TODMORDEN: A cornucopia of Cornholme tasks

 Cornholme: 

On a blue-skied day when the temperature barely rose above 0oC, Kasher, Gareth and Frank H worked on three tasks in the Cornholme area:

Task 1: Installing a two-seater bench on the level patch of ground at the end of the new footpath (Todmorden 216) which, starting from Pudsey Road, contours around the hillside to meet the existing right-of-way which leads up to Shore New Road. (see map)

Task 2: In the same area, removing detached, damaged or redundant plastic guards from the now well-established trees.

Task 3: Further up the hillside (near Hartley Royd), installing two low, yellow-topped marker poles to clarify a right-of-way.

The bulk of today's work has been funded by 'Active Calderdale'. Many thanks for your support.

The detail:

Task 1:

The new path (Todmorden 216) follows a well-used desire line and is a very popular local walk - especially for dogs and their humans.

1. Blue tag: marks the worksite.

The detail:

The plan was to install a two-seater bench on a flat section of land which, as well as being in a sunny location, offered views over Cornholme. The bench was pre-built in CROWS' depot by Ken, Steve and Frank H and looks like this:

2. Upside-down two-seater (resting on work bench).
The timber is tanalised and has three coats of a
waterproof preservative and a layer of 'Creosolve'
on the leg sections that will be buried.

3. The two-seater: the correct way
up . . . but not yet buried!

4. The digging begins: four leg-holes at
a depth to give a horizontal seat.

5. Down it goes: Bench being lowered
into holes prior to packing

6. End result: Stable, legs vertical and exactly
the right height. . . and that's just Kasher!

This was a very pleasing outcome. The bench is well-packed into the ground so is secure and stable with a level 'platform'.  Walkers enjoy!

Task 2:

While Gareth and Frank installed the bench, Kasher pitched into the collecting or removal of redundant tree guards. These are plastic tubes, supported by a stake, that protect small saplings from being nibbled by hungry sheep or deer. As the sapling grows it will often split the plastic so the guard may fall to the ground but sometimes the guard may act a restriction and hinder future development of the sapling. It is common practise to clear away or remove tree guards once they have served their purpose.

1. Well-established saplings - outgrowing their tree guards.

2. Redundant guards: Now unsightly so collected for disposal.

Task 3:

Hartley Royd is a magnificent yeoman clothiers house and farm dating back, at least in part, to the early 17th century. It's at the end of Blue Bell Lane which leads off from the hairpin junction of Pudding Lane and Gall Lane. 

Several rights-of-way run close to this property and over the years CROWS have carried out repairs or rebuilds of several stiles as well as providing markers to clarify path directions.

Today's task was to install two markers some 600 m SW of Harley Royd where choice of route could be confusing.

Usually markerposts are not too exciting so we only have these picture!

1. Is this vertical, Kasher?

2. "Come on, Frank!" "We need a hole. Hit it harder!"

Final mystery:

Overall this was a successful day in finger-nipping, cold conditions but we were left with a little mystery. 

Very near to task 1, an addition had been made to a low, yellow-topped markerpost.

Here it is:

1. 'Artist' unknown. 

We are not sure if this is graffiti (which CROWS cannot condone), an indicator for a particular route or a wishful plea by a weary walker . . . . if the latter, then there's now a bench not 5 m away!

Ryburn - Rough Hey woods - Day 15

Firstly, "A Happy New Year" to all readers and followers of these blogs. On a cold, crisp, winters day in bright sunshine, Jak, Jerry and Angus headed into Rough Hey woods to cut-back the overhanging sections of holly, along the path leading from the Calderdale Way into the wood.

New residents in the field were intrigued by what we were doing, or were they just after food ?? 

This is the section which had become very muddy and slippery due to the lack of light from the overhanging holly, we had already put in a number of steps and stepping stones to make the passage through this section less treacherous, hopefully this will go further. As with the previous work this has been funded by a donation from the Russell family, a big thankyou to them for this.

The area of cutting back was around Higher Clough shown on the lower part of the the map.

Before and after images of the cleared section, difficult to appreciate how much material we removed from these images but it has definitely let a lot more light onto the path.

We next moved on to the stone slab footbridge across Higher Clough, which again, due to overhanging branches, had become extremely slippery from fallen leaves and moss from being in constant shade. Cutting back the overhanging branches, some of which were rotten, has let more light onto the stone slabs, we also removed fallen branches and debris from the stream below the bridge which had been restricting water flow.

 

The stone bridge from Calderdale Way direction, halfway through the cutting back, Angus surveys the finished job, hopefully a lot safer for future walkers. 

Having completed this section we went back to the link path below Toad Hall, (location shown by the small blue circle on the map above), to fit a grab post next to a stone stile. This will give more support and comfort when crossing this stile which can be slippery when wet. Whilst there, we made good the end part of the wall which had collapsed into the field.

Jerry crossing the stone stile with the aid of the new grab post.

TODMORDEN - Bents Wood

On the last day of the year, a team of four went out to sort out a few problems in Bents Wood off Scraper Lane in Todmorden. Catherine, Duncan, Kasher and RJ kept the cold at bay by:

• Installing two pieces of revetment
• Building three steps
• Clearing the wooden bridge over Bents Clough (which will need fettling in the near future)
• Reinstating one marker post
• Cutting back copious amounts of holly.

A couple of years ago a large tree came down in Bents Wood taking a large chunk of the footpath with it. CROWS created a usable path around the remaining tree-rootball but today's work was to make further improvements by installing additional revetments and steps, and by cutting back regrowth from the tree.

We also cut back lots of the holly on Tod 029 to widen the path and allow walkers to avoid the worst of the boggy mud areas on this well used route.

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

Thanks too to the resident of the cottage who allowed us to park in their private parking spot and thus reduced the distance we had to carry timber and tools.

Worksite along Bents Clough.

Catherine reinstating a marker post.

RJ positioning the first of the revetments.

RJ and Duncan installing two sections of
revetment.

Catherine making it easier to
navigate around the rootball.

Steps being put in.

Kasher attacking the rampant holly.

Duncan and the new revetment and steps.

RYBURN - Off Bar Lane and below Norland Moor

 Jak and Rich went to 2 sites - 

A narrow path off Bar Lane was being made even narrow by invasive brambles. This job was funded by Calderdale Highways

 The path traversing the hillside below Norland Moor needed some cutting back and the stone surface uncovering. This work was funded by the Russell family. 

 The path from Bar Lane up to the Rochdale Road is a well used shortcut. 

Before - pesky brambles, now passable

 We will go and do some further work on clearing the path further up. 

Path at Longley

 At a previous work party, work was started uncovering the first section of setts. This was extended but the stone surface suddenly stopped. On the remaining section, the encroaching trees were cut back and brambles removed. 

It is a bit of a puzzle why the setts just stopped. 

 Further along there was another stone surface, but of a completely different type - large thick flagstones.

 

 A good start made, but more to do at another session. 

 

RYBURN - Eccles Parlour / Lighthazles bridleway

At least it wasn't raining! It was however very soggy and muddy underfoot. A team comprising Linda, Jerry, Andy and Jak set off to tackle several blocked turnbys on this well-used bridleway with the aim of improving drainage and allowing the path to dry off.

Blocked turnby

Blocked turnby

We cleared out six turnbys and scraped as much mud off the path as possible. Some walkers were using the path and, sensibly, were wearing rubber boots. Boots will still be useful, but more of the water is now in the ditch rather than on the path!

Linda clearing the turnby

Cleaned out turnby

Jerry and Linda clearing overgrowth next to a turnby

Jak and Andy scraping mud off the path

After the mudlarking we did a preliminary survey of a footpath which runs down the hill alongside Blackshaw Clough. We did some investigative cutting back but the path is very overgrown as well as having significant drainage problems. We will return when it's drier to do a more extensive survey.

Lots of brambles, and water running over the path

Slippery bridge needing some tlc

Jerry and Andy clearing debris out of the brook

Today's work was funded by donations to CROWS. Thank you to all our supporters.