A journey over to the Batsford Estate at Aston Magna on 27th April for the SAFAG team of Mike McCarthy, John Dinnie and volunteers Paul Neal, Richard Harvey, John Fedorowycz and Katharine Rutherford. This was a follow up to a previous visit in March which located and assessed the operational effectiveness of the on-site interventions, with some improvement works identified.
With the permission of the landowner, on-site materials could be used (branches from the woodland area) and these were cut to size with a battery operated recip saw. 5 large dams were upgraded, raised and repaired and an existing natural one modified into a structured leaky dam. In addition, a new (replacement) one was installed on the watercourse which leads to Knee Brook. Posts, banding and ratchet lashings were used, where required, to support the structural stability of the dams.
With further workdays likely, this was an opportunity for the team members to learn or refresh the skills required to install/repair natural flood management resilience measures, all under the watchful guidance of the experienced Mike McCarthy.
The SAFAG team having just completed a repair and upgrade to an existing dam. From left to right, Katharine Rutherford, Richard Harvey, Paul Neal, John Fedorowycz and John Dinnie. Behind the camera, Mike McCarthy.
(Published in the Shipston Forum)
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