TODMORDEN - Various

There were three teams out on this fantastic Autumn day.

Team 1:    Mick and Frank H were working near Daisy Bank off the Long Causeway in Blackshaw Head. See separate post.

Team 2:    Ian V, David, Catherine and Kasher continued the work on Tod 029 and Tod 028 below Scrapers Lane. This included trying to improve the route near to a recently felled tree, cutting back the vigorous holly, widening paths and getting rid of years of leaf mold on a sunken path. 

We also installed one marker post at the junction of Tod BW 027 (Broad Gate and Scrapers Lane) and Tod BW 190 (the road down to Hole Bottom) where there has been some confusion over the routes for the Calderdale Way, the Todmorden Centenary Way and the Calderdale Way Link path.

Location of work below Scraper Lane.

Team 3: Ken and Neil Mc:  replaced the gate and associated fence at the top of Stubley Lane on Tod 071, adjacent to Bearnshaw Tower.

Replacement of a gate near Bearnshaw Tower.

Today's work has been funded by Todmorden Town Council and by generous individual donations to CROWS. Many thanks.

Details:

Team 2: Ian V and Kasher were out last week working on these paths. However, we needed to come back to improve the pathway next to a large felled tree. The rootball was on the uphill side of the path and the trunk of the tree was down the slope. The path was exceptionally narrow and was in danger of becoming impassable in the wet winter months ahead. We have created a safer path around the rootball. However, we will keep an eye on this and will, if necessary, add improved handholds on the rootball and possibly a deep revetment on the downhill slope to stop the path from collapsing down the slope.

The pathway (more precarious than it looks)
between the sections of the felled tree.

Significant amounts of pondering going on . . .

One step added, ground levelled and path
widened in preparation for the next stage.

Walk-board in place and secured.

Meanwhile,

Catherine cutting back Tod 028.

Kasher and Ian putting the finishing
touches to the new marker post.

We will need to return to Tod 028 shortly to install an additional deep step on the route up from the stream. At the moment this path is tricky to negotiate.

Team 3: Ken and Neil Mc replaced the existing gate, on the path adjacent to Bearnshaw Tower,with a smaller gate which opens the opposite way (as requested by the landowner). There are nearly always sheep in this field and the landowner has had problems with the original gate being left open. A stronger closure spring should prevent this from happening. 

The 'old' gate which is being replaced.

The new (smaller) gate in position and
Neil Mc sorting out the fence uprights.

The nearly completed new gate and fence.

There is still some work to be done - adding more rails to the fence to stop stock getting through: fitting a closure loop and applying a coat of preservative to protect the gate. We should be back next week to complete these tasks.

TODMORDEN: Blackshaw Head, Daisy Bank.

Blackshaw Head; Daisy Bank - steps up and a step-over.

An experienced team of Mick and Frank H, for whom the number 150 may be significant, carried out remedial work on the footpath (Blackshaw 044) that runs southeast from Daisy Bank towards Long Row. There were two tasks:

i)  Constructing two extra steps at the top of the flight just after the footbridge that crosses Daisy Bank Clough (approximate position shown as a blue dot on the map).

ii) Adding two side-posts and a low cross-rail to the footbridge that crosses the drainage leat near Long Row (approximate position shown as a blue 'pin' on the map)

It was an ideal working day but both jobs, straightforward as they might have been, took more time than expected! 

But why 150? Mmm! This is approximately the combined age of Mick and Frank . . . it is also roughly their combined weight in kg . . . and, as an anonymous wit suggested, possibly their combined IQ. The numerical distribution in each case is, however, a closely guarded secret!

Today's work has been funded by generous individual donations to CROWS. Many thanks.

The detail.

i) Steps up

The original footbridge and steps were installed by CROWS several years ago. Where the steps reach the edge of the moor erosion has taken place such that the flight needs to be extended. Light conditions made it difficult to get clear photographs but here are 'start' and 'finish' shots

Picture 1. Start of excavation for new steps

Picture 2: Two new steps in place.

The task was prolonged as numerous large stones had to be excavated and 0.4 m deep 'pilot' holes for the 'stobs' could only be created by battering the under-laying gritstone into submission with a heavy bar. It was an upper- body workout requiring about 150 hits per step!

ii) A step-over

There were concerns that cattle straying out of area might attempt to cross the footbridge that goes over a drainage leat near Long Row. The footbridge (originally constructed by CROWS) just needed two side-posts to be installed and fitted with cross-rails at a height sufficient to deter livestock . . . but low enough to allow pedestrian access.

Timber and tools were carried across the boggy moorland track. Unfortunately, no picture of Mick's mud-filled boots was taken and we also neglected to take a 'before' shot of the task. However, the finished construction work looked like this:

Picture 1:
The first customer! Every moor should have a mysterious large dog!
The braced side-posts have been fitted and firmly screw-bolted to the
bridge stringers. The top cross-rail is high enough to deter cattle.

It was a day requiring high energy levels, much digging, careful measurement and accurate drilling - all made easier by fine weather, an absence of wind and the peaceful panorama. More next week once we have managed to straighten-up! 

HEBDEN BRIDGE - Law Lane above Sandy Gate

 A merry band of Kash, Ginny, two Franks, Guy, Rich, and Stella went to cut back this old sunken path and clear the very uneven surface. 

This work is prior to Calderdale Highways dealing with the drainage and then looking at how to improve the surface. It will take some time, but getting this great path back to a good shape will be worth the wait. 

The details

Thanks to......

Guy on the azad

Frank on the shears

Ginny on the rake

Frank on the bow saw and Kash on the brush cutter

 

Stella and Frank who cleared the entrance of brambles

The path is now much easier to use as you can see where you are walking.

PS learning from experience

Before and after - well cleaned and dressed by Frank with four supervisors

 

OLD TOWN Village

Chiserley Village Paths

Andy, Ian S and Paul were out today in wet conditions cutting back and widening footpaths in the Chiserley village area. In addition, a minor repair was made on a nearby ladder stile. Paul was occupied with a couple of strimming jobs near Foot Kiln and Westfield, while Ian S and Andy were widening the path leading up from Ibbotroyd to Lower Chiserley.

Work funded by Wadsworth Parish Council. Many thanks! 

Site map

Path Widening: This path gets very overgrown and is soggy to walk along. Work had begun three weeks ago to cut back Autumn vegetation and carryout widening to deter next year's growth. Ian and Andy managed to clear a very long section at the bottom end:

Cleared section - neat work, guys.

Strimming / Cut back: The path at the corner of the field by Foot Kiln is a perennial problem and, without regular attention, becomes impassable. A strim and shears cut was the winning ticket today!

Nicely done!

Westfield triangle: This triangle of paths at the back of Westfield near Old Mill Ridge has become overgrown with one of the three paths being impassable. It is used daily by local people and schoolchildren.

The third path at the back has been lost.

Much improved!

Footpath from Foot Kiln up to Top O'th Croft: The overhanging branches of the hedge at the bottom end were cut back:

Hedge trimmed back.

Ladder stile repair: In addition to the above work, Andy and Ian completed a small repair job on this "stile" that accesses the footpath at the top end of Nutclough Wood. A length of tread board was fixed into place at the front of the ladder stile platform:

New piece fitted on the end of the platform.

Despite the rain some decent work completed today!

HEPTONSTALL MOOR - Pennine Way

Clare, Ginny and Rich (having reviewed the forecast several times!) decided to walk up from the NT car park to the Pennine Way at Clough Head. There were several drainage issues with standing water across the path across the moor. The main solution was to clear/create grips (side channels) to get the water off the path. Today's work (including some waymarking) was funded by Heptonstall Parish Council. Many thanks.

The details

Here's a collection of photos:

Flags appear from the water

Channel narrowed and easy to cross

A dry surface

After getting some deep water off the flagged crossing, we discovered a flag was missing, luckily we were able to use a couple of narrow ones to replace it.

That's enough work for one day!

No rain, even a lot of sun. A really useful work session to have completed before the winter.