Whitchurch Canal Breach Update, Removing Even More Canal Banking! With Commentary

Added: 2026-05-05

[00:00:00]Hello everyone. So, we're back at the bridge today. Now, I'll uh say right now, this is filmed yesterday. This is the second half of the work yesterday.

[00:00:09]And uh yeah, it's a very busy morning down here. Everyone's currently on their break, so I won't keep you for too long.

[00:00:15]Uh but just doing a quick intro now before it all kicks off again. Uh now, real quick, I'll just say if you're not subscribed already, really would appreciate if you did. Certainly helps me out tremendously. So, uh thank you to everyone that does and uh everyone that has done already. So, like I say, going to be a busy day. So, uh I'll bring you back when, uh everyone gets off their break and there's a little more to watch. Now, I've just done a whole segment and I forgot to press record on the actual camera this time. So, that's a new one. Uh but just saying that, uh the ducks are okay. Uh yesterday, we thought that there was a a big reduction in numbers. Uh there was 14 on the first day and then yesterday we only saw seven. at a max, but there's loads of them down here today. So, glad to know that the seagulls haven't had them all.

[00:01:05]There's actually quite a few today. I'll get Terry's word on uh how many there are again. Uh but yeah, there's certainly a lot more than we've been seeing, which is always nice.

[00:01:16]Now, we'll leave them to it and uh I'll give you an idea as well. I am very far away from them, so not interrupting them at all. The excavator has left the brereech just uh tampering the ground over there. And uh this is how it's all looking now. So it's looking great.

[00:01:35]They're doing great work. Massive respect to all the workers. They are uh doing an incredible job. Now this is the uh entrance of the water for the new trench. Um, and as you can imagine with them pumps only getting turned on uh around now, there's still a little bit of water making its way through, but that'll uh lessen nice and quick. But yeah, it's uh hasn't really raised up the uh flood water that much to be fair now. Sorry about the quick movement, but I've just seen the little guys are back.

[00:02:11]Joe's boat there in the background as well. Looking good as always.

[00:02:15]So, I'll stay there.

[00:02:18]Keep it behind me so I'm not too close to the duckies. But how cute are they?

[00:02:23]How cute are they? Yeah. So, uh I'll take my drone away. I won't land just yet cuz that would mean getting a bit closer to them. And so I'll leave them to it for a second and then uh we'll uh bring you back when there's a bit more work going on. So, as you can see, they're lifting the drilling rig actually. So, exactly what this is about, I have no idea. I don't know uh why they'd be doing this, unless they need it in somewhere the uh track dumper couldn't go, but we'll keep our eye on it and uh see exactly where they take it.

[00:03:02]Now, this is uh interesting for sure, but they're heading toward the brereech, but like you say, I don't know why they didn't just uh leave it in the brereech.

[00:03:12]Seems it was already over that way, but uh yeah, we'll see. We'll see. So, I'll get a nice zoomed out shot here.

[00:03:24]And I'll make sure I'm staying out of everyone's way. I've just seen a fish splash.

[00:03:32]So, there we go. Just make sure I'm in the clear now. I can't imagine they're actually going into the brereech. You see the buckets are there in the way.

[00:03:43]So, uh, that tells me that.

[00:03:46]Is that a bucket? Yeah, it is.

[00:03:50]So, I'm guessing actually they're going down there.

[00:03:56]Very strange. Very strange, but cool to see. Certainly cool.

[00:04:06]>> How far they're going to be able to go with this.

[00:04:10]But to be fair, you know, with this larger machine, it's uh got no issues doing this, but certainly not easy work.

[00:04:17]So, I'd imagine that one guy will uh go to the front there and grab it. But in the meantime, I'll show you how this is looking as well. We've uh talked about it before, but the new water that's made its way in has really uh added a lot of bubbles to that little area. Now, real quick as well for anyone that is interested, everyone now believes that that little uh indent there is the entrance of the uh more suspicious culvert. So, uh nice to know that we're still able to see that with it. Um every time it fills up, it doesn't take too long at all for that to uh uh get covered.

[00:05:02]So, it looks like they're doing some work with that other excavator as well.

[00:05:10]>> There we go. So, you see there just reaching out that arm. It's got a nice long reach, so it's no issue.

[00:05:26]Now, hopefully uh you can hear those birds and everything in the background.

[00:05:30]I'm still on the uh the new mic now. I say it's new. It's not really new. I use it for my weddings. But uh hey, there's one thing as well. There's the Merlac Dam. They've uh kept it over there. I was wondering where they'd uh end up leaving that. So, nice to know that they've uh put it over there nice and out of the way. It's uh you know, is nice as well is that uh they do clean up after themselves uh very much so. you know, uh it's a very tidy, uh work site for sure.

[00:06:05]So, I'm guessing that's the chosen location. And then I'd imagine after this they will uh more than likely um attach the smaller excavator to that and then uh just pull it um from the front just as you would do with the track dumper or anything else. Just instead of using that, you're using the uh the excavator instead.

[00:06:27]So, that tells me that they are indeed doing more drilling holes. Uh, and these guys aren't free just yet, unfortunately for them.

[00:06:36]But to be fair, if I I was going to be working anywhere, I'd quite like to work here. It's uh pretty peaceful around these parts and uh I'd imagine it's certainly quite an interesting job. If it's just housing or things like that, I can't imagine that's the uh the most thrilling task.

[00:06:52]Now, I can hear something else moving around.

[00:06:56]Not sure what that is actually. I can definitely hear it.

[00:07:02]Not sure. Not sure.

[00:07:06]So, I'll tell you what. Whilst they're just unloading that, I'll uh bring you back when they uh start moving it some more.

[00:07:16]So, the larger excavator is off into the brereech again. I'm guessing he's going to uh put that larger bucket back on.

[00:07:23]Nice and well placed, I will say. And then the smaller one in the background, I'm guessing will uh There we go. He's just sided. So, you can see it there.

[00:07:32]He's just moving that drop uh into a different position. So, I do wonder if they're going to go over the cover.

[00:07:40]Tell you what, I'll go a little bit further up, try and get you a better angle of what's going on, and uh do our best to see both in the uh same shot there.

[00:07:51]So maybe the uh larger one isn't actually going back into the brereech.

[00:07:57]Not sure.

[00:08:00]There we go.

[00:08:03]Uh cool to film this.

[00:08:07]Now don't get me wrong, it's not as good as the uh old track dumper, but it'll do.

[00:08:16]There we go.

[00:08:18]Now, the rain has held off so far, which is very nice. I'm uh certainly enjoying this whilst it lasts, but sadly I don't think it'll be uh too much longer.

[00:08:32]There we go.

[00:08:40]So, like I say, I think I would guess anyway they are going to uh go over that culvert. So, I'll go further back and further this way just so we can see exactly where they go.

[00:09:00]Otherwise, you your view's a bit blocked otherwise.

[00:09:04]There is a buzzard underneath me. So, I'll make sure to uh steer clear of him.

[00:09:13]Last thing I want Oh, there's a few buzzards about actually. Now, most of the time they don't give you any issue, but yeah, it's last thing you want to do is uh find out that they're not a big fan of the drone today.

[00:09:34]I'm just having to uh keep an eye on that buzzard as much as I am keeping an eye on the work at the minute.

[00:09:42]>> There we go.

[00:09:44]So, we'll have another look in a second exactly uh where the larger excavator is going. I'll tell you what, once we've got a second as well.

[00:09:56]Can anyone see Mr. Buzzard?

[00:10:00]He's further this way now.

[00:10:05]Who knows? Who knows? Oh, yeah. He's welcome. That's all right. Saves me uh worrying. So, you see the larger excavator is going in the background there as well.

[00:10:17]Yeah, I'm wondering where he's off to actually.

[00:10:22]So, there we go. The actual excavator is off the top of the cover now. So, it's just the uh the drill left. Now, I'm right at the bottom of this battery. Uh so, as soon as he's done this, I'll come down and land and uh yeah, we'll uh get back up with the uh the little drone, which I'm quite excited to fly. It's always a pleasure to fly that again. You know, after a little while of not flying it, it uh it's nice to get it back out every so often.

[00:10:55]Now I'm tempted. Actually, tell you what, we'll have a look. Hey, there's the track dumper as well. I'm just going to have a quick look.

[00:11:04]>> Maxitude reached.

[00:11:08]>> Actually, the weather doesn't look too bad. It was real bad looking over there not too long ago. It's bad over there, but that isn't coming our way, I don't believe.

[00:11:21]There we go.

[00:11:26]So, just making its way over now.

[00:11:29]And uh yeah, I'll tell you what. I'll come down, change my battery, but >> battery level is low.

[00:11:35]>> There we go. So, I'll be right back.

[00:11:37]>> So, the wheel dumpers just come over here. Uh these are the drilling guys.

[00:11:42]So, I'm sure they'd be picking up samples, things like that just over here. So, I'll go up a little bit more.

[00:11:50]So, you see there as well there.

[00:11:52]returning it all back to how it was. Um, it's always uh I'm not sure why it is. Uh, but they are very good to return things how they were. It's probably uh rules and stuff like that, but real quick, we'll come down and we'll have a look at it. So, do a quick one. Hey, there's me. And uh real quick as well, I'll just show you.

[00:12:24]There you go. So, Joe's boat looking lovely. I will say now I'll be careful not to get anyone too close up, but uh yeah, is certainly looking nice. There you go. So, we'll have a slow turn this way.

[00:12:43]We'll head over here and then we'll go and see what's going on on this side of things.

[00:12:50]So, quickly go up. Now, the uh little drone isn't nearly as good with uh dealing with the wind, so I won't go too high up. But uh yeah, they're just doing little bits of work over there. Nothing too exciting, I don't believe. So, we'll focus on this for now.

[00:13:10]I'll go a little bit further forward just to make sure I'm out of everyone's way. But yeah, it's a I'm guessing it's samples.

[00:13:24]I'm guessing it's samples. I'm not sure.

[00:13:26]Saying that they've got the the plate on the floor, everything like that as well.

[00:13:31]So, we'll have another look over here, too, just to give you an idea of what's going on. As you can tell, it's uh it's very busy. Certainly is. So, uh, yeah, I'll, uh, leave it for a second. When the work, like the proper work actually starts again, I'll bring you back. So, the big excavator's just started working away. And it looks like some cool work, actually. So, we'll go and have a look.

[00:13:57]This is what we've all been waiting for, really. So, go nice and high up. Just make sure I'm out of everyone's way. So, yeah, they're going all the way now. So, I'm guessing uh with this chunk at least, they're going all the way to that personnel fencing. But, uh yeah, it's big chunks they're taking out there. It really is.

[00:14:19]Now, do a little spin here. There we go.

[00:14:24]So, hopefully that gives you an idea of just the amount of material per scoop uh that they're able to get out there. It looks like the uh the wheel dumper there is uh actually coming to take some of that material. I would guess anyway. Uh exactly why that is. I'm not sure. It could be used for testing as well. I suppose that wouldn't be too surprising.

[00:14:50]So, another zoomed in shot there.

[00:14:54]You might be able to tell with it being a little windy up there, the little drone doesn't deal with it nearly as well as the bigger one does. So, it'll be slightly uh more wobbly at times, but it should be absolutely fine.

[00:15:08]Now, thankfully, the uh weather has held up for us so far at least, and I'm guessing that is the chosen location uh for the next drilling operation. So quite close to the main culvert actually. And I'd imagine that'll be another job that will be quite wet.

[00:15:30]So get this guy doing a little more of this work. Come down slightly as well.

[00:15:38]Don't like filming from uh up above too much if I don't have to.

[00:15:44]Now there really isn't uh much left of the brereech as a whole now. Nice bit of sun as well.

[00:15:52]So, they're really going quite far uh down with that on that one side at least.

[00:16:00]There we go.

[00:16:02]Yeah, cool work to film. And uh this has certainly been I would say my uh my favorite work to film so far now.

[00:16:13]There we go.

[00:16:18]So, I'll go up again now. He's getting I mean it makes sense you know that's the level they have been going to but uh yeah it's certainly awesome.

[00:16:34]There we go. Now, this does beg the question of how far they're going to go.

[00:16:41]And uh yeah, I'm excited to see that because uh I don't know, maybe they're going to go all the way to that top dam.

[00:16:50]Um you know, I wouldn't be too surprised. Now, when the tree surgeons were here, um my main question was, why have they taken off so many of the trees from this left bank? And now it's starting to make sense because it's all getting uh well, what's the word? Just deleted through lack of a better term.

[00:17:13]It really is, you know. So that uh certainly makes more sense.

[00:17:19]So I wonder if they're going to use that uh material somewhere else over the site as well. I wouldn't be too surprised.

[00:17:28]Now get you a nice zoomed out shot as well.

[00:17:33]Oh. Uh, there was me thinking that he was going to stop.

[00:17:37]So, we'll go this way.

[00:17:40]Oh, there was a big fly next to me then.

[00:17:42]I thought it was a wasp. That was massive.

[00:17:46]There we go.

[00:17:51]So, yeah, real nice to film all this.

[00:17:54]And uh you can tell as well that from that side um the left side now to the actual level they've got it to now it's basically flat. There's uh very little difference between the two levels. Now now of course uh next weekend next weekend this weekend uh there'll be no workers on site. Now, I've said this before, but uh I'm posting this footage today on Saturday, but this was indeed filmed on Friday. Um, but I am very excited to see what uh what goes on over next week. There's going to be plenty of interesting things to look at, I'm sure.

[00:18:35]And uh especially this work. I wasn't expecting this this week, but uh lo and behold, we've had probably the uh the best week yet. Now, I'll let them crack on a little bit more and I'll bring you back when they uh start working again.

[00:18:50]So, they're back to it now and uh they've got to be keeping this top soil for something exactly what that is. Like I say, not sure. Not sure, but uh I'm sure we'll see it across site at some point. Now, real quick as well, I'll uh bring you right back as I get into position for some very cute filming. So you'll see there Joe's boat and all the little ducklings go along past it. So cute. And glad to know that they are okay. Now, uh like I say, we were a bit worried about him cuz uh we saw only a few yesterday and then uh yeah, the uh the mother we thought was the mother uh we saw down here today with no dufflins. So, very nice to know that they are indeed all right. So, I'll since I'm flying the tiny drone, I don't mind going quite close to me. I won't go close to them or anything, but there you go. Now, it hasn't got the same level of camera on this, so you certainly uh can't get the detail that you would do otherwise, but yeah, it's very cute.

[00:20:00]There we go. So, maybe uh the gon of the stick checks, but uh the old duckling checks might have to be a new staple on the channel.

[00:20:09]Now, how can you not love them? How can you not love him, you know? But, uh, yeah. Anyway, back to the, uh, the main piece of work.

[00:20:19]Let's go and have a look. Okay.

[00:20:24]So, off we go.

[00:20:29]Now, we'll have a look how far he's gone. I'm still, you know, quite surprised by how much of this work they are doing. But then saying that, if the bank material isn't ideal, then it does make you wonder if they're going to have to do the whole thing, you know, otherwise will they just think that it's better doing that than having an issue 20 years later where the same thing happens 100 meters down the bank. But hey, we'll uh we'll wait and see for that. And hopefully we uh we find out some plans soon enough. Now, I said this in yesterday's video, but most of the time we know just as much as you guys do. You know, we don't get told information or anything. Uh which is well, it is what it is. You know, it really is. But, uh yeah, don't think that we've got some uh prior knowledge or anything like that. It's just not the case, unfortunately.

[00:21:27]That's a bit bumpy there, but wheel dumper having no issues with that.

[00:21:32]There we go.

[00:21:35]So, I'll move slightly further this way.

[00:21:40]A little more zoomed out for you.

[00:21:43]There we go.

[00:21:48]So, I'm guessing there's a specific rule that they're not allowed to load that dumper um whilst um someone's in it.

[00:21:56]Maybe. Not sure. Not sure. It seems odd, but gives him a chance to have a nice walk around.

[00:22:08]So, they go right down again.

[00:22:12]Now, we were talking about this, but I bet there's some cool artifacts, things like that, um, from when this was built, uh, mixed in with that uh, soil and and clay and things. I'd uh, love to get me metal detector on it, but it'll be all right. it. Uh I'm sure someone will do it eventually.

[00:22:31]Hopefully they post a video of it though. That'd be interesting to uh see if nothing else.

[00:22:38]There we go.

[00:22:44]All righty. So once he cracks on again, I'll uh I'll bring you back once again.

[00:22:50]I'll tell you what, we'll uh get a little bit more of this filmed.

[00:22:54]It's my favorite thing to film now, so why not? It'd be rude not to. Duck flying past in the background.

[00:23:02]There we go.

[00:23:08]Awesome work. So, yeah, I'll uh actually I'll get the wheel dumper driving off as well. It's a ne neglected piece of kit when it comes to the filming. We don't film it too much uh compared to everything else. So, why not?

[00:23:22]I'll make sure to keep out of everyone's way. So, I'll come back over toward me.

[00:23:29]There we go. I'm sure you can hear that in the background. It's uh certainly quite loud when it's reversing.

[00:23:40]Certainly not uh as much of a smooth camera on this drone when zooming in and out. Can be a little janky at times, but hey, we still love it. I still love this old drone. Certainly do.

[00:23:53]So, off he goes. You can just about see the drilling work in the background as well. So, I've just changed me battery and uh he's going again. So, I'll go and get another look at everything going on over here. Now, there is a uh a little Neo drone uh that flies from god knows where. Uh so we have to be careful or even more careful when he's about uh just uh making sure that we're not going to crash into each other. But uh yeah, it should should be fine. It's a very loud piece of kit if anyone uh has seen one of those DJI Neos. It's uh yeah, it's got covered propellers. Uh so they have to spin a lot quicker. Uh so it's a real high-pitched hum when that flies over. It's quite entertaining actually.

[00:24:44]But, uh, when he starts digging again, I'll bring you back. So, here he comes again. So, I'm sure it won't be too long until the excavator starts up once again. So, let's have a look.

[00:25:02]There we go.

[00:25:06]So, he'll get out once again and then he'll start up. There we go.

[00:25:18]Now, I'm hoping that you can hear a bit of this work in the background. Once again, do keep users updated because that was a certainly one of my favorite parts of my old mic setup is that uh you could hear a lot of these works in the background.

[00:25:34]Just realized I was talking over that whole thing, so you probably wouldn't be able to hear too much anyway, but uh beeries.

[00:25:44]Now, I can see that the uh sky behind us is getting a lot darker. So, I think we're using up a lot of our luck related to the weather already. And uh but to be fair, we've done well on the uh weather this morning. and it said it was going to rain past 10 and it's probably uh close to half 12 1:00 now. So, yeah, we have done well.

[00:26:07]I'll zoom in a little bit more just so you can get an idea of just how much work these guys are doing. It will take them a little longer now they're having to uh um take all this material onto the other side of the site, but uh yeah, I'm still not entirely sure why that is.

[00:26:28]There we go. So, that's all done. And uh same again, I'd imagine now with it uh getting on, I'll leave you to it now.

[00:26:38]But uh thank you very much for watching.

[00:26:40]Really do appreciate your time. Hope you've all had a a wonderful or are having a wonderful weekend. It can be hard sometimes to remember exactly what to say on different days, but uh yeah, hope you're all having a great weekend.

[00:26:52]And uh I'll see you next week for hopefully a very nice week indeed. But uh yeah, take care everyone. Really appreciate your time.