A look at the first section of Devonport Leat to be cleared, starting 2nd September

The first batch of photos below are taken walking along the leat tunnel
(from the Clearbrook car park end towards Yelverton)
- this is an area to be cleared later in the year when foliage has gone
- it looks quite open then except for bare brambles and some saplings.

 

Plymouth end of the leat tunnel, which is just out of view at bottom left. This is the track that we arrive by at the start of the project and which passes over the end of the tunnel. Beyond, is the floor of the "cutting" that the tunnel runs through, the floor being the roof of the tunnel.

 

Closer view into the previous photo, a relatively clear area but with some bracken, going into brambles. This whole "cutting" is best left until the leaves and bracken die down for the winter, then brush-cutters can  be used on the brambles.

 

Another view: on the right is seen the footpath that runs alongside the tunnel. This is not the cycle path, that is the other side of the field which is out of view on the right.

 

Looking across the leat - in winter, this is a "clear" area!

 

Alongside the footpath is an area where cuttings/brash can be left to form new habitat for insects, birds etc. as directed by the Commoners' Association

 

Looking out onto the open common, a clearing beside the leat tunnel where burning could be done - but probably won't be necessary.

 

Looking from the left side of the tunnel "cutting" towards Yelverton - the open common is to the left, the footpath to the right.
Click the photo for a bigger version.

 

As previous photo but taken from the footpath, the open common is seen at top left, the footpath is seen at far right.
Click the photo for a bigger version.

 

Looking back (towards Plymouth) at 80 yards of bramble etc.

 

Another view looking back towards Plymouth, taken from further along towards Yelverton. The footpath is up on the left embankment.

 

Looking the other way, towards Yelverton - the footpath is on the right.

 

This is where we start .....

The other (Yelverton) end of the tunnel, with a clump of hawthorn growing on the roof of the tunnel entrance. It is proposed to remove all but one upright stem for the time being, to reduce the potential weight/strain on the tunnel roof. As this is multi-stemmed, probably from being cut before, we may remove the whole structure and treat the stump.

 

Just by the tunnel mouth (out of view at 6 o'clock), a multi-stemmed birch tree. It is proposed to cut the stems marked with yellow X's to leave an upright "standard".  This has also probably been cut in the past and re-grown as several stems (coppice).

 

Path onto the golfing area of the common, the leat is on the right .....

 

..... the path leads to an open area for burning, if required (again, probably not here, because of there being no gorse).

 

A little further towards Yelverton, an ugly, multi-stemmed tree that someone has tried to trim.  It needs to come out altogether (maybe later) .....

 

Another look at the multi-stemmed tree, this is large and totally rooted in the leat floor. This may be left, initially.

 

Looking back towards Plymouth again, with the leat tunnel entrance on the right and a trimmings/brash stowage area still on the left, creating new habitat for insects/birds. The floor of the leat may be paved in this section and clearing the floor is to be undertaken for a short distance, initially. I believe a lot of the leat in this area is neither paved nor lined, in common with much of the still-flowing length of the leat in the Burrator plantations (see this web page), although it IS lined (and paved?) in other areas, such as above Two Bridges.

 

Looking along the footpath towards Yelverton, with the leat on the left.

 

General view, showing multi-stemmed (effectively coppiced?) hazel - i.e. cut previously, to be removed (and stump treated with tree stump RoundUp, from B&Q).

 

General view - all to be removed - saplings in the leat and young tree hanging onto the lip of the leat, possibly to pull it over in the future.

 

More trees rooted in the leat.

 

Multi-stemmed hawthorn, to be removed - probably cut previously but re-grown as a coppice feature.

 

The end of the this section, approaching a bridge carrying a track over the leat. Some of the main stems may be left here for the time being, removing the smaller stems. These have probably been cut in the past but have re-grown as coppiced trees?

 

Large tree rooted in the leat that may be left for the moment, the bridge is behind.

 

The other side of the bridge - the start of a jungle of gorse, bramble and hawthorn - Phase II of the project.

 

The track, leading onto the open common .....

 

A possible burning area, covered with bracken .....

 

Otherwise, it is a longer "drag" for those on that job, and uphill, too.

That's all, folks.