TODMORDEN - Ragby Bridge and Warland

Duncan and Kasher managed to be on a work party today where they were not soaked to the skin within 30 minutes! In fact it was an ideal day to be out and about.

The first job of the day was to replace a rotten fingerpost. This was at a three-way junction, above Ragby Bridge,  adjoining Ramsden Lane. We have recently had a number of wooden "flags" cut to replace those which were either illegible or rotten. The flag for this post points to the Long Causeway and the route down to Watergrove and Wardle.

A usual, the rotten post took a little while to remove as again there were "dead men" at the bottom of the post. Once this was out we managed to utilise the old hole for the new post.

We then walked down the track to investigate the drainage issues there. We are planning to be back in the near future to see what we can do to improve this route.

The next job of the day was to cut back Tod 145 from the canal up towards the junction with Tod 185. This route goes through bracken. It's always difficult to time the cutting back on this route: too early and the bracken seems to grow straight back; too late and you know that the bracken would be dying back anyway. We hope we have hit it at the right time this year.

Please give this path a try - it will make a change from walking along the canal towpath!

Today's work has been funded by Todmorden Harriers. Many thanks for your continuing support.

Many thanks also to the residents of Plantation Barn who allowed us to park in their yard, and who looked after the fingerpost during last week.

The fingerpost was replaced at the junction of three routes indicated by the blue "pin".

Tod 145 above the canal at Warland.

The sad looking old fingerpost without a 'flag'.

Duncan checking the new post.

The new fingerpost in place with its new flag
pointing to the Long Causeway.

The route to Ragby Bridge which needs fettling.

The footpath is there! - somewhere in the middle of the 
bracken.

An impressive set of stone gateposts in the bracken.

The route becoming clearer.

Who doesn't love a spot of bracken bashing?

BLACKSHAW HEAD: Stile to the sheep

 Blackshaw Head: stile

In idyllic conditions, Jan, Neil D and Frank H rebuilt the ruined stile where a right-of -way (Blackshaw 015) leads off the junction of New Shaw Lane and Brown Lane. The 'helping hand' given by the landowner was most welcome. Thank you.

1. The 'blue index' marks the worksite.
(purple dashes show footpaths; green dashes show bridleways)

2. The old 'stile' and the new plan.

The original single-step stile had a rotten cross-rail, and one broken step-leg, and was missing both a treadboard and a side-post. The gate hinge-post that doubled as a side-post for the stile was slightly loose. The ground was very stony and sloped down into the field as well as left to right (as in picture 2)

The order of tasks was to cut back ground growth, firm up the gatepost, remove the cross-rails, install step legs, install a side-post, fix cross-rails, add a treadboard, embed a step up/step down stone on the field side, and level and landscape as needed.

Here's the progress:

2. Neil on cross-rail removal.
         Has he struck a power cable!?

3. First leg-hole begins.

4. Only another 750 mm to go!

5. Double-digging? Two holes on the go at once.

6. The field-side leg being installed to the correct level.

7. Temporary progress but looking good.

8. Bottom rail in place. Lamb-proof gaps near the base.

9. Treadboard being positioned prior to screwing in place.

The job is nearly finished but we have to ask the vital questions; "Is it user friendly?"  "Will it take a load?" and "What do the scrutiny panel think?" Here are the answers . . .

10. "Easy for a dog like me! Perhaps a 
landing stone here would help!"

11. "85 kg. Not a wobble . . . and a useful grab-pole."

12. "Looks like a job well done to us!"

We were pleased with the end result. Some of the digging was difficult because we were building into the remnants of an old wall . . . but vigorous battering with a heavy bar did the trick. The stile is structurally sound, user friendly and aesthetically pleasing. It should give years of service but . .  . the only caveat is that, in winter, traffic coming down the steepish hill can (in icy conditions) fail to negotiate the bend. Whoops! In which case the stile becomes a useful crash barrier!

Today's work was funded by Blackshaw Head Parish Council. Many thanks for your support.

WADSWORTH

Old Town

Kris and Paul were out today working on two sites in the Old Town area. The first job involved some key waymarking on the path from Cow Lane downhill to Fearney Fields while the second job was cutting back to clear paths behind Wadsworth Community Centre leading to Westfield. A weather forecast of drizzle and cloudy skies never materialised and we were treated to some June sunshine much to our relief. Late morning Ginny joined us in place of Kris to help finish cutting back some serious overgrown paths.

The work was funded by Wadsworth Parish Council. Thank you!

Job 1 - Waymarking

The landowner had installed a stock fence on this stretch of footpath leaving plenty of margin to walk safely. Our job today entailed putting in some strategically placed waymarkers to clearly signpost the ROW.

Kris hammering in the new waymark

Job 2

Paths to clear behind the Community Centre

After we finished the waymarking we moved on to job 2. We visit this patch annually to cut back the triangle of footpaths that merge from paths coming from Westfields.

Very overgrown!

Paul and Kris teamed up to tackle the overgrown paths on the triangle of land and to cut back the path leading down from the rear of the Community Centre and a second path running alongside the back of the community allotment.

Path from the Community Centre

Kris 

Kris at work

The triangle of land was transformed to its usual shape following some deep trimming from the battery operated strimmer:

A pathway emerges!

Meanwhile Ginny replaced Kris and got down to business!

Ginny with shears!

At the end of the session the pathways looked so much better and easier to use for local people.

Tidy!

Much Improvement all round:

Path to the rear of the Community Centre.

Hebden Bridge - Repairs and Revival

 Andrew and Stella went to Eaves Wood and to the Blue Pig to add revetment to some damaged steps, and to re-erect a fallen finger-post.

First stop Eaves, to the steps, installed a few months ago, which have suffered some damage to the edges.

These steps are steep and lead down to the Milking Bridge.

Starting to clear the stone steps

We put these in last year.

The edges have been damaged

So . . .  revetment to strengthen and help preserve. 

Then, it was off to the Blue Pig.

Where the Calderdale Way starts to climb.

A sad finger post . . . 

. . . now revived.

Todays work was funded by donations to CROWS.  Thank you all.

 

Ryburn - Return to Riverside path for steps and more.

A return to the Riverside path for Jak, Lynda, Andy, Jerry and Angus. Two jobs to be done - firstly, add a couple of stone risers to the steps near Slithero Bridge; secondly, put in a flight of steps on the steep section on the link-path from the Riverside path up to the old railway line, then up to Quakers Lane. Both of these jobs were funded by Calderdale Highways. Apart from annual maintenance tasks, this now sees the end of the main work to the Riverside Path.

Location of today's work circled in blue.

Job 1, The original steps leading down from Slithero Bridge onto the Riverside path have two significant drops in height. This makes it difficult for those with limited mobility or when taking pushchairs along the path.

Two suitable pieces of stone were sourced from Blackstone Walling, - a big 'thank you' to Edward Crank for supplying these. After much effort they were loaded into Angus's vehicle and transported to the site, then with even more effort (and an expertly manoeuvred sack barrow) the stones were moved to their final location.

Stones loaded and ready for transport to site.

Jerry carefully manoeuvres the first stone to the steps.

 

Being careful of fingers and toes, both stones were placed and secured. Job 1 finished.

Job 2. As we moved location, Jak and Lynda checked along the length of the path for any issues: e.g. cutting back vegetation and pulling out the annual pest that is Himalayan Balsam. At the second site, below one of several impressively built bridges, we set-about marking the locations for the steps needed to negotiate this slippery bank.

An impressive backdrop to today's second job.

Andy levelling out the first step at the top of the slope . . . not his best side!

The going was reasonable as the ground was fairly dry and relatively stone free although tree roots caused a few issues. As we progressed with the steps, Lynda set off to survey the path adjacent to the old railway line, in particular a section of poor drainage having persistent encroachment of Himalayan Balsam. If everyone walking the paths around Calderdale spent 5 minutes of each walk pulling out this weed, it would go a long way to eradicating it. Every little helps!

Top step secured as we make our way down the slope.

With the steps in place, we set about finding stones and material to backfill them. There was plenty to choose from, so things soon started to take shape. There was still a bit of a drop at the first step, but the discovery of a large square stone in the undergrowth made a perfect take-off/landing stone. We were passed and complimented by several walkers and their four-legged companions,. Hopefully they removed some Balsam along the way.

Steps in place, the backfilling begins.

Lynda, back from Balsam bashing, tries out the new steps.