Friday 1 November 2024

TODMORDEN and Blackshaw Head - Various

 There were two teams out from Todmorden today:

Team 1: Mick and Gareth revisited Todmorden Golf Course to paint the existing 'pink' marker posts across the golf course on Tod 026. They then went to Daisy Bank in Blackshaw Head to reposition the yellow-topped marker posts across the moor on BS 044 and to discuss option for the repair or replacement of the bridge which was recently damaged during heavy rains.


BS 044 between the Long Causeway and Cow Side Lane.


Team 2: Ian V and Kasher went to Windy Harbour to repair and improve the stile on Tod 021. As this took less time to sort out than initially envisaged we moved down to Tod BW 019 to continue drainage improvements near the causey path between Whirlaw and Springs.


Stile repair on Tod 021.

Drainage work on Tod BW 019 on Whirlaw Common.

Many thanks to the residents of Windy Harbour who kindly kept their horse in the stables this morning so that we could work in the field without too much equine "assistance"!

Today's work has been funded by generous individual donations to CROWS. Many thanks.

Details: 

Team 1: Tod 026 is way-marked across Todmorden Golf Course with pink-topped marker posts (rather than the usual yellow markers). New posts were added last week. The route across land adjacent to the course was strimmed earlier this week. The remaining posts were repainted today with one post installed last week being moved to improve the alignment of the route.

The original route from Daisy Bank to the damaged bridge on BS 044 is extremely wet. We have moved the marker posts to reroute this path slightly and to allow the vegetation on the initial route to recover (hopefully!). The path now links with the new path created by the team who were working on this route last Friday.

Unfortunately there are no photographs from today's work!

Team 2: We had been informed that the stile on Tod 021 needed to be fettled. The stile was not as bad as feared so we have replaced the treadboard (to which we have also added staples), packed the slightly loose legs, reduced the height of one of the  uprights, removed the remnants of rusty barbed wire attached to the fence, reattached one of the cross-rails which was loose and installed a yellow-topped grab post.



The stile (before).

Ian V assessing whether we needed to replace the legs 
on this stile (thankfully . . . no!)


The completed stile (and the very muddy approach).

We will return to install a few more way-markers on this route.

We then moved down to Tod 019 (which we also worked on last week) to try and open up yet more drainage channels to get water off the causey stones and away from the path.


The causey path through a field of soft rush.

Ian V trying to open up a drainage channel. 

Kasher: digging through the rush to enable 
water to drain off the causey stones.


Return to Coney Garth footpath

Jerry and Angus returned to attend to the stile on this footpath where Jerry had previously dismantled a fallen tree, the stile had survived but the supporting posts had rotted out so attention was required.


Map showing the location of the damaged stile.


The stile looking down the path, debris from the fallen tree on the right.


The stile from below, both vertical posts rotted out at their bases.

We reviewed the location of the stile and its relevance to the path and the adjacent farmland, we spoke with the land owner regarding the livestock in the area and decided that the stile was no longer required as walkers were bypassing it through a gap next to the drystone wall. We decided to remove it as there was also significant step down on the lower side of the tread board and insert a couple of steps where the path sloped down the valley.


The completed job looking back up the path towards Coney Garth.



Thursday 31 October 2024

TODMORDEN - off Broad Gate and Obadiah Wood

 RJ and Kasher spent (yet another) day strimming and cutting back. Last Friday Mick and Gareth reinstated the pink-topped marker posts across Todmorden Golf Course on Tod 026. Whilst doing that it became clear that the path needed better definition - hence our task today.


Tod 026 across Tod Golf Course.

We then moved on to Tod 041, the Tod Centenary Way link path, which goes from near the golf course to near the tennis courts. A very long and prickly hedge needed cutting back. This overgrown hedge had reduced the width of the path considerably forcing people to walk on the uneven surface adjacent to the wall. We need to do further work on this pathway - it seems to have deteriorated significantly over the last couple of years - as it needs widening, more cutting back and would benefit from the addition of a few steps.

Many thanks to individuals who have donated to CROWS. Your support for this work is much appreciated.

The third task of the day was to look at the pathway on Tod 060 near Obadiah Woods in Cornholme. We are planning to install three boardwalks and some steps in this area. This route is exceptionally wet and muddy and the installation of boardwalks should improve matters, especially in the wetter winter months. This work has been funded by Active Calderdale.


The location of the proposed new boardwalks.

RJ strimming on Tod 026.


RJ strimming up the slope towards the golf course.
The marker posts are pink-topped as (our usual) yellow- topped
posts apparently have a different meaning on golf courses!

The view down over Todmorden from Tod 026


Cutting back the overgrown hedge on Tod 041.


The position for one of the proposed boardwalks
near Obadiah Woods, Cornholme. Appearances
are deceptive - the ground is very wet.


Wednesday 30 October 2024

Midgley - Steps-R-Us

 Midgley - 'twixt Tray Royd and Scotland

In fine but misty conditions Ian S and Nick cleared more than a  year's overgrowth from a long flight of high quality flagged steps .

Here's the location:

Map 1: Section of path to be thoroughly cleared.

Here are the 'before' and 'after' pictures:

The path is part of a popular local network of routes much favoured by dogs taking their humans for a walk. The path is designated on the Calderdale Council Leisure and Culture map as 'Footpath: Sowerby Bridge 018' . . . although Midgley is not an area that you automatically associate with Sowerby Bridge!


Picture 1:
Before:
Typical state of overgrowth
on what are substantial stone flags.

Some time and a lot of perspiration later . . . 

Picture 2:
After: path back to full width and the
beautiful flight of steps is revealed.

Today's work was funded by Midgley Community Forum. Many thanks.

SLACK - Popples Common

Footpath Heptonstall 046 crosses Popples Common from Smithy Lane to Widdop Road. Many years ago it was paved with causey stones, but these had almost disappeared into the ground. So, today, a team of Andrew, Frank S, Ginny, Jan, and Jerry, were there to bring the historic stones back into the light. 

The first problem was to find the stones! We had to walk quite a way down the path before we found one that was visible! This meant we started work in the middle of the path and worked out towards the top and the bottom. We stopped a bit short of the top, because the stones there seemed to have broken up, and we also stopped some way short of the bottom but that was because we ran out of time and energy! We hope to return soon the finish the work.



The upper section where we first found evidence of the stones

The upper section completed! Wow! What a difference!

The lower section in progress

The lower section completed

The lower section showing the work still to do

This work was funded by Heptonstall Parish Council. Thank you for your support.