Ryburn - A day of catching up.

With five of us out today, we split into two groups, Jak, Jerry and Angus headed back to Longley Lane to continue the backfilling of the path with woodchip, see the update on this work in the original post.

Meanwhile, Lynda and Graham headed along the Riverside path to retrieve a short waymark post which someone thought would do a better job lying in the bottom of the river! After negotiating his way down the riverbank, Graham located the post and took it to the depot to dry out, it will be relocated in the next couple of weeks.

Graham making his way along the riverbed to retrieve the waymark post.

After finishing the clearance of the Balsam on the path above the bowling club, see update on the previous blog for more on this work, we all reconvened at the depot. Armed the necessary equipment to replace a fallen bridleway post, we headed to Smithy Clough Lane above Ripponden. Initially, the job was just to reposition the post to direct riders and walkers up the short link path to the bridleway, off Great House Lane, but, after discovering a second fallen post in the long grass we changed our plans and did a bit more re-purposing.

Location of the replaced posts circled in blue.

The original splinted post to be located.

We had planed to put in the refurbished post at the start of the the link track but, decided the second post would be better located in this position. Having been splinted, the original post was better suited for the start of the bridleway, plenty of rock made the digging tough going but we got there.

The re-purposed post found in the long grass now in place at the start of the track.

Graham ensuring that the original post is well tamped into the ground.

The start of the bridleway now clearly marked with the tall, splinted post.

As we finished off, we were treated to a flypast of two RAF Chinook helicopters, flying up the valley and over Bating's reservoir. They'd come in handy for some of the long carry's we experience across the moors!

Chinook flypast.

All of today's tasks were funded by a number of donations to CROWS through the website, many thanks to all who have donated. By recycling and/or repurposing items such as waymark posts, we are able to reduce cost and extend the life of the original materials.

 

TODMORDEN - Greenhurst Hey Clough

 A team of four (Catherine, David, Gareth and Kasher) had a final session working on the right-of-way (Tod 017) near Greenhurst Hey Clough.

We had previously built steps; repositioned and sorted a flight of stone steps; shored up a disappearing path; added way markers, and (finally!) built a bridge over the clough, (see previous Blogs).

Today's work was:

• installing revetments to make it easier to get from the stone steps to the bridge
• adding a step at the eastern end of the bridge to make it easier to use
• infilling the previously constructed steps
• widening the path
• removing part of an obsolete fence line
• cutting back rampant brambles
• embedding additional waymarker posts.

For the moment, this should be our final major work party on this route, although later in the year we will return to add extra infill to the steps and to check other works are as we would like! Especially, we will monitor the effect of heavy rainfall during the autumn and winter 

We would like to thank the landowners for allowing us access to the clough to carry out this work. Thanks also to the residents of West Head Hey Farm for allowing us to park at their property so we could have an easier 'walk-in' to the worksite.

The completion of this work has been funded by Todmorden Town Council. We would like thank you for continuing to support CROWS efforts in maintaining/improving the Rights-of-Way in this area.

The blue "pin" marks the location of today's work party.

Catherine widening the path.

Easier access without an obsolete fence and with
the slope infilled.

Gareth and David working on the new revetments.

The stone steps, the revetment and the new bridge.

Catherine adding in staples to the new step
at the end of the bridge.

Kasher sorting out the timbers for the new step.

The new revetment in place leading to/
from the bridge.

The end of the day . . . certainly not as much to carry
back!

TODMORDEN - Greenhurst Hey Clough

 A team of four (David, Jan, Kasher and RJ) returned to Greenhurst Hey Clough to install a bridge over the clough. We had been told that there was initially a stone bridge here but it was washed away in the 'Boxing Day' floods. We have now installed a wooden bridge and hope that this is raised sufficiently to allow it to weather "normal" winter floods . . . we shall see!

The timbers had been carried across the fields yesterday to within one field of the worksite. Many thanks to the residents of West Hey Head Farm for helping with this. With the timber nearly on site, it did not take too long (or too many trips) to get all timber and tools down to the clough.

The stringers, the bearers, the kickboards and cross-treads etc had been prepared by the CROWS team in the depot. This made life so much easier for the team installing the bridge. Thank you!

The bridge went in without too many hitches. We have anchored the bridge to both banks with long stobs to keep it in place should there be a significant rise of water level. We have also installed central anchoring poles to eliminate 'bridge-bounce' when it is crossed.

The last (and least favourite) job of the day was (as usual) adding staples to the bridge to improve underfoot grip. We will, however, return later in the week to improve access to the bridge on both banks but especially by constructing a couple of steps on the east bank of the clough.

We have now way-marked the route from the worksite to West Hey Head Farm, through a series of pedestrian gates. We have also cleared the path below some recently installed steps although the latter will need a little more in-filling.

Many thanks to Todmorden Town Council for funding today's work. Your continuing support is much appreciated.

We would also like to extend our thanks to the residents of West Hey Head Farm for allowing us to park in their yard (again) and thus make the carrying of timber and tools to the site so much easier.

The blue "pin" marks the location of today's worksite.

RJ starting to get the 4.8 m stringers into position.

Fixing the noggins between the two stringers.

RJ and Jan. Noggins (the strengthening pieces between the 
two stringers) are in position. The supporting stobs
are now being hammered into the clough.

David positioning and attaching the cross-treads.

RJ, Jan and David on the nearly completed bridge.

That's a long bridge that now needs staples . . .

Staples being added . .  note the range of techniques!

RJ moving a large stone off the path. We will
be installing a step here. Note the cut timbers of a 
tree removed from the path a few months ago.

RJ and the completed bridge.

It was a beautiful place to work: dappled light, lots of birds, 
the sound of water in the clough . . . what's not to like?

Hebden Bridge: Snow Booth Steps and Gate (deja-vu)

 Snow Booth; Tricky steps and even trickier gate (part two).

On the road to Old Town, beyond Hebden Bridge Golf Course (sometimes called Mount Skip Golf Course) near to where Height Road becomes Nook Lane there is a building named Snay Booth (sometimes called Snae Booth or Snow Booth). Below this building, a short section of right-of-way Wadsworth 078 heads due North and crosses to the opposite side of a drystone wall/stock fence. (see Map 1)

Today's tasks were:

i)   to install one more step to the short flight that negotiates the drop in levels at the cross-over point where the path switches from one side of a wall to the other.

ii)  To install a pedestrian gate where a continuation of Wadworth 078 meets a wall corner.

1. Wall-corner worksite for task ii)
Marked with the blue 'pin' - some 100 m North (ish) of the extra step.

In idyllic conditions, Ian S and Guy worked on installing the extra step before joining Steve and Frank on the trickier task of embedding gate posts, hanging a pedestrian gate and rationalising side-rails. Lots of difficult digging attended by an audience of placid cows and calves!

i) Steps: 

The situation at the end of CROWS previous session was:

2. Before: three wooden steps up.

Some time later after much 'grunt work' . . . mainly excavating awkward rocks . . . 

3. After a): Four wooden steps up
and a useful grab pole.

(apologies for poor image quality):

4. After b): Four wooden steps up
and a useful grab pole.

Meanwhile . .  .

ii) Pedestrian gate:

Further along the path, Steve and Frank H tackled the following chaotic jumble of wooden fencing and the mystery of the missing gate.

1. Before: Collapsing posts, and broken pallet
acting as side-fencing with original
pedestrian gate missing.

The plan was to install a hinge-post on the right (next to the wall), hang the gate, embed a closure post to the left (nearer the collapsing posts), fix short side rails to bridge any gaps and re-organise the jumble of decaying posts and pallet. Lots to do but all in a confined space!

2. During: Hinge-post hole . .  . 0.9 m depth.
"Keep digging, Steve!"

3. During: Hinge-post in, gate hung
and closure post being packed.

4. Completed job a): Pedestrian gate hung,
spring fitted, closure chain in place and
short side rails fitted.

5. Testing! Testing!

"Caution: Cows with Calves" 'says' the sign. They were interested, in a half-hearted sort of a way, but soon wandered off in search of tastier grass and clover - wise move . .  but it's a pity we missed the photo opportunity - blame the mud-caked hands!

We were pleased with the end result. The gate is secure, well-installed and easy to operate - ideal for a route popular with local fell-running groups.

Today's tasks were funded by general donations to CROWS. Many thanks for your continued support of our voluntary work on rights-of-way.

RYBURN - behind the Bowling Club and Pretoria Bridge steps

Jerry and Jak set out on a beautiful day to cut back this short section of path which runs behind the Bowling Club from Mill Fold Way. It links to a path that goes up to the disused railway line. 

Location of path

The path is slippery and very wet in places because a lot of water runs off the hillside. As well as cutting back, a turnby was created in order to divert some of the water from the path.

Scraping the mud

More mud scraping

Path drying out already!

Still some water but a big improvement

There is a lot of Himalayan balsam at one end of the path (because of the excessive dampness) but it's still a bit too early to tackle that.

This work was funded by donations to CROWS for which many thanks.

1st June - update

We have since done a couple of return trips to this path. First to install steps to improve the access.

Before

After

There were 2 sessions to work on controlling the Himalayan balsam. It is very dense in this location and somewhat a thankless task.

There was also a visit to the steps at Pretoria bridge where we scraped off the debris from the overhanging tree branches and cut back some of the branches so as to allow more light and sun onto the steps to give them a chance to dry off.

Steps cleaned off