LUMB FALLS

A month or so ago we put in a drain to prevent the scouring of the path down to Lumb Falls. Today's work for Nick, Andrew, Jan and Rich was to reinforce the drainage channel and deal with several years of scouring of the path. Today's work was funded by a donation from the 'Haworth Hobble' event.

THE DRAIN

The side drain was working well but we deepened it and extended it upwards to capture more of the surface water. 

PATH WIDENING

We started out with the path still wet which should be solved by extending the drain. The path was also narrow and this combination meant people were walking on the bank next to a very steep drop.  

Early planning meeting on the muddy path

Path widened

View from the top

PUTTING IN THE STEPS

Towards the bottom of the path the stone surface disappeared so we decided to put in three steps. It is unusual to put in steps on a bridleway, but a local horse rider agreed they could easily bypass the steps. 

Getting the steps level

Finished job

 A good session, the path is now much safer for people to use. 

 

Midgley - steps below Height Road.

On a blustery day under threatening skies, Ian, Jerry, Guy and Angus headed to a footpath leading off Height Road, just below Hebden Bridge Golf Club. 

At the top of the field the path had been badly churned up by cattle then, as it enters the trees, it levels out before falling steeply towards the valley bottom. This was the section, made treacherous by footfall and rainfall, that required attention.

This route is much used by Calderdale Fell Runners whose kind donation has made today's work possible. Many thanks.

Today's work area is circled in blue.

 

Views of the steep section, looking down (on the left) and upwards (on the right).

Firstly we had the challenge of staying upright as we negotiated the muddy top section to carry tools and materials to the worksite. Once there, Jerry and Guy worked up from the foot of the slope whilst Ian and Angus started at the top. It was less blustery in the trees but the skies were still heavy with rain.

First step in place at the foot of the slope.

After an hour, we were making good progress and . . . still no sign of the rain!

By coffee time, we started to back-fill the steps.

With ten steps in place, we backfilled the voids using stone and earth scavenged from the surrounding  wood. Given the extent of the slope we estimate a further six/eight steps will be needed to complete the job. 

 

Views from below and above showing the work completed today.

If you are using this path in the next week or so, please take extra care on the section between the upper and lower flights of steps. We will be back to complete the task in due course.

Ryburn - Longley Lane and a path off Poverty Lane Sowerby.

LONGLEY LANE

This visit to Longley Lane saw Jerry, Graham, Richard, and Angus barrowing large quantities of wood chip to fill in the worn-out centre of the narrow path passing between the properties leading away from Longley Farm towards Sowerby Bridge. 

This work was initially reported by a couple of local walkers and has been funded by several local donations - a big 'thank you' for these. We also need to thank Ian Mathews, a local landowner, who kindly donated the woodchip.

Today's work location highlighted in blue.

View along the path towards Sowerby Bridge.

The first job was to strim back the grass to expose the sunken centre section. Once Jerry had done this with an electric strimmer, the extent of the task was soon revealed. The woodchip had been transported in a one tonne bag in the back of Angus's vehicle and deposited just across the road from the worksite prior to barrowing between the houses and down the path. 

You would have thought such a rural location wouldn't have much in the way of traffic . . . Wrong! Delivery vans galore!

The path after strimming clearly reveals the sunken centre section. 

The plan was to use the woodchip to fill the sunken centre section which, in some parts, was so narrow, that without care, you could easily twist an ankle. Carefully negotiating the narrow gap between a parked car and Longley Farmhouse, Richard barrowed the material along the path to fill the worst of the sunken section.

Graham in charge of back-filling and directing barrow operations.

Our supply of woodchip (there's only so much you can get into a Ford Connect!) was enough to level half the sunken section so we will return with another bag, to complete the task. Once this has all settled a third bag may be needed to level-off the whole path. It's always satisfying to use natural, recycled materials on a job like this.

The path now more level and easier to negotiate . . .  and it didn't rain!

POVERTY LANE SOWERBY

A job reported by Calderdale Highways - an entrance to a path almost invisible, awkward steps and a very uneven stretches. 

 

Much easier surface

Now you can see the path

 

TODMORDEN - Parkin Lane and Stones

 There was a team of five out from Todmorden today.

Team 1: Catherine, Dunstan (on his first work party with CROWS) and Ken rebuilt the stile on a Todmorden Centenary Way link path below Stones Farm.

Team 2: Gareth and Kasher rebuilt the stile on Parkin Lane for Tod 104. They then went down to Stones to help the other team complete their rebuild.

Today was a long day but we were working in very pleasant conditions (ie no hail or rain) and with stunning views.

Today's work has been kindly funded by Todmorden Town Council. We would like to extend our thanks to them for their continuing support.

The TCW link path below Stones Farm.

Tod 104 off Parkin Lane.

Team 1:

The TCW link path at the start of the day. Both steps were extremely 
loose and the uprights were rotten.

OK, so now we have removed the old stile what do we do next???

Ken and Dunstan with the two main uprights in position
and the bracing cross rail in place. Note the metal closure post
which created lots of problems!

Dunstan getting used to the idea that there are
many holes to be dug for a stile!

Catherine and Dunstan getting the stile
legs sorted out.

What would we have done without Ken to sort 
out the challenge of this post and the gate closure
system?

Dunstan trying out the new stile.

Team 2:

The stile on Tod 104 at the start of the day.

Gareth sorting out one of the new stile legs. The new
upright pole is in place and the hole for the other
stile leg has been dug.

It's a very narrow stile.....

Kasher adding in the cross rails before the treadboard 
is put into place.

The finished stile. We may return to reduce the height of the new post 
but only after we have agreed with the landowner 
that the rails are high enough to prevent his sheep getting
over the stile!

LUDDENDEN FOOT - Willow Wood

 On a typical April shower-type day (albeit in the middle of May!) Jan and Paul sought refuge by the stream in Willow Woods to avoid the hail and rain in order to work on a delightful path (Hebden Royd 056) from Booth House Road towards Wheatley Royd Farm.

There was waymarking, step repair, cutting back and path scraping to be done . . . in-between the rainstorms and the beautiful sunshine! 

The original waymark post was rotten and broken and needed to be replaced.

The new post was professionally and accurately installed.

Spirit level expertly used...

Paul was clearly impressed with the end result!

The path was overgrown with Beech and Holly...

...but Paul made short work of it.

The steps up from the stream were cleared.

The path above the steps was also scraped and levelled to prevent puddling.

On closer inspection, several of the risers and stobs on the flight of steps need to be replaced and the revetment needs to be reinforced - this will mean a return visit.

This work was funded by CROWS funds.  Thank you to everyone who has donated to CROWS!