CALDERDALE WAY - above Wainsgate

 Ginny and Rich followed up some reported problems with a bridge and some stiles way above Wainstalls. 

The plank bridge would be lethal in wet weather (as reported) with a steep drop into the stream, so several rows of staples were put in. 

Three of the five stiles were in very poor condition and difficult to cross. Measurements were taken and job sheets written for a future work party. 

Perhaps doing this on the day that the Calderdale Way relay was run was not a good idea - we had to get off the path every 10 minutes or so!

Today's work was funded by Just giving donations to CROWS.

 The details

                                                                        Tread boards rotten

                                                    Whole structure is very difficult to cross

                                                            Stapling with supervisor

                                                    Altogether about to collapse
 

RYBURN - Mill Bank

 On a hot and sunny day, Eleanor and Jak returned to the Mill Bank area to do repair work on a stile at Lighthazles. Ripponden footpath 012.

After removing the brambles and nettles, the old rotten parts of the stile were taken out. A new cross section was installed, the tops of the pull you up posts had rotted so these too were removed and new waymarks were attached.

Pulling up rotten step

Digging a hole for the new support post

The finished article

This work was funded by a very generous grant from Russell, for which many thanks.

BLACKSHAW HEAD - Stiles up to Chisley Stones

 What a fantastic day to be working in the Upper Calder Valley! Today's team of Catherine and Kasher aimed to fettle up two stiles on Eastwood Road. 

The stiles are both on footpath Blackshaw 053 which goes from Eastwood Road towards the old quarry at Chisley Stones. 

The task at the first stile was to reinstate a fingerpost and to replace a treadboard. This single-flag fingerpost was originally at the junction of two sections of Blackshaw 053 but is now positioned just inside the fence line . . . it is also much shorter!

The second stile proved to be more of a challenge! How long should it take to remove one short stile-leg? Mmm! A lot of digging, bar-ing, rocking and grunting later we realised that the original installers of the stile had nailed horizontal wooden bracers to the stile leg - attachments which ensure stability but are extremely difficult to excavate. (Note to self: a hacksaw would have been useful!) 

Some considerable time later the replacement leg was finally installed and the stile with its 'take-off' stone could be finished. It was a case of  . . . 'so little to show for so much effort'!

We then cut-back overgrowth from around fingerposts and markerposts along Eastwood Lane before moving down to Matthew Lane to investigate a waymarking issue. We will be back to install a markerpost and some waymarks at the junction of Matthew Lane and Baulk Lane in the next couple of weeks.

Today's work was funded by very generous individual donations to CROWS. Many thanks.

Location of stile 1.

Location of stile 2.

Stile 1:

Catherine removing the old treadboard.

Kasher trying to find stone-free ground in
which to install the cut-down fingerpost.

Fingerpost re-embedded, new treadboard in place,
waymarks and 'Ground Nesting Birds' sign attached.

Stile 2:

Short stile-leg and treadboard being removed.

Catherine digging out the remnants
of the short stile-leg.

The stile fully fettled with new leg and 
treadboard.

Catherine on light gardening duties near Great Rock.

A familiar distant feature in the panoramic view from the worksite.

TODMORDEN - The start of the strimming season

CROWS have again been contracted to strim seven sections of the Pennine Bridleway (PBW) in the Upper Calder Valley.

RJ and David started on two sections today and completed the strimming of Tod BW 143 and Tod BW 215, see map below. The section of the PBW up to Bottomley was started and should be completed next week.

Today's work on the PBW has been funded by Lancashire County Council! 

Tod BW 143 and Tod BW 215

The route of the PBW up to Bottomley.

Warning notices were clearly displayed at the 
ends of the paths to be strimmed.

RJ working his way uphill towards one of the
Summit tunnel ventilation shafts.

RJ 

Clearing the PBW down towards the Rochdale Road.

RJ attacking the brambles.

WAINSTALLS:- on the relay route!

 Wainstalls: Stile replacement.

On the Wainstalls to Castle Carr Road the Calderdale Way leads off over a stile and goes NE as right-of-way Halifax 135  (see map).

1 Map: The blue pin marks the worksite - luckily next to a road with ample parking!

The stile is on the route of the forthcoming Calderdale Way Relay Race and needs some attention before being climbed over by a stream of runners . . . all of whom will be in a hurry!

2. Original state of stile: picture taken earlier this year.

At first glance this stile seems to be in reasonable condition but closer investigation revealed defects in all but one of the timbers! The plan therefore was to carry out a complete replacement and also install a 'lift-type' dog-gate in the useful gap between the fence straining post and the left-hand stile post.

The Detail.

Andy, Kasher and Frank H had ideal conditions for working - it was sunny, but not too hot, and views were panoramic - all to a background soundtrack provided by curlew cries and the bleat of sheep. What's not to like? Well! . . . . . . 'deadmen'! They had been nailed into the lower ends of the side-posts which in turn were deeply embedded in a considerable amount of concrete! Mmm! It became a very physical sort of a day!

Here's how it went:

2. Out with the old: Cross-rails and steps removed
but concrete (lots of it) already encountered!

3. Post removal: One side-post out. Taller post
being attacked but we are well behind the clock!

4. In with the new: Short side-post in
place. New tall post being aligned with
the short post and the straining post.

5. Quality control: "Hurry up, guys! It's lunchtime already!"

6. Alignment is all! Position of step-legs
for this two-step stile being established.

7. Progress! Steps legs in place with cross-bracing
(just visible). Treadboards being attached.

8. Nearly there: Cross-rails nailed and trimmed to size.
Lift-type dog-gate fitted and waymarks (r-o-w;
 dogs on lead and Calderdale Way) attached.

9. End result: A two-step stile with dog-gate undergoing
 the pedestrian test. Did it pass? Never in doubt!

This was a difficult task. Removing large amounts of concrete, stubs of old posts and partly buried remnants of an even earlier fence took a disproportionate length of time and was particularly energy sapping. Fortunately, time was saved for us by the landowners who not only supplied a large amounts of packing stone and offered to dispose of the waste timbers, but also funded the work. Many thanks.