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.

Hebden Bridge:Stile on Burlees to Broadbottom Farm R-o-W

Below Burlees but above Broadbottom

Paul, Ian S and Frank H worked on a partial reconstruction of a decaying boundary stile on the right of way (Hebden Royd 017 - see map), the task being funded by Midgley Community Forum. Thank you for your support. 

1. The worksite: marked with blue tag

For once the weather was ideal. The temperature soared into double figures (Celsius, that is, not Fahrenheit . . . . . or even Kelvin!), winds were slight and we were even treated to dappled sunlight.

The detail.

Before:

2. Before: Upslope view

3. Before: downslope view of RH corner.

At first glance the stile might appear to be adequate. However, there are multiple problems:

i) both stile side-posts are completely rotten at ground level, not vertical and not embedded deeply enough.

ii) the cross-rails are not horizontal and show signs of decay where they are fixed to the shorter side post.

iii) both treadboards are rotten and there is insufficient tread area protruding on the downslope side.

iv) associated side-fencing is ramshackle.

Fortunately, both sets of step-legs are sound and firmly embedded.

The work begins . . . 

4. During: New short side-post in place and
right-hand cross-rails re-cycled and levelled.

5. During: More open than usual!

6. During: Both new side-posts in place
with top and bottom cross-rails installed.

7. The end result: New stile with
first customer . . . on the run.

We were pleased with the end result. The stile is stable, very secure and easy to negotiate. New treadboards have been fitted, the taller upright has a diagonal brace, and (later additions so not in the above picture) cross-braces were fitted between the step legs, and waymark disks nailed in place.

It was day of good work on this delightful and popular footpath. Many thanks to Little Burlees Farm for allowing us to park in their yard. The shorter the distance to carry timber and tools, the better . . . . it's almost CROWS' motto!