have to do that to cover their backs in case someone does something daft: 

 

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/boating/boating-news-and-views/boating-blogs/a-guide-to-removing-wash-wall-vegetation

[Justin Smith]

On 12/07/2026 at 15:11, Grassman said:

Unfortunately with weeping willows we can only give them a 'haircut' which is pretty ineffective, because all of the overhang is leaf growth which re-grows so quickly. They need the actual branches cutting but they are usually too high to reach even with our 15ft extendable pole chainsaws. So it has to be a case of us and boaters snipping a bit off each time as they pass.

I agree totally, and I have learnt through bitter experience to ideally do so whilst someone else is steering the boat....