TODMORDEN - Lumbutts/Mankinholes

Andrew and Catherine were one of the teams out on Friday 16th August with a list of jobs in the Lumbutts/ Mankinholes area.

Job 1 - repairing steps and revetment on the path behind the fishing pond before Oldroyd Wood. The revetment and one riser some risers were rotten and needed to be replaced. The boardwalk was also cleaned and secured.

Job 2 - reinserting a flag in a fingerpost at Heeley Clough at the junction of paths beyond the 'Incredible Edible' Farm.

Job 3 - cutting back a small stretch of path at the end of Cross Lane.

Job 4 - cleaning, sanding and staining the notice board at the parking area, opposite the Shepherd's Rest, at the bottom of the path to Gaddings Dam

From the pictures it might look like Andrew did all the work . . . but that is due to Catherine being the photographer!

Today's work has been funded by Todmorden Town Council

This is where the team worked today.

The rotten revetment and overgrown boardwalk.

The top riser needed to be removed and replaced.

Andrew sets to work.

The new riser in place and the revetment taking shape.

The steps needed to be repacked with stone.

Andrew tries out our new safety specs!

Before breaking up stone to fill the steps.

The boardwalk was braced to reduce the wobble.

The finished revetment.

The boardwalk cleaned up and foliage cut back.

Then it was on to job 2.
The flag from this fingerpost had fallen out. 

It had been sanded down and stained
and just needed reinserting.

Andrew cut back around the post
and repacked the bottom.

Yep that looks straight!

The team also repacked a shorter post at
the same site. This will need replacing soon.

Then it was on to job 3. Cutting back.

That didn't take long.

Job 4 took some finding. This notice board
had been covered up by another sign.

Underneath it was covered in lichen.

Andrew used a wire brush to clean it up.

Catherine painted it.

The other sign was re-sited to the gate.

TODMORDEN - Shore, Lumbutts and Warland

 There were three teams out from Todmorden today:

Team 1: David and Mick, were waymarking the official diversion to Tod 148 below Warland Reservoir. This is also the route of the Todmorden Centenary Way (TCW). For further details of the official diversion order please see https://todmorden-tc.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Item-12-Public-Footpath-Confirmation-DC-5th-Aug-2026.pdf

Team 2: Kasher and Neil Mc worked in Shore above Cornholme to: "just" fit a dog gate; cut back one path, and sort out two stiles on Stoney Lane. We were joined by David after he and Mick had completed the waymarking of the new route for Tod 148. We will need to return here soon to put in a new closure post for a small gate and to make improvements to the dog gate which we fitted.

Team 3: Andrew and Catherine had a list of jobs in the Lumbutts/ Mankinholes area including building steps and revetments, reinserting a flag, fettling up a notice board, cutting back  . . . Phew! Please see the separate blog about their work.

Team 2 would like to extend thanks to the owner of Hartley Royd who came to our rescue and who also provided much needed cold drinks.

Today's work has been funded by Todmorden Town Council and by the Cornholme Wreath Making workshop held in December 2025.

The route of Tod 148 has been officially diverted. 
See https://todmorden-tc.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Item-12-Public-Footpath-Confirmation-DC-5th-Aug-2026.pdf

Today's work for Team 2 was all near Hartley Royd, see the blue "pin".

Team 1:

Mick and the kissing gate on the diverted footpath.

Hard to get lost!

The new route has been signed with TCW way markers
and with FP markers.

Team 2:

The stile in need of a dog gate.

This simple job was made so much more complicated
by the original build of the stile.

There is a path here somewhere....

A little cutting back helps!

One of the stiles off Stoney Lane which needed some work.
Unfortunately the LH upright is rotten and will
need to be replaced.

A stile, off Stoney Lane, recently built by the landowner
but with a few small improvements added today. 

Ryburn - Bird Lane revisited.

Despite Paul "the weatherman" telling us it would be a bit cooler today, it was still hot, sticky work for Jak, Jerry, Richard and Angus on Bird Lane in Ripponden. Today was finishing-off the excellent work done by Monday's team, further cutting-back, repairing a couple of stiles and clearing the drainage channel down the side of the path. Again, this work was funded by Calderdale Highways.

Location of today's work: Bird Lane (path) off the A58.

Jak and Jerry started with some cutting-back and clearing out the drainage channel which runs down the side of the path. During the winter months, the path becomes very wet and boggy, so in the current dry conditions it was an ideal time to clear out the channel. Hopefully it will drain more effectively when we next get some rain.

 

Getting stuck-in to clearing the drainage channel - What a difference a couple of hours make!

Meanwhile, Richard and Angus worked on replacing the rotten treadboard on the first stile before heading to the second stile where the wall it crossed had partially collapsed. The first stile only had one treadboard which meant that there was a big downward step. Fortunately, Jerry located a suitable square stone which fitted the job perfectly. Unfortunately, it was covering the home of some particularly grumpy ants . . . who soon let Jerry know how they felt about his intrusion !!

The first stile - upright and broken treadboard both needing attention.

Stile now, with the stone step which Jerry had to wrestle off particularly aggressive ants !!

The second stile which crossed a stone wall, was attached to an overgrown stock-fence. The wall needed rebuilding and the treadboard had come loose. After removing the stonework and cutting back the ivy , we managed to rebuild the wall to give useable access through the wall and onto the now secured treadboard. Currently, the stile is in reasonable order, but, the treadboard and one of its legs will need to be replaced later in the year.

Richard uncovering the fallen stonework.

Job done! Access much better and easier to negotiate. 

At the beginning of the path, next to the A58, we noticed the flag on the waymark post was in a sorry state. Fortunately, we had a spare one, and were able to fit it without too many problems.

Waymark flag in a sorry state.

New flag fitted. Good as new . . . which it is!

With the path now clear, it is possible to get from the bus stop on the A58, up to Ripponden Old Lane. Additionally, with the brambles and nettles now cut back, there are plenty of fresh, plump, blackberries to be picked . . . ideal for jam making !

Plenty of ripe berries along this path . . . gather them while you may!

BLACKSHAW HEAD, COLDEN, WIDDOP ...... removing GNB posters and litter picking

 How can such a lovely day be a sad day? 

Twice a year Neil D and Kasher make a date with ground nesting birds (GNBs) . . . the first date is in March when we welcome back our curlews, meadow pipits, golden plover etc by putting up brilliantly designed posters. These are meant to remind people to care about ground nesting birds and to keep their dogs on short leads when out in the countryside or on the moors.

The second date is when we take the posters down once the birds and their youngsters have left our area . . . and we start thinking about late Summer, Autumn and the delights of a Calderdale Winter.

Today was GNB poster removal day.... 

Today's work was funded by generous individual donations to CROWS.

If anyone would like some posters to put up next year please let us know.

As well as removing the posters, we also took the opportunity to do some light way-marking to replace those waymarks that have mysteriously disappeared. We also turn one small red Yaris into a Tardis-like litter picking vehicle as we litter picked along the route from Slack to the boundary with Brierfield.

The reservoirs are very dry....

Neil D enjoying his lunch break with some very friendly (and hot)
sheep.

Did we really put a poster on this tree? . . . YES!

Another GNB poster taken down to be used again next year.

The swallows are also getting ready to leave us for another year.