RYBURN - fingerpost, steps and balsam

A fine morning saw Rich, Jerry, Andy, Angus and Jak out before it really warmed up. The first task involved a long carry of a heavy fingerpost to a site on the hill above Baitings and Ryburn reservoirs. This was a post that we had repaired.

Location marked with pink blob

Andy, Angus and Jerry crossing Baitings dam

The post was pretty long so it needed a deep hole. This task was quickly accomplished.

Digging a deep hole

Lovely spot

Nearly there

Looking towards Ryburn reservoir

As we returned to the car park, although the signpost is quite a way distant, it was possible to see it from the path across the dam.

From a distance

A long shot from the dam

The next job was to fill in some steps leading off Quakers Lane towards the disused railway line. These were steps we had installed previously. 

The orange blob marks the steps and the pink area is roughly where we removed balsam from

Steps filled in

While we were there we just had to do some more balsam bashing. Returning so soon after doing this on Friday showed that not only is the path well used but that pulling the balsam does see it off, for now at least. We will monitor this path and try to keep the quantity of balsam down. Please feel free to help and wear gloves!

There's a CROW in there somewhere!

Today's work was funded by donations to CROWS, for which many thanks.

TODMORDEN COUNTRY FAIR

 Flying the Flag for CROWS

In gloriously sunny conditions a group of CROWS - Ken, Kasher, Duncan, Kris, Gareth, Mick and Frank H - were involved with the preparation, setting-up, running, dismantling and re-storing of the gazebo and displays that made up CROWS' contribution to the Todmorden Country Fair held in Centre Vale Park.

1. CROWS: The flying banner!

The whole event had a friendly, community-based feel to it as individuals, couples and family groups strolled around the idyllic location, visited trade and charity stalls, took part in activities . . . or just enjoyed eating ice cream!

Here's how it went:

2. "Faster guys, there's another 30 pictures
needing your 'blu-tacking' skills."

3. "Neat work, Duncan - mind that frozen shoulder!"

4.  Easel board display to catch the eye . . .

5. . . with a Cranberry Dam boardwalk display.

6. Kris! This is no time to sit around . . .

7. . . . "Mmm! The 'three block' juggle.
Very impressive! Anyone else got any skills?" . . .

8. . . . and the First Prize for best home-made
marmalade goes to CROWS (courtesy of Kasher).

9. Engaging with the public!

10. Stay awake, Mick . . . or 
 we'll set Elsie onto you! . . . 

11. . . . and here is LC (Elsie); the Lakeland Terrier-Collie cross
Raring to go . . . and very keen on rounding
up her favourite woolly friends . . . 

12. . . . and here they are, but not so woolly
after a shearing session.

This was a most enjoyable day. The fine weather attracted large crowds. The CROWS 'stall' had a steady stream of visitors. More people now seem to be aware of our organisation and we received many compliments on the quality and extent of our work. Thank you.

The new gazebo, larger than its predecessor, had its first outing and proved easier to handle! Erecting and collapsing in fine weather was useful practice for when conditions will be less favourable! CROWS will be 'on show' in Todmorden Town Hall in July (Community Volunteering Fair) and at the Blackshaw Head Fete in September. Come along and enjoy.

TODMORDEN - Cutting back and Steps

 There were three teams out from Todmorden today.

Team 1: Ian V and Gareth: replacing a fingerpost and then replacing steps on Rise Lane (Tod 107) off Dog House Lane. Please see separate Blog.

Team 2: David and Neil Mc: cutting back on Trimmer Lane (Blackshaw BW 012).

Team 3: Catherine, Dunstan and Kasher: a small amount of balsam bashing down Bluebell Lane; sorting out a gate and cutting back on  Tod 060; cutting back on Tod BW 059 below the dinosaur and below Kitson Royd Farm, off Pudding Lane. We will need to return to cut back the next section of the path down towards Pitts.

Today's work has been funded by Todmorden Harriers (Team 2's work) and by Calderdale Council Highways (Team 3's work).

Team 2:

The blue "pin" indicates the location of Trimmer Lane: the site of today's cutting back.

Before....

Before....

After...

On-lookers, very impressed with the hard work undertaken.

Team 3:

TCW below the dinosaur!

The path is there somewhere.

This bridleway is certainly overgrown.

Dunstan working at the top of the path.

Catherine and Dunstan starting to cut back the 
vegetation.

Catherine continuing the cutting back.

Its amazing how wide this bridleway is.

Cutting back at the top of the TCW.

The path is now easy to use but do take care as the wet causey
stones are very slippery.

TODMORDEN - Rise Lane

Ian V and Gareth spent the morning on Rise Lane, one of Todmorden's oldest thoroughfares, repairing some degraded steps and reinstalling a fallen waymark post.

The modern roadway of Rise Lane goes off Rochdale Road up to the railway station.  Its historical route, however, leads much further, rising beyond the railway line up towards Sourhall.  The trackway going left off Doghouse Lane through the woods is part of this old route.  

Some of that trackway has now fallen away down the steep hillside and a diversion has been created going further up the hillside.  It was the steps on this diversion route which were under repair on this occasion.  A sultry morning brought out a million flies to buzz inquisitively about our heads as we replaced six rotten or broken step risers and their stobs.

Back at the junction with Doghouse Lane, we also reinstalled the waymark post which had fallen down recently, possibly due to a car reversing into it.

Today's work was funded by Todmorden Town Council.  Our thanks, on behalf of all users of the route, to them.

A sample broken step

The restored flight - spot the new steps

Ian engaged on some preparatory work

Gareth - aerial views of many CROWS are quite similar

The waymark post (and the council's excellent resurfacing of Doghose Lane)

RYBURN - Quakers Lane - Himalayan Balsam

Last week Linda, Jerry and Jak tackled balsam at the Brooks Grain Lane end of Quakers Lane and this week we reunited with the addition of Eleanor to start at the top end and work down.

Last week's work area

This week's work area

Himalayan Balsam arrived in the UK in 1839. It quickly escaped from Victorian gardens via waterways and is now widespread across the UK.  At first glance it's a nice looking plant with pink flowers but the RHS class it as a non-native invasive plant. Flowers appear in mid-June and ideally the balsam needs to be either pulled or cut before the seeds have a chance to distribute themselves. They do this by an explosive propulsion of their seeds which can fly many metres away! See the RHS for more information about balsam.

Ryburn CROWS try to do as much as we can to eradicate balsam from a few footpaths that we know are well used. However, there are not very many of us and it can be back-breaking work. You can help us by pulling balsam as you walk our lovely network of footpaths and bridleways, but do wear gloves and be careful not to overstretch. Unfortunately balsam often likes to grow where there are native plants like brambles and nettles!

Quakers Lane is a bridleway. Please consider riding down there to help to smash up the roots of the balsam.

Last week - before

Last week - after

Very well established plant

Starting to flower

Winning the size prize, glove for comparison

Pulled and placed on the path so it can be stepped on to squash the roots

Today's work was funded by donations to CROWS for which we are very grateful.