TODMORDEN - Shore, Lumbutts and Warland

 There were three teams out from Todmorden today:

Team 1: David and Mick, were waymarking the official diversion to Tod 148 below Warland Reservoir. This is also the route of the Todmorden Centenary Way (TCW). For further details of the official diversion order please see https://todmorden-tc.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Item-12-Public-Footpath-Confirmation-DC-5th-Aug-2026.pdf

Team 2: Kasher and Neil Mc worked in Shore above Cornholme to: "just" fit a dog gate; cut back one path, and sort out two stiles on Stoney Lane. We were joined by David after he and Mick had completed the waymarking of the new route for Tod 148. We will need to return here soon to put in a new closure post for a small gate and to make improvements to the dog gate which we fitted.

Team 3: Andrew and Catherine had a list of jobs in the Lumbutts/ Mankinholes area including building steps and revetments, reinserting a flag, fettling up a notice board, cutting back  . . . Phew! Please see the separate blog about their work.

Team 2 would like to extend thanks to the owner of Hartley Royd who came to our rescue and who also provided much needed cold drinks.

Today's work has been funded by Todmorden Town Council and by the Cornholme Wreath Making workshop held in December 2025.

The route of Tod 148 has been officially diverted. 
See https://todmorden-tc.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Item-12-Public-Footpath-Confirmation-DC-5th-Aug-2026.pdf

Today's work for Team 2 was all near Hartley Royd, see the blue "pin".

Team 1:

Mick and the kissing gate on the diverted footpath.

Hard to get lost!

The new route has been signed with TCW way markers
and with FP markers.

Team 2:

The stile in need of a dog gate.

This simple job was made so much more complicated
by the original build of the stile.

There is a path here somewhere....

A little cutting back helps!

One of the stiles off Stoney Lane which needed some work.
Unfortunately the LH upright is rotten and will
need to be replaced.

A stile, off Stoney Lane, recently built by the landowner
but with a few small improvements added today. 

Ryburn - Bird Lane revisited.

Despite Paul "the weatherman" telling us it would be a bit cooler today, it was still hot, sticky work for Jak, Jerry, Richard and Angus on Bird Lane in Ripponden. Today was finishing-off the excellent work done by Monday's team, further cutting-back, repairing a couple of stiles and clearing the drainage channel down the side of the path. Again, this work was funded by Calderdale Highways.

Location of today's work: Bird Lane (path) off the A58.

Jak and Jerry started with some cutting-back and clearing out the drainage channel which runs down the side of the path. During the winter months, the path becomes very wet and boggy, so in the current dry conditions it was an ideal time to clear out the channel. Hopefully it will drain more effectively when we next get some rain.

 

Getting stuck-in to clearing the drainage channel - What a difference a couple of hours make!

Meanwhile, Richard and Angus worked on replacing the rotten treadboard on the first stile before heading to the second stile where the wall it crossed had partially collapsed. The first stile only had one treadboard which meant that there was a big downward step. Fortunately, Jerry located a suitable square stone which fitted the job perfectly. Unfortunately, it was covering the home of some particularly grumpy ants . . . who soon let Jerry know how they felt about his intrusion !!

The first stile - upright and broken treadboard both needing attention.

Stile now, with the stone step which Jerry had to wrestle off particularly aggressive ants !!

The second stile which crossed a stone wall, was attached to an overgrown stock-fence. The wall needed rebuilding and the treadboard had come loose. After removing the stonework and cutting back the ivy , we managed to rebuild the wall to give useable access through the wall and onto the now secured treadboard. Currently, the stile is in reasonable order, but, the treadboard and one of its legs will need to be replaced later in the year.

Richard uncovering the fallen stonework.

Job done! Access much better and easier to negotiate. 

At the beginning of the path, next to the A58, we noticed the flag on the waymark post was in a sorry state. Fortunately, we had a spare one, and were able to fit it without too many problems.

Waymark flag in a sorry state.

New flag fitted. Good as new . . . which it is!

With the path now clear, it is possible to get from the bus stop on the A58, up to Ripponden Old Lane. Additionally, with the brambles and nettles now cut back, there are plenty of fresh, plump, blackberries to be picked . . . ideal for jam making !

Plenty of ripe berries along this path . . . gather them while you may!

BLACKSHAW HEAD, COLDEN, WIDDOP ...... removing GNB posters and litter picking

 How can such a lovely day be a sad day? 

Twice a year Neil D and Kasher make a date with ground nesting birds (GNBs) . . . the first date is in March when we welcome back our curlews, meadow pipits, golden plover etc by putting up brilliantly designed posters. These are meant to remind people to care about ground nesting birds and to keep their dogs on short leads when out in the countryside or on the moors.

The second date is when we take the posters down once the birds and their youngsters have left our area . . . and we start thinking about late Summer, Autumn and the delights of a Calderdale Winter.

Today was GNB poster removal day.... 

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

If anyone would like some posters to put up next year please let us know.

As well as removing the posters, we also took the opportunity to do some light way-marking to replace those waymarks that have mysteriously disappeared. We also turn one small red Yaris into a Tardis-like litter picking vehicle as we litter picked along the route from Slack to the boundary with Brierfield.

The reservoirs are very dry....

Neil D enjoying his lunch break with some very friendly (and hot)
sheep.

Did we really put a poster on this tree? . . . YES!

Another GNB poster taken down to be used again next year.

The swallows are also getting ready to leave us for another year.

TODMORDEN - The cutting back continues....

 Kasher and RJ continued the cutting back (on Tod 027) which we started a fortnight ago. We have now cut back the route from Hey Head Lane to Scrapers Lane. 

We also went to check out and measure up for a job near to Folly Dam where a set of steps need attention.

Cutting back near Scrapers Lane.

Checking out a forthcoming job near Folly Dam.

The section previously cut back is now looking good
and is much easier for bikes and horses.

Significant trimming of the trees is needed
as this is a bridleway.

Re-emerging onto Scrapers Lane and uncovering
hidden marker posts.

RJ . . . and still more trees to trim!

RJ finding somewhere in the shade for lunch . . 

. . 

. . and then off to sort out some more cutting back.

RJ checking out the issues with the steps
and revetment near Folly Dam.

The small set of steps in need of some TLC.

MIDGLEY: A double act on double stiles

 Midgley: New Heath Head

On a day when the temperature rose steadily into the low 30oC, Ian S and Frank carried out significant remedial work to the two stiles where the right-of-way (Sowerby Bridge 018) runs NW/SE across the access lane for New Heath Head. (see map)

1. Worksites marked with blue 'pin'.

This well-used path has stiles on either side of the lane leading to New Heath Head. 

The NW stile:

The stile on the NW side had three rotten step-legs, very narrow flimsy treadboards and an extremely high top rail. Negotiating the latter was made even more awkward because it was part of fence railing which had been installed parallel to the sloping ground - a visually pleasing effect but less convenient for stile users!

Although nothing could be done about the slope of the top rail, effective remedial work could be carried out by installing new step-legs, adjusting the step heights and replacing both treadboards. Digging out the 'stumps' of the old legs was a particularly arduous task as the residual timber was firmly buried into the extremely hard ground.

Work progressed  as follows:

2. Digging out: "Is this a stump I see before me?"

3. Success: Rotten stumps all round!

4. New step-legs: In place with cross-bracing.

5. View from Lane side: New treadboards in place.

6. View from Field side: but will it take a load?

7. . .  . never in doubt. Not a creak from the 
stile . . . which is more than can
be said about Frank!

The SE Stile:

After lunch and the consumption of  two flasks of iced water (many thanks to New Heath Head), a similar battle was waged against the SE one-step stile. 

8. Before: One weak step and a
far-too-high top rail!

Fortunately, the ground conditions were more amenable and a second (higher) step was installed to make this stile easier to negotiate. The original lower step was left in place but has been 'earmarked' for replacement.

9. View from Lane side: Work so far . . .

10. View from Field side: work so far . . .

The lower step is too narrow and has rot in one of the legs, It will be replaced. As well as the stile repair, we cut back encroaching Hawthorn bushes and tidied the approaches to the stiles. 

Time, then, to drink more water, beat a retreat to the depot, sort out the tools, put the battery on charge, then go home to observe (safely) the partial solar eclipse . . . 

11. Partial solar eclipse

and (for those who can stay up that late) to enjoy the Perseid meteor shower!

12. Perseid meteor shower

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

More in a week or so when we'll be 'nose to the ground' rather than 'eyes to the heavens'!