TODMORDEN - Off Dukes Cut

Duncan, Gareth & Mick spent the day improving waymarking and stile access along Blackshaw 20, a path from Blackshaw Head up to Dukes Cut which has some informal rerouting with the landowner’s agreement in order to skirt a deep and nasty bog on the line of the definitive path.

A very misty day eventually cleared, yielding excellent views.  Unfortunately Duncan’s view was mostly into a hole yielding nothing but rocks, as he sought to insert a post for an additional step on a tall stile alongside a locked gate.  With a good deal of effort, the new step was eventually erected, making the crossing of the stile much easier in future.

Today’s work was funded by Calderdale Ramblers.  Our thanks, as always, to them and to our other donors.

The stile before the extra step - long legs needed!

Mick disappears into the mist to erect waymark
posts.

Has Duncan struck oil?  No, just more stones.

The finished step - now catering for walkers of all sizes. 

TODMORDEN - Ashenhurst and Todmorden Moor Geology Trail

 There were two teams out from Todmorden today:

Duncan, Gareth and Mick worked on a stile and enhanced the way-marking off Dukes Cut (see separate Blog)

Catherine and Kasher planted willow above Tod 029 to try, in the long term, to prevent water flow onto this narrow path throughout the wet winter months. 

We then moved onto Bearnshaw Tower to survey a stile which had been reported to us by Todmorden Harriers.

Finally we took a walk with a bar, a lump hammer, gallons of water and some Fairy Liquid to undertake the first 'fettling-up' of the year on the Geology Trail. We cleaned information boards, reinstated downed markerposts and firmed up those posts that had been used as back-scratchers by the Belted Galloways who live on this moor.

Many thanks to Dave Halley for providing the willow used today.

Today's work has been funded by Calderdale Ramblers to whom we extend our sincere thanks.

Willow planting near Ashenhurst.

The first visit of the year to Todmorden Moor Geology Trail.

Catherine preparing the willow for planting.

Willow planted in the very wet ground.

The information board at the site of Sandy Road Colliery.

The notice board after a clean . . . it's now legible!

There has been significant damage to the moorland here.

Catherine and the Geology Trail way markers.

The start of the Geology Trail in Guide Quarry off Tower Causeway.

Information overload?

Ground Nesting Birds posters and litter picking

 It's mid-March - the time to put up the 'Ground Nesting Birds' posters.

Neil D and Kasher commenced this annual task by putting posters in areas where there are curlew, lapwing, skylarks, meadow pipits etc. We were rewarded with the fantastic sights and sounds of these moorland birds as well as an amazing low level fly past from a Kite when we were enjoying our coffee and cake at the end of the day at May's shop!

As well as putting up the posters, we took the opportunity to check out stiles, markerposts, boardwalks etc which may be in need of repair. Problems found will be added to the CROWS "to do" list.

We also spent significant time today picking up litter along the road from Blake Dean to the Briercliffe boundary. See https://www.awarenessdays.com/awareness-days-calendar/the-great-british-spring-clean/ .

Please let us know if you could put a poster up in your area to raise awareness of the need to do more to protect our ground nesting birds.

Thanks to everyone who makes a donation to CROWS to support our work. It really is appreciated.

Poster at the top of Blake Dean.

and another . . . 

Not sure I can get any more bags of litter
into the car!

Neil D enjoying his job. No training required . . . 
. . . you just pick it up as you go along!

Let's hope we can keep the curlews safe this year.

Neil D putting up a poster on Edge Lane.

TODMORDEN and ERRINGDEN...Various.

 What an amazing day to be out! A team of three from Todmorden were working on a variety of jobs including drainage, cutting back, way-marking, and surveying for future tasks.

David, Kasher and RJ worked in the area east of the Rochdale Canal between Eastwood and Stoodley Glen.

We worked on the following:

1)    Tod BW 034 (at the stream crossing over Stoodley Clough) to clear the stepping stones and remove debris from the clough.

2)    Way-marking and replacing rotten marker posts on Erringden 010 near Heights Farm and on Erringden 024 near Burnt Acre.

3)    We returned to try (once again!) to sort out the drainage issues on Erringden 014 above Heights Wood. The water from the pipe coming from the hillside is in danger of washing away the footpath. Hopefully we have sorted this (for a while!) although we may return to widen parts of this path.

4)    We also tried to improve the drainage at the junction of Tod 034 and Erringden 022 (just off Stoodley Glen) which had been reported to CROWS. Sections of the path have been scraped and the water flowing down the hillside has been directed into drainage channels. This work should allow the track to dry out.

5)    Surveying the stream crossing and the stile on Erringden 026 in Parrock Wood.

Today's work has been funded by Calderdale Ramblers to whom we extend our grateful thanks.

Today's work area: east of the Rochdale Canal at Eastwood.

Sorting out the stream crossing at Stoodley Clough.

David and RJ working on drainage issues above Heights Wood.

RJ and Kasher improving the drainage 
at the edge of Heights Wood.

David and RJ sorting out the drainage issues at the junction 
of Tod 034 and Erringden 022.

A slightly less muddy path!

Why is it that digging out old posts takes so much 
longer than installing new ones?

Fixing waymarkers at Burnt Acre.

Packing one of the new marker posts at Burnt Acre.

One of the marker posts at Burnt Acre.

A stile to be fettled . . . 

And how do we sort out this revetment??

Hebden Bridge: Wicken Hill again!

 Wicken Hill - steps to the Golf Course boundary or the moor

On a warm blue-skied, idyllic Spring day Ian S, Jan and Frank H continued construction work on the junction of steps that lead from behind Wicken Hill Farm towards the Golf Course or up onto the moor.

Many thanks to the residents at Wicken Hill who allowed us to park as near to the job as possible - the shorter the distance we have to carry tools and timber to a task the better! 

1. Approximate worksite position: the blue tag marks the spot!

The Detail:

Two weeks ago CROWS created a Y-junction, each branch having three new steps. Today's task was to replace  the two rotten approach steps to this junction (only one visible in picture 2) then extend the upward flights of both branches. The rising ground varies in gradient and has very stubborn compacted shale bands. Mmm! Time to flex a few muscles.

2. Before work began: Y-junction but
with rotten, half-buried approach steps.

Jan and Ian tackled the two approach steps and additional steps for the right-hand branch while Frank did a solo turn on the left-hand section. The sun shone, the air was still, the temperature rose and sweat flowed!

3. Right-hand branch. First step of the
day before the path starts to curve

4. Left-hand branch: Two of today's steps in
place. Frank working on next two risers.

5. Left and Right:  ever upwards!

6. Right-hand branch: end of session.

7. Left-hand branch: end of session.

8. Left and right: overview.

 Much use of the heaviest bar was needed to drive pilot holes for the anchoring stobs and then to hammer home the stobs themselves. Waste material from levelling the step platform was shovelled and shovelled to create side-banking. Depending on one's point of view, it was either a tiring day or a useful upper-body workout . . . or perhaps both!

Meadow pipits and dunnocks made themselves heard (but not seen), a buzzard circled hopefully outlined against the blue sky and, most gratifyingly of all, mugs of tea appeared courtesy of Wicken Hill Farm. Many thanks.

9. The most anxious moment of the day:  Will
Frank get the empty mugs (and tray) safely back
to Wicken Hill Farm? .  .  . Never in doubt!

Today's work was funded by a donation from Midgley Community Forum. Many thanks for your support of local projdects.