TODMORDEN - Cutting back on paths near Lumbutts Clough

 

A team of four - Duncan, Catherine, Mick & Sean - were out on Friday 7th August cutting back overgrown paths near the site of the old tip past Woodhouse Mill.

Many thanks to Todmorden Town Council for funding today's work.

These are the paths worked on today.

Before the work started this path
was difficult to negotiate.

Balsam and nettles had taken over.

Neil and Sean set to work cutting
the overgrowth back.

Ta-da!

Easier to traverse now.

Should be good for a while!

Mick takes a well-earned break next
to a very attractive pillar.

Elephant hawk-moth caterpillar - what a beauty!

Neil & Sean moved on to a path higher up the road.

For more cutting back...

Sean clears the way.

All done.

Ryburn - Replacement stile at Norland.

It was the first day out for new volunteer, Richard, as he joined Linda, Jerry and Angus to replace an old stile next to the former Blue Ball pub at Norland. The stile had been reported by walkers as being rotten and somewhat challenging to negotiate! As with other work of this type, the job has been funded by donations to CROWS. Many thanks.

Location of the stile circled by the upper blue circle (more on the second circle later).

Far from being a simple replacement job, the old stile presented significant problems, the major one being that it was partially sunk into a concrete pad! The reason for this soon became apparent - it was located above a culvert, which, surprisingly given the near drought conditions, still had water flowing through it. Mmm! Much discussion needed!

The stile to be replaced embedded in a concrete pad.

Having removed the rotten tread-boards, we found that the support legs had been sunk into the concrete at depths ranging from 100 mm to 500 mm. Worst of all, they were of varying sizes and rotten!

We decided to totally dismantle the existing structure and start from scratch, although working around the concrete pad and the culvert would be a tricky.

Richard soon got stuck-in by dismantling the old stile!

With one useable hole in the concrete, and sufficient clearance from the culvert on the opposite side, we agreed on a somewhat unconventional approach to our construction - use the existing strainer and one of the original uprights to form a triangular support for steps on both sides.

Two main support legs in place. These will be braced to the strainer on the left.

After lots of measuring, checking levels, discussing options and some trial and error our plan began to materialise. Our work generated a visit from a couple of local residents and the farmer in whose field we were working. 

As very little of the original construction was now of any use we needed a quick trip to the depot for more materials.

We had to ensure that the new stile didn't obstruct access to the culvert or compromise the opening of the field gate. (During our initial digging we had discovered, at the edge of the concrete pad, an 'inspection stone' which if lifted gives access to the culvert below. The new stile has been constructed clear of this stone). 

Deep in discussion over the next move.

Starting to take shape . . . albeit it's an unconventional one.

The finished job being tested by Linda. A very satisfying day's work.

Now back to the second blue circle at the corner of Blue Ball Cottages. One of the residents of the cottages mentioned that the right-of-way adjacent to her house was badly overgrown and requested some help from CROWS. She wasn't kidding. The path was almost blocked and, hidden in the hedge, we discovered a beautifully preserved waymark post!

As we were clearing this path, a dog walker complimented us on the work, saying (unsurprisingly) it would make her daily walk so much easier. 

 

The overgrown footpath, before and after . . .  and look - a waymark post!!

There is still some work to do in this area - replacing a "pallet" gate, sorting a fallen wall and repairing  a broken waymark post. 

Richard enjoyed his first outing, and looks forward to joining future work parties.

HEBDEN BRIDGE: Dodgy steps in Lee Wood

 In the lee of Lee Wood

On a day when a variety of thundery, showery conditions was threatened Stella and Frank, in the shelter of Lee Wood just above the Bowling Green alongside Hebden Water (see map), worked in calm conditions to make safe a flight of steps.

1. Worksite:  marked with blue index.

The flight of steps, which negotiated a steep bank, was in poor condition because of: rampant overgrowth, missing risers, detached side-rail, eroded tread areas and a badly supported end rail.

2. Lower end of steps: End rail is weakly supported,
a riser is missing and the side revetment is not 
actually attached!

3. Upper end of steps: Eroded tread areas,
detached side revetment and missing riser.

4. Work in progress: Side revetment now
secure and two risers are in place.

The new risers had to fit into the original structure, a factor that limited where the stobs could be placed. The ground was exceptionally hard but a combination of long bar, heavy lump hammer and muscular grunt saw the risers installed.

This path is very popular, especially with dogs taking their owners for a walk. We received a lot of thanks from the owners for making these steps secure and safe. The dogs seemed pleased too . . . but the sight of our lunchtime sandwiches might have had something to do with that!

In the rampant path-side overgrowth an elusive Wren (one of Britain's smallest birds) fled to safety. It was tricky to spot but looked like this . . .

5. The Wren (Troglodytidae:Troglodytes troglodytes) 
the name's almost as long as the bird!

6. Packing and levelling;

In the afternoon we inserted a bracing section of lower revetment, filled and graded the tread areas, hammered-in stobs to support the weak end rail, widened the path where it met a side-inlet and expended a disproportionate amount of energy to install a final riser. Phew! Some muscles may ache tomorrow!

Today's work was funded by general donations to CROWS. Many thanks for your support to help us keep open this footpath (Heptonstall 053).

7. End section; Everything braced and secured.

8. Mid and upper sections overview:
Now safe and easier to negotiate.

It's always tricky carrying out repairs to an existing structure - new sections have to be tweaked and compromises are inevitable. Attempting a full reconstruction would have been problematic - the rocks supporting the lower end of these steps have settled into a state of interlocked stability. Disturbing this might be catastrophic . .  . and there is no alternative route up through this 'hangra' (Old English for wooded slope).

More next week . .  if we can straighten up!

WADSWORTH

 Moorfield and Seed Hill

Nick and Paul were out today cutting back on footpaths in the Old Town vicinity. The weather proved to be very changeable with gusty blows, patches of rain and slivers of sun. We undertook to concentrate on two sites; the first the footpath running uphill along the side of Moorfield and up to Rock Edge and the second a path running at the rear of Seed Hill House downhill toward Dodd Naze Estate.

Work funded by Wadsworth Parish Council - a Big Thankyou.

Moorfield path highlighted in red

Site 1:

We began cutting back at the bottom end of the path where it meets Paddock Lane.

Overgrown

Once we finished here we moved onto the top end of the path

Cleared

At the top end the marker post was hidden among a gang of high nettles and the steps overgrown with tufts of grass, etc

Where is the Marker Post?

Clearer now!

We cleared the nettles, rediscovered the steps and cut back the path. and then after lunch moved onto our second destination near Seed Hill at the bottom end of Rowlands Lane

Site 2:

What path?

Here we were faced with some serious tall summer overgrowth including nettles, Rosebay Willow Herb, ferns and high grasses.

Brush cutter intervention!

Meanwhile, Nick cut back encroaching brambles, nettles and other greenery from the pathway leading to the stone steps and stile at the back of Seed Hill.

Overgrown by the stile.

Cutting back with shears

Clear now for walkers.

A satisfactory day's work clearing local paths.

Map of Seed Hill footpaths.

WAINSTALLS - mainly the Calderdale Way

 Rich, Angus and Ian S had four tasks to complete:

• Cutting back a path below Hough Gate Farm
• Replacing rotten steps and bridge slats above Castle Carr Road
• Replacing a broken rail on the school path near the Old Delvers
• Way marking off Bank House Lane  

Sunshine, rain, wind more sunshine, more rain, fantastic views. Today's work was funded by Calderdale Highways, Luddenden Conservation Society and donations to CROWS

 CALDERDALE WAY AT HOUGH GATE FARM

Path very overgrown between a wall and a fence. 

A little while later

Then on to the Calderdale Way above Castle Carr Road. 

Five steps had been identified as needing replacement (turned out to be seven!)

Three slats on the bridge were completely rotten and the waymark post was lying on the floor!

A good before and after

 

 

Couple of action shots

 Unfortunately we did not take any photos of the post, but it is now back up and showing people the way (which was not obvious). 

A very satisfying collection of jobs to complete. 

Then two small jobs on the way back - a replacement fence rail on the school path and some waymarking further down the hillside.