TODMORDEN - Windy Harbour

 There were three teams out from Todmorden today.

Two of the teams worked on stiles below Bridestones Farm (see separate blogs) and the third team, comprising of David and Neil Mc, worked on an open access stile on Windy Harbour Lane, which allows access towards Golden Stones. Their task was to add a lower step to the stile (to compensate for ground erosion) and then to build a number of box steps up from the lane to the stile (also to compensate for erosion). 

This stile was rebuilt a few weeks ago when it was agreed that an additional lower step would make the stile easier to use, especially from the field side. Accessing the stile from the roadside up a slippery bank was difficult, more so in wet conditions . . . . not something we had to worry about today. 

The box steps have been lined with a suitable geotextile which has been pinned in place. We have infilled these steps with MOT which should pack down to give a firm surface for foot placement.

We will be back (hopefully next week) to install more steps and to top up the MOT in the steps built today.

Today's work was funded by Todmorden Wind Farm through CFFC (Community Foundation for Calderdale). Many thanks.

The blue "pin" marks the open access stile on Windy Harbour Lane.

The approach slope which would
benefit from steps.

A third (lower) step was needed here.

Neil Mc: sorting out the short step leg.
("Measure twice, cut once!")

The lowest step in position and the first of the
box steps built.

David cutting the timber for the sides of the 
second box step.

The steps part way through construction and
infilling.

The stile and steps from the field side.

TODMORDEN - Golden Stones & Windy Harbour

Three teams from Todmorden set out on a glorious morning to work in the sunshine on the hillsides near the Bride Stones.

Kasher, Dunstan & Frank H rebuilt a stile into the access land at Golden Stones just below the Bride Stones themselves.  (See the separate blog post on this job).  Neil Mc & David went to Windy Harbour, not far from the Wizard of Whirlaw, to complete work on the new steps and stile into a field.

Meanwhile, Catherine, Gareth & Ian V rebuilt a stile above Springs on the footpath (Todmorden 045) that heads past Golden Stones up to Bridestones Farm, and installed a new waymark post at a path junction near the farm. 

The first walker (and dog) arrived to use the second stile at the very moment that the last nail was being banged in! We nearly missed a photo opportunity!

Thanks to the lovely people at Bridestones Farm for allowing us to park in their grounds and shorten our carrying distance.  Thanks also to Todmorden Wind Farm which funded today’s work via CFFC (Community Foundation for Calderdale).

Ian ignores the glorious views and starts the dismantling work

Extracting old nails - an important safety job

The spirit level comes out of the tool bag

The first user arrives!

The finished article

New marker post further up the hillside

TODMORDEN: Golden Stones Access Stile

Golden Stones access stile

A section of the right-of-way Todmorden 045 leads due South from near Bridestones Farm. 300 m below Bridestones a stile gives access towards Golden Stones. (see map).

1. Approximate location of access stile

The task for Kasher, Dunstan (on his second CROWS session) and Frank H was to widen and re-stabilise the two-step access stile. Conditions were warm (26oC) but idyllic  . . . blue sky, light winds and panoramic views with meadow pipits (nearby) and a cuckoo (more distant) announcing their presence.

The original stile looked like this:

2. Down-slope view in winter: Not all is
as sturdy as it appears!

The right-hand side (shorter) upright and all the step-legs are sound but both treadboards, the left-hand side (taller) upright and parts of the cross-rails are decayed.

3. Left-hand side post; Rotten to the point
of collapse - which is what it did!

The plan was to:

i.   Replace the treadboards and cross-brace the legs.

ii.  Stabilise, straighten and diagonally brace the shorter side-post.

iii. Replace the taller side-post.

iv) Re-align, re-staple and re-tension the stockfence and both barbed-wire strands.

v)  Install 5 parallel cross-rails

The following pictures are all upslope views.

4. New treadboards: Fixed on old legs but now cross-braced.

5. Gang of three looking busy: Frank H, Kasher and Dunstan

6. Positioning: Taller post is a work in progress.

7. Alignment and packing: Taller post now
in position . . . and vertical.

8.  A study in concentration?:  Stockfence adjustment.

9. Completed structure: Kasher, Ian V (on loan
from adjacent task) and Dunstan.

10. Stress test: Will it take a load? . . .
85 kg - so far so good!

The task wasn't without typical stile building problems - rocky ground; old structures immovably out of true; wet post-holes; exposed barbs and sloping ground - but nothing that careful planning and a muscular approach couldn't overcome.

The result is a secure, stable, two-step stile which is easily negotiated. The latter was demonstrated by a runner descending from Golden Stones. He was over the stile before our cameras could say 'click'.

Today's work was funded by Todmorden Wind Farm through CFFC (Community Foundation For Calderdale). Many thanks.

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.