Green Bank Repairs Volunteer Day - September 2024

On 20th September local volunteers with a commitment to preserving the footpath along the River Hayle turned out to support a Cornwall Council-led initiative to install green bank protection measures in a section near Relubbus.

The day saw a good turnout and the weather was on side, with the session being an opportunity to enjoy the beautiful surroundings of the tranquil river as well as help make it resilient for years to come.

As anyone following the River Hayle vision plan project will already be aware, the footpath is experiencing unprecedented impact for river erosion, as the river seeks to return to a more naturalised state following on from the cessation of dredging practices that used to keep its channelised, unnatural. shape and form. This means that the footpath is at risk of being lost, especially in those sections where is is no easy opportunity to roll the path away from the river edge. However, using natural materials, brash bundles and live willow whips tied into the river bank, to try to reduce the rate of erosion, is a sustainable and low cost technique that can help sure up the banks in those pinch points.

The Council wishes to thanks the volunteers for all of their input to this important task and also encourages the wider community of footpath users to consider and adapt their behaviour towards resileince. Here are some simple things you can do to help:

• Don't let dogs run in and out of the river as this is increasing bank erosion through dog tracks.
• Do attend future volunteer days for tree planting and bank protection.
• Do sign up to become a river warden with St Erth Parish Council's new initiative St Erth Riverside Regeneration and Community Access Project | St Erth Parish Council (sterth-pc.gov.uk)