Tree trouble on river
16 July 2010
Environment Agency staff leapt into action yesterday (Thurs) after heavy rain and high winds brought down three trees on the river Great Ouse near Bedford blocking the way for boats.
Within six hours and working late into the evening the team from Bedford cleared the trees making the river safe once again for boaters enjoying the summer months.
Two of the trees fell in the afternoon between Castle Mills and Willington lock. Earlier in the day another tree had to be removed upstream of Bedford.
Almost 60 tonnes of weed had to be removed earlier in the week as the current weather has made ideal growing conditions and the country has been suffering from an explosion in their growth.
Environment Agency Waterways Manager Irven Forbes said: ‘The safety of boaters is of paramount importance to us and we needed to clear these very large trees as soon as possible.
‘Our staff rose to the challenge working late into the evening to make sure the navigation area was clear so that boaters would not be at risk.
‘We believe the trees fell as the roots became undermined by low river levels, the weight of the water in the branches weighed the tops down and the wind was the final straw.
‘The boaters we were in contact with were very grateful and impressed with the speed of the response.'
River staff will be on the lookout for any further incidents and urge people to contact them on 0800 80 70 60 if they find any similar trees blocking the navigation route.