The Trust owns two working platforms at Gun's Mouth Island and each year (before winter sets in and the flooding along the River Wey) the Hunt Park team need to pump out the bilges. The first platform was completed the other week, and a bit of a tidy-up around the landing stage on Gun's Mouth in readiness for a visit from Simon Jones Associates to do a tree survey. Last week's icy weather made it too dangerous for us to venture out in the workboat to pump out the other one, so we tidied up the viewing platform instead.
But this week we were on track to finish this seasonal chore and we launched the boat, donned life jackets, collected the paddles, heaved the pump into the boat and set off for the island. When we got to the platform we found it very low in the water and in danger of sinking. With his usual lightness of foot, Mike stepped onto the platform, lifted out the pump and unwound the hoses..... only to find that "someone" had left the essential handle back at the stores. It took us all morning to complete the job and it was only the thought of a nice cup of tea that kept us going.
Next weekend we welcome back our friends WRG Forestry for more tree work along the railway track in Bramley towards Tannery roving bridge and we hope that they will be able to remove the fallen tree in Cranleigh Waters in the park.
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