November 2025 Work Party

The work party for 8th November 2025 consisted of 10 volunteers with 56 hours of work being carried out in dry Autumn weather. Due to the efforts of the volunteers, all the planned work was carried out as follows:

• Following storm Amy on 3rd/4th of October and the subsequent tree works to clear the path, the brash left at the side of the path in Aucheorn Cutting, north of the Divie Viaduct, was processed into logs and wood chip, and then removed from the cuttings on the tipping trailer.
• The windblown willow tree root plate on the steep slopes of the Aucheorn Cutting was safely pulled back to a horizontal position to prevent the possibility of it falling onto the Dava Way path. 
• Flood prevention bunds across the path and side offlets adjacent, were installed south of the Bantrach Cutting and Newton Burn bridge using sub-base quarry material.

Additional works:

• Some storm debris and leaves were removed from part of the Aucheorn Cutting drainage ditch.
• Approximately 3 cubic metres of wood chip was delivered to the Rafford Village Hall play park as a donation to the community.
• The surplus sub-base was used to infill a couple of large puddles in the Cairn Eney Cutting.

Other points to note:

• The installed bunds need to be blinded over with quarry dust to bind the sub-base and to make the bund surface smoother.
• There was a Dava Way Ultra race taking place during the work party with approximately 400 participants. Fortunately they were well spread out by the time they reached the work areas. The organisers have been made aware of the need to consult the Dava Way Association when organising these events to ensure a clash with path improvement works can be avoided.
• No accident or injuries were reported.