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Saturday 25th July 2026

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 Three of us today, Alex. Andy and Lawrence.  Unusually for working on a gala day we were asked to clear the ragwort that was visible on or around chicken curve and the orchard following requests from the local farmer. The main area cleared was Cotswold side just before Winchcombe where the ragwort was visible in flower and a little that had gone to seed. We then walked up to the orchard and removed a small amount that was found on the south end of that area towards the pond.  Very little other ragwort was found other than a small patch Malvern side opposite the orchard gate. We noted that many of the staked trees to the north of the orchard were dead although a few further south were still surviving along with the large fruit trees. We finished at about 12:00 having caused as little disruption as possible to the photographers gathered in the orchard for the gala. The ragwort bag was left by the side of the skip in Winchcombe yard ready for disposal.  The team then r...
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Wednesday 22nd July 2026

4 of us today.   We started the day at Gotherington loop, clearing encroaching vegetation back from the running line. The whole loop was completed just before lunch, ready for this weekend’s diesel gala.   After lunch we moved to Pecked Lane to deal with a defect report of reduced visibility at the foot crossing due to vegetation on the Malvern sides. Hopefully this was dealt with, with improved visibility for both drivers and the public using the crossing. We have asked the report’s author to be contacted to check.   For those of you who like blackberries they are now ripening along the railway. It looks like there ill be a bumper crop this year despite the enormous amounts of bramble we cut back!   All the best   David M
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Saturday 18th July 2026

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Graham lead a team of 5 today and upon arrival we found the usual access at the end of the site was fenced off but the lady in the end home allowed us to gain access through  her garden.  This worked out well and Graham brushcut an area gaining us entry over the dich which  we found to be  totally dry.  The whole area has grown tremendously over the last year but because of last years valiant effort we were able to cut a passage alongside the ditch about 2 metres wide. Graham set off in front clearing a path and the first patch of knotweed was soon uncovered.  The remainder of the team reset last years fencing  to make the area ready for the weedkilling team in the week.  The second area of knotweed proved more difficult to find as it was much smaller in area but having found it, it was duly fenced off with blue netting .The final job was to cut a pathway up to the trackbed for access. Weather conditions were vey hot and energy sapping so upon rea...
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Saturday 11th July 2026

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 Nothing urgent and heat wave is limiting activity.  Session cancelled.  
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Wednesday 8th July 2026

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 Heat health warning so session cancelled
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Saturday 4th July 2026

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A warm and humid day for the team of 7 and to maximise working time it was agreed to split into two teams and head off in opposite directions.    Team 1, Paul, Lawrence and Dave, headed off to Hayles Abbey Halt to cut the grass from the road entrance all the way behind and past the northern end of the platform. The arisings were raked and neatly stacked off the end of the platform on the embankment. The Malvern side looked lush with an abundance of wild flowers, which have been left ahead of a single cut later in the year. I was told they were treated to a fly past from two spitfires during the morning, it is nice to see the team being so valued they get their own flypasts! Before    After    Team 2; Alex, Rachael and Nick, and I headed to Gotherington south of the signal box, to carefully clear a perimeter around two sites of Japanese Knotweed and but temporary fencing in place. This is a head of treatment, of the knotweed by a specialist contractor, start...
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Wednesday 1st July 2026

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  4 of us today.   We cleared the overhanging branches and other vegetation in the C&M/vehicle yard, so that’s another jo that can be ticked off our work plan. The cut vegetation from the yard was taken to the end of the Malvern side carriage sidings for future chipping, once the chipper returns from its holiday. The smaller/green vegetation also placed there can be dealt with when we are clearing around the bridge that takes the River Isbourne under the railway.   We also started clearing the ditch that runs from behind the new S&T building northwards. We only cleared this a year ago and the growth is considerable as the attach pictures show – first one before and the second one following rediscovering the ditch. As it is all new growth there is no possibility of birds nesting and the arsings are being mulched down, using the brushcutter mulching blades and left in situ. I have this dream that this will stifle future growth but the reality is that we should add t...
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