TODMORDEN - Tod Edge and Ashes Lane

 There were two teams out from Todmorden today:

Team 1: Gareth and Neil Mc were working in Ewood Wood on right-of-way Tod 080 which forms part of the Calderdale Way. The tasks were to widen the footpath and to shore up the stream side (See separate Blog). We will return to work on more of the footpath, cut back the Rhododendron and install some revetment further down the hillside.

Team 2: It was a return visit to Ashes Lane (Tod BW 022) for Andrew, Catherine and Kasher to complete the steps on this short section of the Calderdale Way (on Tod 017); to cut back the overgrowing vegetation; to add staples to stile treadboards; and to clear more of the turn-bys. 

We will return to Ashes Lane in the next few weeks to cut back some of the bilberries and heather and to re-inspect the drainage issues.  A local resident (thanks, Jim) has said that he would help by resetting some of the slightly out-of-line turn-by stones.

Many thanks to residents at Lower Winsley Farm and Millers Lodge for allowing the teams to park on their land. A reduced carrying distance for timber and tools is always welcome.

Today's work has been funded by very generous individual donations to CROWS. Thank you for helping to keep our footpaths and bridleways open in this delightful walking area.

The blue "pin" shows the location of the Calderdale Way crossing Ashes Lane (Team 2)

Today's work site for Team 1, the entrance to Ewood Wood.

Team 2:

Andrew starting on the second flight of steps.

Catherine sorting out staples on the stile 
treadboards . . . with 'The Pike' in the background!

Andrew continuing his single handed challenge of
step replacement.

The completed flight (towards Tod).

The completed flight (away from Tod).

Catherine clearing out one of the turn-bys.

Catherine, and another cleared turn-by.

Well the water has to go somewhere!

Cutting back overhanging branches on this BW.

Trying out the new pruning saw.

Andrew and a sheltered, sunny spot for lunch.

Ryburn - Meg Dyke

After several months of painstaking work by Eleanor Green, we have at last managed to erect the information boards for this historic site at Krumlin. Eleanor had to liaise with several bodies from "Culturedale", who funded the boards, the landowner, Natural England and Historic England as well research around the site itself. Meg Dyke is a late prehistoric settlement, of which more details can be found on this link - https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1018813

Map showing the location of Meg Dyke. The blue crosses are the information boards.

Once permission on the wording had been approved by all the relevant bodies, the information boards were produced and fixed to sturdy frames manufactured by Calderdale Council's carpentry volunteers who are based at Cromwell Bottom. A big 'thankyou' to them for making these. 

Jak, Jerry and Angus then excavated the necessary holes to site these boards. It was was hard going in some extremely resistant, rocky ground.

Jerry tackling the rocky subsoil - not the easiest extraction.

You can see how much rock we extracted in this image.

Our work didn't go unnoticed!

Once we'd dug down 0.6 m, the board frame legs were placed in the holes and levelled. We had (reluntantly) brought 'Post Crete' to fix the legs in place. Fortunately this wasn't required as we had an abundance of excavated stone to ensure firm packing.

The first board on the corner of Scammonden Road, with Meg Dyke in the background.

The second board, just off Saddleworth Road with Meg Dyke in the background.

A reminder to dog walkers, that dogs are prohibited from entering this section of the field.

It took a while, but we got there. Well done team!

  

CORNHOLME - Obadiah Woods

 A team of three (Duncan, Kasher and Peter) spent a pleasurable morning in Obadiah Wood in Cornholme installing a small bench just off Tod 060. This bench was made by the depot team and is similar to the one installed a few months ago on the new definitive RoW off Pudsey Road.

Unfortunately, we drew the short straw as we had to position this bench is a very stony woodland, so it was not easy to dig the holes for the legs. We were, however, accompanied by the delightful sounds of woodland birds and surrounded by bluebells . . . Spring has really sprung! We also had the pleasure of the company of many walkers/dog walkers who were using this path. Many thanks for the generous donation to CROWS from one of today's visitors. It's much appreciated.

After installing the bench and clearing out the stream under the nearby boardwalk, recently installed by CROWS,  we moved to look at the state of Tod 065 to see if we could improve a small section of it. This path goes from Parkside Road up towards Brown Birks. After contacting the landowner we will come back to see if it may be possible to install a few small steps to make this section of the hillside easier to navigate.

Many thanks to the landowner of Obadiah Woods who has allowed us to install the bench.

Thanks too to Active Calderdale for funding today's work.

The blue "pin" marks the site of the new small bench.

A small woodland clearing . . . in need of a small bench.

Peter and Duncan starting to dig the holes for the legs.

Measuring up but still a way to go!

Bench in position and levelled up.

The bench now in place and level.

Testing! Testing! Duncan and Peter on the new bench.

Clearing out the small stream under the nearby boardwalk.

We will return to see if we can install some
steps on this section of  the hillside.

Hebden Bridge: Snow Booth gate and steps

 Snow Booth; Tricky steps and even trickier gate.

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)

1. Worksite: steps to build and a gate to repair.

In brilliant blue-skied conditions Paul, Ian S, Kris and Frank H were faced with two tricky tasks :- constructing a short set of 'steps' to cope with the height difference as the path switches from one field to another and the reconstruction of the gate and fencing where the path goes through the wall/stockfence.

The detail

Short, steep, carries moved a small mountain of tools and timber from vehicle to worksite so Ian and Paul could begin to puzzle over the 'steps', and Kris and Frank could pitch into gate rebuild, hinge-post installation and fence repair. It was going to be a long session! Good job Kris has lots of energy!

i) The steps:

This is a 'before' picture:

2. Old and decayed. the two original steps

The plan was to replace these two, parallel, wooden steps with three similar steps. Careful recycling of the one treadboard and use of side-bracing for the step-legs eventually produced a stable, secure structure.

 

3. Progress: two steps in place and
number three under construction.

4. End result: Three, side-braced steps. 

5. Final touches: it's three wooden steps
then it's up onto the massive stone block.

This looks very neat. Well done guys. We might consider a fourth step and a grab pole when we return next month for another job in the area. . . .

. . . Meanwhile -

ii) The gate and fence:

Kris and Frank H tackled a sagging gate, a rotten hinge-post, rusted hinges and dilapidated fencing. The former gate was re-usable (albeit with some fettling). Here's a 'before' picture:

1. Overgrown and ramshackle!

The plan was to: 

a)  remove the rotten hinge-post (centre of picture).

b)  embed a new hinge-post so the existing very narrow gate (with new hinges, a spring in-fill strip and a closure spring) would self-close against one of the fence posts.

c)  fix, to the fence post, a closure chain that would loop over a gate paling.

d)  install short cross-rails to link hinge-post to the fence on the left.

e)  repair and re-align the fence in the foreground.

Phew! Looks to be a high energy session needing lots of careful thought!

2. Old hinge-post gone. Original gate being
used to get optimum posthole position

3. Narrow! New post-hole being excavated

.

4. View from 'steps' side: New hinge-post,
hinges, in-fill strip and spring all in place.

5. Progress: new side-rails to link gatepost
to the fence on the right. 

6. End result. New linked to old.

Jobs are always difficult if new structures have to fit in with 'often-out-of-line' older ones! Today, working space was constricted and there was a fair amount of 'make do and mend' but we were pleased with the end result. Some compromises were inevitable but the gate works efficiently, is self-closing and sections of horizontal rail are more horizontal than they have been for years!

CROWS will check on this structure when we return next month to fit another pedestrian gate further down the right-of-way. This will be a gate CROWS have constructed so installation will be easier . . .  and there's certainly more working room!

TODMORDEN - Various

 There were two teams out from Todmorden today:

Team 1: Catherine and RJ spent the first part of the day investigating drainage issues on Long Lane (Tod BW 031) and Baulk Head (at the junction of Tod BW 031 and Tod FP 031) ) and then the second part of the session installing marker posts on Tod 023 and Tod 017.  Inevitably, the team have come back with a whole host of other tasks . . . all to be added to the "to do" list! 

Team 2: Duncan, Kasher and Ken worked on Ashes Lane (Tod BW 022) to clear the turn-bys and then to sort out steps on the Calderdale Way (on Tod 017) where it cross Ashes Lane. Unfortunately, it was not possible to solve all the drainage issues on this bridleway as water was coming off the nearby fields and then flowing down the track. We will return to see if we can create drainage channels at the side to take water off the main bridleway area. 

Although it's not much fun working in the rain it's the only time you can see how the drains really flow! . .  . and what can be done to improve matters. We will also need to come back to improve the steps on the CW on the other side of the lane.

Many thanks to the residents at the top of Ashes Lane who allowed us to park near to the worksite.

Today's work has been funded by individual donations to CROWS. Many thanks to everyone who donates to help keep our amazing network of footpaths and bridleways in a reasonable condition.

A day of Swallows, Wheatears and the call of Curlews. 

Drainage issues on Long Lane and near Baulk Head (Team 1)

Work on Ashes Lane and the Calderdale Way (Team 2).

Team 1: 

RJ and the persistent drainage issue on Long Lane.

RJ formulating a plan for the drainage problem near Baulk Head.

Drainage channels created. Hopefully to take 
the water away from the base of the stile.

The first of the posts going in.

Catherine putting in the second post.

Team 2:

The CW steps at the start of the day.

Duncan starting the step clearance and the 
removal of the rotten risers.

The steps at the end of the day: new risers and stobs added 
and the path widened with all the bilberries
cut back.

 

A number of turn-bys cleared, but a few more to do.

The view down Ashes Lane.