Meeting Martin Lane

During a recent visit to Saddington Reservoir as part of my Love Clean Streets wanderings, I crossed paths with one of the Canal & River Trust’s volunteers, Martin Lane. If you’ve ever met him, you’ll know he’s a natural conversationalist — the sort of person who can turn a routine bit of maintenance into a lively, impromptu lesson.

When I arrived, Martin was already chatting with a young woman named Emma. I was quickly welcomed into the conversation, and within moments we were deep into the hidden workings of the reservoir and the canal system it feeds.

What Happens Beneath the Surface

Martin spends much of his volunteer time removing flotsam from the reservoir before it reaches the canal feeder. It’s not glamorous work, but it’s essential. As he explained, even small bits of debris can cause surprisingly large problems downstream. One of the things that really annoys this placid person is when he finds the logs and branches he fished out one day have all been thrown back in the next!
He gave us a quick masterclass in the mechanics of lock gates. Water moving through a lock creates enormous pressure, and sticks, stones, and other debris can be drawn into the sluice gates. Once lodged there, they prevent the gate from sealing properly. The result is a constant, unnecessary loss of water — gallons upon gallons slipping away simply because a twig or pebble found its way into the wrong place.

The Winter Temptation

Martin also mentioned a seasonal issue many of us have been guilty of. When the canals freeze over, it’s tempting to toss a branch or stone onto the ice just to watch it skitter across. I’ve done it myself without thinking. But when the ice melts, that debris doesn’t magically disappear. It drifts, sinks, and eventually ends up exactly where it shouldn’t be — in the lock mechanisms, causing headaches for volunteers like Martin and wasting precious water.