BLACKSHAW HEAD: Flying the flag for CROWS

 Blackshaw Head Fete

The Blackshaw Head Fete was held in the fields next to the Chapel and, as usual, was a delightful community event. The conditions, blustery at first, became calmer and sunnier as the day wore on. 

1. Banner in the breeze!

Teams of CROWS prepared display items, transported these and the gazebo up to the fete site, erected the gazebo, assembled the displays, ran the stall, sorted out the dismantling and eventually re-stored all the items back at base. Thanks to the twelve CROWS who took part.

2. The Gazebo . . . on only its second 'outing': Well anchored against the blustery conditions.

Positioned in the lower field, just below the 'Circus Skills Paddock', with 'Stone Carving' on one side and the 'Traditional Oak Structures' on the other, the CROWS stall had a steady stream of visitors all day. Our tasks were discussed (thank you for the praise!) and perceptive interest shown in the logistics of our work days, the funding mechanisms and the opportunities to get involved. We might have an influx of new volunteers in the next month or so. Mmm! Given the long term forecast, we hope they like mud!

3. Five minutes before the start: "Is that a rush of visitors, I see? " . . .

4. . . . "Sort of. It's me again! Elsie.! Your exuberant Lakeland Terrier-Collie cross
towing my favourite human around the field. It's hard work! Where's my biscuit?"

Overall, the day was most enjoyable. Nothing blew away . . . or down . . . or  over . . . or even up! The individual display pictures and the photo 'story-lines' stayed firmly 'blu-tacked' to the display boards. The gazebo, easier to dismantle than to erect, fitted neatly back into its carrying bag and, with no hint of rain, all could be stored away without the problem of having to dry everything. Phew!

More next week when a damaged boardwalk on Dick's Lane below Stoodley Pike needs some repairs. Unfortunately, the damage may not have been due to normal wear and tear. 😢 

TODMORDEN -Various

 There were two teams out from Todmorden today. 

Team 1: Duncan and Neil Mc: checking the repairs needed to a gate on Tod 034, and then cutting back on Tod 178 off Shaw Wood Road. Tod 178 has been closed for a while after what appears to have been an accident/incident at the top of the path where it meets the road. The wall and the stone steps had been damaged but have now been repaired. 

We will need to return to sort out the gate (on Tod 034) by replacing the spring, the hinges and the closure mechanism.

Team 2: Catherine, Gareth and Kasher were attacking a number of clearing up tasks from previous work parties including adding extra supports to the fence on Tod 028 above Stile Road; installing marker posts on Tod 095 which goes steeply uphill from Lydgate Post Office to the new stile built a few weeks ago; checking the steps on Tod 082 leading through Scaitcliffe Wood up to Flailcroft and clearing the lower flights. 

We will return to Scaitcliffe Wood in mid-October to clear the steps of the acorns which, from our previous experience, make using this path difficult! (Think imitation 'ball-bearings'!). This path is on the route for a national relay race being organised by Todmorden Harriers on 17 October.

Today's work has been funded by Todmorden Town Council. Many thanks for your continued support to ensure that the footpaths and bridleways in our area are maintained.

The gate to be sorted on Tod 034 is marked with the blue "pin"

The near vertical path from opposite Lydgate post office.

Checking steps through Scaitcliffe Wood and clearing the lower reaches of the path.

Team 1:

The gate in need of TLC.

Tod 178 in need of sorting out.

The repaired steps at the top of Tod 178.

Duncan on step and path clearing duties.

The cleared stones on Tod 178.

Team 2:

Catherine and Gareth installing an extra support to the 
'fence' at the bottom of Tod 028. The entrance to the field is
via the gap stile on the LHS.

The first flight of stone steps in Scaitcliffe Wood... before.

Leaf mould and acorns removed from some of the
Scaitcliffe Wood steps.

Catherine and Gareth step clearing.

Installing and firming up yellow-topped marker posts.

The new stile built a few weeks ago, with Gareth and Catherine
installing yellow-topped posts in the distance.

A spectacular gap stile on Tod 095.

MIDGLEY: New Heath Head

New Heath Head: "Just another step".

On a drizzly but warm day, Ian S and Frank returned to New Heath Head where the right-of-way (Sowerby Bridge 018) runs NW/SE across the access lane for New Heath Head. (see map).

1. The blue 'pin' marks the worksite.

Two weeks ago CROWS carried out improvement work - the installation of a higher step - on the stile leading to the SE section of the path. The original, narrow, lower step was left in place.

2. End point of earlier work.

The stile may look presentable but the old, very narrow lower step is unstable because the field side leg is completely rotten. The treadboard was only held in place because it had been inset and nailed to the lowest rail. The plan for today was to install replacement legs and fit a new, wider treadboard.

The detail:

Frank and Ian worked on opposite sides with Ian (by the 'luck of the draw') having the more problematic leg to deal with. However, by way of compensation, he had a firm clean surface to kneel on rather than one scattered with wet sheep-poo! 

Alignment of the step was tricky because the very long lengths of old fence rail had been installed parallel to the sloping ground. This was aesthetically pleasing but made negotiating the top rail awkward.

3. Field side lower leg in place. Step legs are
vertical but rails follow the sloping ground.

With both new lower legs installed and cross-braced to the taller ones, the treadboard could be fitted to give . . . 

4. Up Lane view: showing cross-bracing
and wider treadboard

5. View through stile: Approaches tidied and
Hawthorn hedge trimmed

Today's work on the access to this popular path was funded by Midgley Community Forum. Many thanks for your support.

Following this short(ish) worksite session Ian and Frank went up onto the moor path to survey future tasks - cutting-back, widening, installing steps and repairing revetments - and then visited the nearby restored pinfold with its magnificent wooden bench. 

6. Midgley Pinfold: Entrance

7. Pinfold interior: beautiful bench.
Heavy, stable and well-anchored.

Visit and enjoy!

Dodd Naze - a popular path

 

This is the path (Hebden Royd 017)  from Dodd Naze down to Hebden Bridge station and the town.

This path is a regular route for Dodd Naze residents, quite a few of whom passed us today coming up from or going down to the town.  We have had several reports about difficulties with bramble overgrowth (1 on the map), a slippery slither down to the bridge, and broken slats on the bridge (2 on the map), and the tricky stone steps (3 on the map).

Andrew, Jan, Jerry and Stella set off on a day which threatened continuous heavy rain but delivered only gentle drizzle, to see what improvements we could make.

The brambles and thistles were cut back wide enough to allow prickle-free passage while retaining a bramble "hedge" along the fence, as requested by the landowner.

Brambles...

..

.....and other overgrowth, before.

The widened route up...

...and down, afterwards.

We replaced the broken slats on the bridge, and installed 3 new steps above the existing one to allow an easier descent on a slippery slope.

Jerry & Andrew clearing overgrowth to make a space for 3 new steps

One of the broken slats

New slats in situ.

The old stone steps leading steeply down the hill are narrow and a bit uneven.  One was missing. They will always require care when walking, especially when it's wet. We cleared off the mulch, and replaced the missing step, which will make it quite a bit easier.

The steps from below

Andrew replacing the missing one

Step replaced (but not yet cleaned off!)

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

Your support is very much appreciated, thank you.

PENNINE WAY AT GORPLE

 Paul and Rich went up to the Pennine Way at Gorple to clear a blockage (in a drain) that was diverting water to flow down the track! We also continued the task of uncovering Causey Stones to create a wider path. 

This work was funded by a partnership between Calderdale Highways and Natural England. 

After checking the forecast, we decided to have an early start!

The side-drain on the track over to Blackshaw was clogged with sedge in a few places and some of the banking had disintegrated. We tackled the obvious places where water was escaping but it really needs a digger!

Water will now keep off the track.

 Then it was back over to Graining Water for another session uncovering Causey Stones. This makes the path much wider . . . and we just love uncovering the area's heritage.

No more wet legs after rain!

A good session and, fortunately, we dodged most of the rain.