TODMORDEN - Scaitcliffe Wood

 Today was, hopefully, our last work-party in Scaitcliffe Wood on Todmorden 082. The team of Andrew, Catherine, Duncan, Kasher and Neil Mc installed more revetment; built additional steps; widened the pathway; infilled steps and cleared up the timbers from previous work parties.

This route is now much easier to use but it is still a "challenging" walk. Like many paths out of the valley it is easier to walk this one going uphill rather than downhill.

We will be back at a later date to check the steps, to infill those that need it and to sort out the remaining old timbers some of which, for the moment, remain on site.

Today's work was funded by very generous donations from the public. Many thanks for helping to maintain the amazing network of paths that we have in Calderdale.

Tod 082 through Scaitcliffe Wood.

Andrew and Catherine checking up on the 
steps which need replacing.

Andrew sorting out the stobs for the
first step.

Duncan with the new revetment and the widened
path.

Catherine clearing the path of leaves and acorns
so that it was safe for both walking and working.

 l

The path (near the top of the wood) which needed
widening.

The widened path.

Taking all tools and timber off the hillside . . .  very carefully!

The original flight of stone steps.

HEPTONSTALL

 Ken, with a little help, went to refurbish the information board at the top of Heptonstall village. The back-board was more like wet cardboard and needed complete replacement! A new information board about the Calderdale Way and local walks was installed. This was part of a project funded by 'Friends of Calderdale Countryside Service'. 

 

 

Perhaps not the best weather to have tackled this job!!!

CRAGG VALE - Withens Clough

 The footpath Hebden Royd 79 has been in dire condition for some time. The problem is mainly very poor drainage with a huge overgrowth of soft rush. Today's task for Kasher, Jerry, Rich, Guy, Jan, Nick and Ian V was to do a big cut-back to find out what was going on and to get as much water as possible off the path. Once this is done, we will come back to see if further interventions are needed. Hopefully, we will replace the boardwalks and marker posts on this route in the Spring. 

We were so lucky with today's weather: the hills had a light covering of snow but the temperature was fine to work in and there was, strangely, no wind to make conditions intolerable.

Plans are afoot (by Yorkshire Water) for tree planting on this hillside. This will also include some improvement to the fencing.

Many thanks to the farmer here who has been extremely supportive in trying to improve this route. Thanks too for letting us have the keys to the gates so that we could get a vehicle and our tools closer to the work site.

The work on this path was funded by donations to CROWS.

Above Withens Clough reservoir at the
start of the day..... bliss.

The team assessing the problems. Looking up 
towards Sunderland Pasture.

Jan: the drainage guru (?).

The very wet walled lane which will
need strimming at a later date.

Guy contemplating life and the universe... 
and drainage issues.

Jerry and LOTS of water!

Ian and a floating boardwalk. This boardwalk will
be replaced in the Spring.

One of many completely waterlogged paths.

Scraping the path to get down to the solid
base.

Clearing the mud etc off the path to get to the 
stone base. Walking this route is so much easier.

Unearthing one of the boardwalks ..... and getting 
the water to flow under it!

Creating drainage channels.

The drainage team (minus one)!

WADSWORTH: A day with the double-dog-gate duo!

 Wadsworth: 

1. Dog-gate near Seed Hill

On a very chilly morning, Paul and Frank H (aka 'the dog-gate duo') tackled the puzzle of adding a dog-gate to an existing stile on the footpath (right-of-way  Wadsworth 077) which is about 150 m south of Seed Hill (see map).

1. Map: R-o-W Wadsworth 077 off Rowlands Lane near Seed Hill. Blue tag marks the stile.

This work was funded by the residents of Seed Hill. Many thanks.

The detail.

The original fencework, just to the right of the stile steps, looked like this:

2. Position for dog-gate:

Problems were: very rocky ground where the dog-gate side-posts needed to go, a missing cross-rail, a broken lower rail, a damaged stockfence and misaligned fence and stile timbers.

The plan was to insert new rails to match the original structure, install a lift-type dog-gate and re-fix the stockfence where possible. Mmm! Interesting tasks with frozen fingers but the work begins . . .

However, by lunchtime:

3. i Stockproof but dog-friendly:
Extra cross-rails and dog-gate in place.

4. ii Stockproof but dog-friendly.

The additional timbers are vertical or horizontal as needed. Unfortunately, the original stile structure is not quite to the same standard! However the stile steps (out of shot to right of above picture) are safe to negotiate and the dog-gate works beautifully.

 2. Dog-gate near Hurst Road

The move down to Hurst Road had three benefits - it was warmer (only -1oC according to the thermometer), more sheltered and the job was similar . . . but simpler.

1. Map: This popular stile (blue tag) gives access to the path (Wadsworth 081)
that leads up the hillside to the East of Fearney Fields

Below is the original two-step stile. The dog-gate will be fitted to the right of the steps and near to the (not quite vertical) stockfence post.

2. Two-step, four cross-rail stile.

The wire stock fence is very good quality and has been correctly tensioned by the original installers. Our plan was to maintain the integrity of this structure but at the same time create the dog-hole by removing part of the third rail down.

Some time later:

3. Finished product: Up-slope view from walled
ginnel that gives access from Hurst Road

4. Afternoon tea-break? Mmm! Perhaps not!

5. Tidying-up work: view from Fearney Fields' side.

6. Testing! Testing! It works . .  .
. . . but where has the dog gone!

Overall this was a successful day's work. Although some compromises had to be made because of stony  ground, quirks of the original timbers and (especially for stile 1) defects in the stockfence, we were pleased with the eventual outcome. The 'lifts' function smoothly to allow dogs to come and go (under close control, we hope) yet when 'down' act as a barrier to livestock.

The work for this dog-gate was funded by General Donations to CROWS. Many thanks.

BARKISLAND AND RYBURN RESERVOIR

 2 jobs, today, for the team of Jak, Rich, Jerry and Lynda. 

First job (for Calderdale Highways) was fixing a stile and some cutting-back in Barkisland.

Second job was dealing with step issues and the slippery surface on a bridge over Bogden Clough (a tail on Ryburn reservoir). This work was funded by the Ryburn Bash. 

 BARKISLAND

Stile was overgrown and the wire fence across it was a trip hazard. 

All sorted

BOGDEN CLOUGH

 The bridge was very slippery, so staples were added to the cross-treads..

A rotted step needed replacing. 

 Then the stone steps on the other side needed clearing by cutting back the considerable overgrowth. 

 

On the track back to Long Causeway, we dealt with some standing water across the whole width of the track. It was lovely to see the water going into a drain below!

 Finally, we went to look at a reported problem at Pike End Road above Rishworth - but that's work for another day.