Sara, Ray, Charlotte and Amy joined Alisdair from the Maidenhead Waterways project to help clear weeds from the old flood defence streams that feed Maidenhead town centre.

The aim was to continue the good work of the Maidenhead Volunteers and clear the weeds and debris, thereby allowing the river water to flow freely into Maidenhead town centre. The longer term aim is that eventually the water levels will be high enough in the town centre to allow for water sports to take place!

We met at Cookham Rise first thing on Saturday morning and were kitted out in waders, elbow length gloves and high vis vests. Looking like a very motley crew, with all our kit and tools, we walked to the stream, crossing the beautiful Cookham countryside.

The work was done in two shifts, with those brave enough, sliding down the ditch into the waist height water, pulling out the weeds from the very silty stream and sling them up onto the bank, whilst the other half of our group raked them up. Mud flew everywhere and the time flew by.

Seeing that we cleared approximately 50 meters of waterway made us think that we made a real difference. By the time we left at we could visibly see the water flowing easily through the newly cleared path.