NEW WORK Blackshaw Head

 Mo and Ginny went to survey routes in Blackshaw Head that had been marked on the Cams map as having problems.  As the Cams survey had been done several years ago and at a different season some of the problems had been resolved and others had appeared, but on this route most of them were still very apparent.  We started at Badger Lane where a stile was almost impossible to cross and needs technical advice about the best way to approach repairs.

                        Moving on there is a footpath which is very difficult to use at present.

           

And another one which will be a lovely walk when it has been levelled out and the brambles cut back.

Finally back to impossible stiles.  A series of job sheets are on their way!

TODMORDEN - Various

 There were three teams out from Todmorden today.

Team 1: David and Neil Mc worked on two stiles (on Tod 071) near Bearnshaw Tower above Cornholme.

Team 2: Ken and Mick were at Guide Quarry at the junction of Tower Causeway and Flower Scar Road to increase the height of the tree enclosures built by CROWS a number of years ago, and to plant a replacement tree.

Team 3: Andrew, Catherine and Kasher sorted out a short flight of steps and repositioned a fingerpost on the path (Todmorden 015) near Hall Stones Green Farm.

Many thanks to the landowner of Bearnshaw Tower who allowed Team 1 to park their vehicle in his yard, and thus nearer to the worksite.

Today's work has been funded by individual donations to CROWS. Many thanks to everyone who contributes to keeping our rights of way open and walkable.

Stile improvements near Bearnshaw Tower.

Enhancing tree enclosures near Guide Quarry.

Sorting out steps near Hall Stones Green Farm.

Team 1:

An extremely narrow stile was in desperate need of repair. 

Before: View from downslope side:
A precariously balanced treadboard!

Both uprights were rotten, the cross-rails needed re-aligning and the precariously balanced treadboard was extremely slippery. We have replaced the uprights, the cross-rails and the treadboard. Wall constraints meant the stile is still narrow . . . but easier and safer to use.

Before: View from upslope side:
A stile in need of some TLC!

David digging the hole for the second new upright.

Neil dealing with the treadboard and cross-rails.

End result: View from upslope side.

Team 2:

Increasing the height of the netting slightly should 
allow the trees to avoid being eaten by livestock.

The holly tree in its enclosure.

Increasing the height of the enclosure so that the
holly can grow without being part of the bovine diet!

Team 3:

Well-hidden steps and a slightly jaunty (and rotten!) fingerpost.

Andrew and Catherine clearing the well-hidden steps.

Replacement of the steps underway.

Andrew consolidating the replaced steps.

Andrew and Kasher providing the final
touches for the new steps.

The new steps and re-positioned fingerpost.

RYBURN - Path 62

On a fine day, Linda, Jerry and Jak returned to path 62, which runs from Ripponden Old Bank across to Longley Lane, to replace an insecure stile.

One side of the stile was simply resting on a rock which did not provide a solid foundation. 

The stile prior to our work today

We untangled the existing timber and fence to give us access for digging holes. 

Jerry and Linda concentrating

Once the holes had been made, we could start to build the stile, first putting in the legs to support the treadboard.

Everything is measured out

Once the treadboard was in place we started to reinstate the fencing.

Reattaching the fencing

The very long worm was re-homed

When we had put the cross-rails in it was time to tidy up and test out the stile.

Linda testing the new stile. Thumbs up!

Beautiful snowdrops near the start of the path

As we returned to the road we managed to create a bit of a channel for the stream running along the path. Hopefully this will now dry out and make that section a bit easier.

This work was funded by Calderdale Highways.

BLACKSHAW HEAD - small jobs day

 Kasher and Neil D loaded up the small car with everything except the kitchen sink, for a small jobs clear-up day in Blackshaw Head.

The work was in too many sites within BSH to provide maps but over a very wet day we:

• replaced stile treadboards
• firmed up stile step-legs
• added staples to numerous treadboards on countless stiles
• re-attached cross-rails
• added waymarkers
• replaced wooden "flags"
• cut down rotten marker posts
• etc!!

Unfortunately, we have also come back with a long list of small jobs (and not so small jobs) to add to the BSH "to do" list.

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

Firming up stile step-legs.

Treadboard replaced.

Replacing a fingerpost "flag" which had been fettled.

Reattached the markerpost and fettled up the 
stile. We will return to remove the redundant
sheep netting and barbed wire. We will also install
a step-up platform on the field side of the stile.

Nailing waymarks and reattaching cross-rails.

We had hoped to replace the bottom hinge on this
gate but the upright is rotten. We will return
to replace it and re-hang the gate.

Trying to sort out a drainage issue in
the woodland near Land Farm.

Walshaw - in preparation for the Heptonstall Fell Race

 A team of four ventured to Walshaw area today to work on Wadsworth 039 (see map)
in preparation for the forthcoming Heptonstall Fell Race (a 24.8 km/15.4 mile category B event on Sun 22nd March).

Angus and Steve worked on a boardwalk which has seen better days. This was fettled up last year and we have again tried to improve it by replacing some rotten and damaged cross-treads and adding more staples. This should make the boardwalk safer for the next few months but we will try to replace (and extend) this boardwalk in the summer when the area will (we hope!) be drier.

Kasher and Peter cut back the soft rush on this path, especially in the boggy places, and thus widened the path to make it easier to find a dry route across this moor. The yellow-topped posts were also reinstated so the route is now more obvious . . . although exceedingly wet!

Today's work will be funded by a donation from the Fell Race proceeds. Many thanks.

Today's work was on Wadsworth 039 (see blue tag).

Angus and Steve clearing the boardwalk.

Steve removing the rotten cross-treads from the boardwalk.

Rotten cross-treads replaced.

The route cut back.

The route is now well marked and cut back.

Cutting back through the rank
grass and soft rush . . .

. . . it's always good to come across a well-camouflaged local resident.

One of our ground nesting birds posters which 
did not get removed at the end of the last breeding
season.

Peter on right-of-way Wadsworth 039 that leads up to Turn Hill.