RYBURN - Longley Wood

A beautiful day and not too hot. Lynda, Jerry and Jak returned to Longley Wood. It's so near to Rough Hey Wood that we have grown to think of that area as one wood when it is in fact three - Rough Hey, Butterworth End and Longley.

Location of work

The first task was to get to the work site without troubling the large number of cows who were a bit curious.

Just right where we need to walk!

Once that was achieved, Lynda got busy with cutting back brambles, nettles and holly. This is part of our annual maintenance of this lovely area.

Lynda hard at work

Jerry also got busy with strimming so as to make it clear where the path actually is.

Jerry clearing the path

We went on to install a revetment to keep the path safe for walkers where there is a steep drop. 

Revetment starting to take shape

We cut the path in to widen it as well.

Revetment completed

Today's work was funded by donations to CROWS for which we are very grateful.

TODMORDEN - an Afternoon at a Fair

The Community Volunteer Fair 2026

This event, involving some 25 Calderdale charities and volunteer groups, was held in the highly ornate setting of Todmorden Town Hall's ballroom. A rota of CROWS members - Kasher (main organiser), Mo, Ginny, Gareth, Stella, Mick and Frank H ran a table-top stall to showcase the work done on local rights-of-way.

1. Todmorden Town Hall: 151 years old and straddling
the former Yorkshire-Lancashire boundary

2. Flying the banner for CROWS. Lots of
interest packed onto a table-top!

3. CROWS work: High quality examples of stiles, footbridges,
cutting-back, steps, path widening, revetments and boardwalks.

4. "Is this a customer I see?" Mmm! Looks
like an important guest . . .

5. . . . time for Stella to turn on the charm!"

The event ran from 12 noon to 3 pm. Despite the sweltering heat outside and the sporting distractions of international tennis, football and rugby, a steady stream of visitors (perhaps partly tempted by the coffee and cakes) visited the stalls. CROWS got some firm enquiries about how to join . . . which was most useful as we are now recruiting following the 'retirement' of several members.

It was a pleasure to be in the ballroom which fills an upper floor of the Grade 1 listed Town Hall, and has a quality of finish that is inspirational!

6. Top quality work! The Town Hall ballroom ceiling.

More next week when CROWS will be tackling rampant overgrowth, rotten steps and wobbly stiles!

RYBURN - disused railway path

An early start for Linda, Jerry, Graham and Jak in an effort to miss some of the heat. We set off along this path to repair a large 'staircase' which had rotted at the bottom. 

Location of staircase

First, we did some cutting back and clearance of years of debris from underneath the treads. 

Clearing debris

The main work today was preparing the site for a return visit when we will install new steps on the lower section. 

Making sure walkers can still go up and down the flight

We installed two upright posts which will be used to support the steps when we return to finish this job. We met several walkers using this path so it will be great when it's in better shape.

Uprights in place

This work was funded by the 'Ripponden Community Crowd Funder' organised by Rebecca Dixon for which we are very grateful.

MID-SLACK: the downward path revisited

 Down into Hebden Wood.

The right-of-way (Heptonstall 048) goes down from the dwellings at Mid-Slack to enter Hebden Wood (see map). 

1. The worksite

Transport of tools and materials down the track from Mid-Slack was in a four-wheel-drive vehicle driven by a friend of CROWS. Many thanks. This saved us a long(ish) carry of large(ish) loads in sweltering conditions with temperatures again nudging the 30 Celsius mark.

2. Trackside flora: Foxglove (or Digitalis Purpurea). 

The Foxglove may look delightful but beware! The entire plant is toxic causing nausea, headaches, skin irritation, diarrhoea . .  . and that's just for starters!

The work for Ian S, Andrew and Frank H (aka the 'Yorkies' *see later) was to build a flight of steps down into Hebden Wood from the edge of the path that was shored up two weeks ago.

3. Original state of the path.

4. Shoring put in two weeks ago by Guy and Ian.

Today's work was geometrically tricky and involved shaping and installing revetments to define the sides of the path, and fitting risers that coped with the necessary angle change at the shoring end of the flight. It was a long session in sweltering conditions but with the fortunate appearance of Jan and canine companion (sorry Marley - no photo of you!) bearing a supply of cakes. 

5 Yummy! . . . but fast disappearing!

Many thanks.

Boosted by a sugar overload, work progressed . . .

6. Revetments: One revetment in place and the
end of another being cut to give a flush fit. 

7. Revetments: Channel being dug to accept
second revetment. Positioning must be exact.

8. Nearly there! Complete flight. Flat tread areas.
Risers and revetments anchored by same stobs
with a very tight fit all round..

9. End of session.

We were pleased with the end result although a check if there has been any 'settlement' may be done next month. However, the steps are secure, stable and easy to negotiate. The side-banks have been landscaped and a take-off/landing stone embedded at the bottom of the flight. Walkers enjoy! 

This task was funded by a donation from Heptonstall Parish Council. Many thanks.

{* Yorkies? Ian, Frank and Andrew all, at some stage, lived and worked in York. Ian and Frank were there at the same time and (apparently) unknown to one another went on the same joint-venture pot-holing trip . . . . but that was before Andrew was born! Mmm! . . . "Tempus fugit"}

TODMORDEN - Warland and Bottomley

 On a slightly warm day Duncan, Kasher and RJ decided to complete some more cutting back. 

CROWS have been contracted to cut some sections of the Pennine Bridleway in the upper Calder Valley. Today we tackled Bottomley Road (Tod 198) from the canal to the hamlet of Bottomley. This path was not too overgrown but needed the trees cutting back especially at the bottom of the route. This path can be exceptionally slippery when it has been raining . . . not a problem we were faced with today!

After completing this path we moved on to Tod 185 which crosses the hillside in Warland and meets up with Tod 145, which we cut back a couple of weeks ago. We will need to return to the first section of this path to prune some of the tree branches which impede the path and cause walkers to walk slightly further up the hill. The bracken on Tod 185 seems to be getting the message that it is not wanted! Regular cutting back seems to have reduced the amount of bracken on this route . . .  but more walkers using this path would really help! 

We will return later in the year (hopefully) to work on a stile which needs some TLC.

Today's work on Tod 198 was funded by Lancashire County Council on behalf of the Pennine Bridleway. Many thanks to all for your support in helping to keep open the footpaths and bridleways of the Upper Calder Valley.

The work on Tod 185 was funded by Todmorden Town Council. Many thanks.

Thanks too to the people who allowed us to park in their yards, close to the worksites, thus minimising the distance we had to carry tools.

The blue "pin" marks the Warland footpath tackled today.

The blue "pin" marks the route of the Pennine Bridleway in Bottomley.

Cutting back on Bottomley Road.

RJ stacking the stones off the path which had come
from the adjacent wall.

RJ and Duncan.... where shall we go next?

Bottomley Road now cleared.

The path through the bracken on Tod 185
above Warland.

The path is now well defined and well worth walking.

The route through the copse above Warland. The 
path is well marked with yellow-topped posts.