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Dates for your Diary
	Date	Place	Contact
Next Scheduled East Vale Work Party	Saturday 26th May	Smallmarsh Lock	Bob Airey bob.airey@tiscali.co.uk
Monday Mob	Monday 4th June	TBA	Mike Matthews wenmik@btinternet.com
Next scheduled Latton Work Party	Wednesday 16th May	Latton Basin Basin Blog - Progress at the Basin	Doug Small 01 628 544666 Info@wantage-waterway.co.uk
Next Branch Meeting	Wednesday 6th June	British Legion, East Hanney. 8 o'clock Everyone welcome.	Brian Stovold 01 235 763 072 brian.stovold@wbct.org.uk
Annual Skittles Evening	Friday 25th May	Royal British Legion Club at East Challow	Phil Logue 01 488 670 097 philliplogue@btinternet.com
Stroud on Water Festival and IWA Trailboat Festival	2nd to 4th June	Stroudwater Canal - Stroud WBCT Events Team will be there. "Dragonfly" will be there. Visit or Help.	Doug Small 01 628 544666 Info@wantage-waterway.co.uk

Plug is pulled on reservoir plan

Has it finally been decided?

Childrey to Challow
Explanatory map

Have a look along our patch.
(click image for slide show)

For over twenty years the stalwarts of the East Vale Branch of the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust have been restoring and protecting the canal from Childrey New Road to Abingdon. Several miles of the towpath (much now designated footpaths) have been renovated providing pleasant walks. Alongside the path some of the canal has been dredged and now holds water. The improved environment quickly encourages a return of wildlife to what had been previously impenetrable barren areas covered with brambles and stinging nettles. A number of structures have either been renovated or rebuilt. Childrey Wharf has been restored and in 2006 the New Junction with the River Thames at Abingdon was opened. Although over the years volunteers have come and gone a solid core has remained firm. As with all organisations of this type there are never enough workers; so new "blood" is always welcome.
As well as the physical work on the canal the Branch also enjoys various social events throughout the year. Short Mat Bowling and Aunt Sally are the current favourites. Conducted walks are also undertaken to introduce visitors to the canal route, and presentations are made to any group or organisation that shows interest. To keep everybody informed the Branch meets once a month for a semi-formal meeting at which various reports are given. A small committee takes the day-to-day decisions and guides the volunteers.