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. 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 siderails 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!

HEPTONSTALL - 4 sites

Guy and Rich had 3 sites to visit, a waymark post on the ground at Drapers Corner, cutting back at Pike Stone Bank and a low post out of the ground on the Calderdale Way below Slack. These three jobs were funded by Heptonstall Parish Council. With a bit of time to spare, we went and sorted some encroaching gorse and brambles on the Pennine Way off Edge Lane. Too many sites for a map!

Drapers Corner

The post had been out of the ground for some time, but we managed to find ground to reinstate it.  

 

Nearby we discovered a wonderful cast iron bench which is still in pretty good condition but does need a bit of TLC. It was obviously put in many decades ago to give a fantastic view of Crimsworth valley. Unfortunately a silver birch tree has grown which will obscure it in the summer. Pay a visit now!

 

 Then on to Pike Stone Bank

Encroaching brambles on this popular path (C Way and Pennine Way Loop) were already becoming a nuisance and making the path very narrow. Severe haircut was needed. 

 Third job farther along the path was to rescue a low waymark post which was lying on the ground. Now re-seated and good for a few more years. 

 Having some time to spare we went to the Pennine Way off Edge Lane to cut back some brambles but mainly to deal with some gorse that was making the path very narrow. 

Work in progress

 

All cut back

 

RYBURN - Path 62 and a bridleway between Stony Lane and Kebroyd

Two main jobs today for a team comprising Stella, Jerry, Graham and Jak.

The first was a stile on Footpath 62 which runs from Ripponden Old Bank across to Longley Lane. We've done a fair bit on this path recently trying to sort out the drainage issues. The stile is an awkward one and we aimed to assist people over and through a squeeze stile while at the same time protecting stock.

Map showing location of stile on Ripponden 62 path

The stile prior to work

Stile prior to work

We improved access to the stile so that's it's not so far to step up to it. It is a tight gap and is still awkward however.

Not so far to step up or down

Easier to step up and down now

The second job was a bridleway which runs from Stony Lane down to Kebroyd crossing the Calderdale Way. This is an lovely old walled path.

Map of bridleway

We cut back overhanging vegetation and brambles to make this a more pleasant route for horse riders and walkers. We will return to install waymarks.

Jerry with Graham and Stella behind

Working on the lower end of the path

Leading down to Kebroyd

From Stony Lane

Just in the nick of time so we avoided the worst of the rain.

Today's work has been funded by Ripponden Parish Council and from donations to CROWS for which we are very grateful.

PENNINE WAY - survey

Every two years Natural England surveys the Pennine Way. Our job is to inspect the problems they have identified in Calderdale to see how CROWS can help sort them. 

Rich, Andy, Kash, Neil, Ian S and Steve walked out four sections with clipboards, tape measures, pointed instruments and cameras. On the three days we did this, there was hardly any rain and not too much wind - a miracle! 

1. Blackstone Edge to Callis (Todmorden and Erringden paths). Several bad drainage problems, some waymarking issues. 

2. Callis to Colden (Blackshaw and Heptonstall paths). Fettling need on a number of steps, gates, stiles and brambles!

3. Colden to Widdop Road (Heptonstall paths). Several drainage problems, waymarking, and some cutting back needed 

4. Widdop Road to Withins Height (Wadsworth paths).  Mostly in good condition, but some issues that contractors need to deal with. 

A classic Pennine Way drainage issue!

So what is the problem here?

 The resulting schedule will be submitted to Calderdale Highways and Natural England. Fingers crossed the funding will be available to deal with at least some of the problems. 

After thought 

The Montane Spine race went up the Pennine Way in the wet in January. Some of the issues we identified indicated the damage that these large winter events can cause. We are lucky that most of our local running and walking event organisers work with us (and donate) to limit damage on the routes they use. We wonder whether the big national events organisers contribute in the same way? Just asking. 

 

TODMORDEN and BLACKSHAW HEAD - Various

 There were two teams out from Todmorden today. It was an extremely wet day but at least it was above 0 Celsius and with no snow . . . a bonus!

Team 1: David and Neil Mc: completed the stile on BS 051. This was started on 23 January and we have been trying to complete it every Friday since then! This stile is a long, long way from a road and there was rather a lot of timber and tools to carry today.

Team 2: Duncan and Kasher: 

i)  completed the steps off Carriage Drive in Walsden on Tod 212 by installing one additional step, laying and pinning some geotextile, and infilling part of the slope with MOT. 

ii)  removed from the hillside the plastic tree guards and wooden stakes which we took from trees on Tod 216 a few weeks ago; 

iii) planted willow cuttings in the wet hillside above Tod 029 which we worked on a couple of weeks ago to improve the drainage on Tod 213. 

Unfortunately, we missed the wise counsel of RJ who unavailable to assist.

Funding for today's work in Blackshaw Head has come from the  friends and family of Sheena McKerrel, a keen walker who lived in BSH.  

The work completed by Team 2 has been funded by individual donations to CROWS. Many thanks.

We would like to thank the residents of Inchfield Manor who allowed us to park our vehicle near to the worksite.

Details:

Team 1:

Stile to be repaired: just off Cow Side Lane.

Neil Mc dismantling the cross rails so that
he can access the old legs and treadboards.
Easy to do as hex-head screws had been used.

The new legs and treadboards in place.

Staples being added to the treadboards.

The completed stile.

Our neighbours on Cow Side Lane (!).

Team 2:

Willow cuttings were planted above Tod 029.

The final session on the steps between Walsden 'Rec' and Inchfield Rd.

The start of the session.

The final step installed and the geotextile being pinned
in place.

The geotextile being cut to size and then filled
with MOT. We were glad we bought sufficient MOT for 
this although we will return in the Spring to
top up the MOT.

Duncan perfecting his rain dance on the MOT.

Slightly fewer trip hazards and not as slippery.

Duncan collecting up the tree guards . . . 

. . . . to be transported off site.

Planting willow into a very wet hillside.

Let's hope the the willow roots. We may
need to come back to plant more.