TODMORDEN - Strimming at Greystone Lane

The stimming of overgrown footpaths continues. Today RJ, David and Kasher spent the day strimming and cutting back a number of footpaths near Greystone Farm: Tod 011 (Greystone Lane), Tod 010 near  Chapel House and Tod 011 near Mount Pleasant.

We were pleased to see that a some intrepid walkers have actually managed to walk along Greystone Lane. Well done! Hopefully today's cutting back will make life a little easier. However, take care along this route as there are many drainage channels are hidden by low ground cover vegetation.

Today's work has been funded by Todmorden Town Council. Many thanks.

The blue dot marks the location of Greystone Lane.

RJ, heavily ladened, walking up the track to
start today's work.

Kasher strimming the lower reaches of Greystone Lane.

Tod 011: Greystone Lane. It's a jungle - machete would be useful!

Opening up Tod 011.

Tod 011 is now passable.

Waist deep on Tod 011 near Mount Pleasant! 

Tod 011 near Mount Pleasant now cleared.

Greystone Lane: Yes! This is a right-of-way!

 Greystone Lane now easier to negotiate.

DODD NAZE AND OLD TOWN

 Dodd Naze and Old Town Village

Ian S and Paul were out today undertaking two jobs in separate locations. The first task was to finish a flight of steps above the Dodd Naze Estate and the second task was to repair a finger-post in Old Town Village.

Dodd Naze Steps: location map

Old Town finger-post map

The Dodd Naze work was funded by "Picture This" while the Old Town finger-post repair was funded by Wadsworth Parish Council. Thank you to both.

Dodd Naze Steps: This job was a continuation and completion of the work that was started two weeks ago. Additional steps were fitted at the bottom end of this wide curving flight that leads up to Rowlands Lane from the top of the estate.

Where we finished 2 weeks ago

Where our last session finished there was quite a steep section so we installed two new shorter length steps to create an easier passage for walkers.

Two new steps installed.

The infill was sourced from further up the path but once this has bedded-in we will return to see if a top up is needed.

Old Town finger-post repair:

A fingerless post!

This is on the path that links Billy Lane with Old Mill Ridge in the village centre. The old 'flag' had long since disappeared but a resourceful Todmorden colleague had provided us with a replacement. 

A rotted interior!

Unfortunately the interior rebated slot had rotted which meant it was impossible to slide the replacement flag into the original housing.

Ian doing some fixing!

 

The solution was to screw two additional pieces of wood onto the top sides of the post so the new flag could be slotted in and secured.

Completed!

We may need to return to paint it all one colour . . . !

SOWERBY BRIDGE - Boulder Clough

Today, Jerry and Frank S were out on the hillside above Boulder Clough where two finger-posts had been reported as out of place. The first post was where the bridleway (Sowerby Bridge 058) leaves New Lane. It had previously rotted at ground level and was too short to re-use as it was, but it could easily be extended by butt-joining an extra length of timber. The first two pictures show Frank checking it was upright before Jerry started filling the hole, and then the finished article standing vertical once more.

The second post was on the steep, narrow double-bend at Hollins Gate, where the footpath (Sowerby Bridge 061) joins Hollins Lane. The post had originally been in the ground, and then it had been screwed to the gate post, but when a new gate was installed it was left leaning against the wall. Once again we butt-extended the post and re-planted it in the ground. The photo shows the completed job.

This work was funded by public donations to CROWS. Thank you for your support. Thanks also to Hollins Gate for allowing us to park in their driveway, away from the very narrow road.

HEIGHT ROAD - Calderdale Way . . . and around

 Several reported problems for Stella, Steve and Rich to deal with:

- Repair and replacement of posts on the Calderdale Way and a Link Path

- Finger-post on the track to Han Royd to be replaced by a waymark

- Vegetation cut back on the path to Han Royd House 

Today's work was funded by Midgley Community Forum - many thanks. 

What a day to be on that hillside with crystal clear views . . . and a hare . . . and a kestrel.  

 Calderdale Way Link path

3 white-topped posts needed repainting (white indicates a permissive path) and an extra one was put in at the top. These posts help people to find the path when the weather is really bad. 

Look carefully but you'll need very sharp eyes to see four posts!!

 Calderdale Way

One post was lying on the ground, one was distinctly wobbly (sheep back-scratcher) and another was missing.  

Then it was down Height Road to Han Royd

The finger-post was propped up behind a tree.  After several attempts to put it back in the ground, we gave up and added a waymark on a fence post instead. Not quite as good, but the only solution. 

The path up to Han Royd house had become very overgrown and almost impassable in places. Serious cutting-back needed!

 

Cragg Vale: South of Bod Bridge!

 Cragg Vale: slim-line gate number 1

In ideal conditions, Andy and Frank H re-configured access to the footpath (Hebden Royd 119) that branches off the minor side road running south over Bod Bridge just beyond the Hinchliffe pub. (see map).

The task was to replace an awkward rail-stile with a pedestrian gate. This would provide an easier alterative to both the existing 'stile' and to the adjacent field gate the latter being particularly heavy and difficult to close.

Today's work was funded by the landowners. Many thanks.

The detail

1 Map: Location of worksite shown by 'blue' tag. Bod Bridge
crosses the river about 150 m to the north.

The following shows the original access. The rail-stile is secure but awkward to climb especially with a 'step-down' on the other side. The side-uprights are very firmly embedded and vertical enough to suggest a gate could be fitted into the gap. What will happen, however, to the overall stability when the cross-rails are removed could be the most interesting technical moment of the day!

2. Original awkward pedestrian access. (The field gate to
the right swings back heavily under its own weight).

Work began by installing side-rails to anchor the original uprights to the wall-end and to the stone pillar respectively. This meant that when the cross-rails were removed the uprights would stay in place and could then act as hinge-post and closure-post for the new gate.

3. Work in progress: Extra bracing side-rails being fitted

4. Finished job: view from lane side. New side-rails
on LHS. Closure spring and closure loop fitted.

5. Finished job: view from field side. The
'step-down' is no longer problematic.

The field gate was originally closed by a rope loop over one of the side uprights (see picture 2). The strain, however, on the upright was considerable so a hook was fixed into the stone pillar to act as a safer alternative. Additionally a rock-anchor ring was drilled into the pillar so, if needed, the field gate could be chained shut.

We were happy with the outcome. The gate constructed in CROWS' workshop fitted the gap exactly and the structure is safe, secure, functional  . . . and aesthetically pleasing!

100 m down the track is a similar(ish) situation - a narrow pedestrian gap by 'an-often-left-open' field gate. Guess what next week's task will be!