Return to High Hirst Walk, Dodd Naze

Ian S, Gareth & Neil D. returned to Dodd Naze above Hebden Bridge to strim and cutback overgrowth and clear fallen leaves etc on the fine path, created originally in 2004, that skirts the Estate.

The path takes local residents, dog walkers and others on a stroll past the High Hirst Allotments (above the Woodmeadow) and on through the delightful woodland, which is also an occasional home to the Forest School based at the Community Centre. The path finally emerges onto Wadsworth Lane via a flight of steps.

A quick recce at the start revealed how much cutting back and hedge trimming

there was to do since we'd last tackled the path back in July.

 

 While Gareth and Ian set to with strimming the edges of the path

and round the various benches and picnic tables along its length . . .  

 

 

. . .  we were also helped by two keen volunteers from the Estate,

who attacked a large pile of hedge cuttings with loppers and shears.

 

Someone had dumped all this at the entrance to the walk off Manor Drive. It was not only unsightly and partially blocked the entrance, but was proving to be a mecca for more litter ('etc')!

Unspotted at first by any of us, was a poorly pigeon perched below the greenery of the hedge. Can you see it in the photo above?  It seemed stunned somehow, perhaps a victim of the recent gales and Storm Boelo? As the pile got lower, the pigeon became more visible and eventually it shuffled away into the bushes. 

As it was clearly unwell, we called the wonderful folk at the 'Full of Joy' animal sanctuary up at Great Rock, near Blackshaw Head. They told us, if we could catch it and leave it in a cardboard box at the entrance, one of their volunteers would come and collect it and, if necessary, they would take it to a vet. (See below. . . ) 

Before and after (1)  . . .

     

The pile of cuttings (left) now neatly bagged up (right) ready for Calderdale Council to collect.

Note the sawn logs neatly stacked awaiting collection by a local resident (as requested!) on the High Hirst Walk boulder at the start of the walk, and the boxed pigeon by the ground also awaiting collection.

Before and after (2) . . .

(Left) The nettles had grown back with a vengeance since the ground had last been strimmed back in July (left), while (Right) Gareth and Ian survey their good work at having fully revealed, once again, the boulder stone inscribed with the name of the walk at the other end of the path near Wadsworth Lane.

 

Job (neatly) done! 

N.B. This work on High Hirst Path is undertaken twice a year through an agreement originally drawn up between CROWS and the Dodd Naze Community Association and the now-disbanded 'Friends of High Hirst Woodmeadow' project.  In return for helping to keep this path clear and accessible, CROWS agreed to provide safe storage for both groups' Husqvarna multi-tool.  They could then be properly serviced and maintained as required, and used on other paths throughout the area in the upper Calder Valley in which CROWS operate.

P.S. A sad ending... 

Unfortunately, we later received this message about the fate of our pigeon from the good folk up at 'Full of Joy':

'Your chap was incredibly ill, I'm afraid. He had a huge abscess on his right leg that had infected the bone and smaller one on his left foot. The larger one had eaten and destroyed a lot of his leg. The kindest thing was to say goodbye. I'm really sorry. But you saved him from a long, painful death.'

LUDDENDEN FOOT

 Willow Wood, Booth House Road Luddenden Foot ( Hebden Bridge 056).

Neil B and Paul D replaced half a dozen rotted steps and revetment in Willow Wood today. It was a lovely setting working on this ROW that leads via stepping stones over a rivulet and then slightly uphill through the wood. It is a well-used route for local dog walkers and, as the day brightened, you could appreciate why they choose this particular path.

Blue Arrow indicating the work site.

The work was funded by Luddenden Civic Society. Thank you.

The path entrance off Booth House Road was clogged by branches from a recent storm-damaged tree. We cleared what we could away from the track so we could park the car to unload materials and tools. It was then a short carry through the field to the stream below.

Path entrance via the gate

The job was earmarked in May when CROWS volunteers put in a markerpost by the steps and noted how rotten they had become.

Before photo showing rotted steps.

We removed the rotted length of revetment (on the right hand side in the photo) and replaced it.

New length installed.

We then set about removing all of the existing six rotted steps.

Three replaced by lunchtime!

After lunch we got down to business and installed the next three steps. The ground was stony in places so that favourite stand-by (brute force) was needed to make holes for the step stobs.

Neil getting stuck in!

Once the new steps were in place we finished by bedding-in the new 'furniture' with soil and stones.

Photo from the top - all completed!

Colden: Shaw Bottom steps . . . and the hidden is revealed

 Colden: Down, down, down from Shaw Bottom Farm!

On a day of light patchy drizzle, Steve, Jan and Frank worked on a short (very short!) section of the Pennine Way that coincides with Right of Way Blackshaw 028. (see map)

1. The worksite: Down from Shaw Bottom to the blue 'pin'

The task was to clear all path surfaces and adjoining walls of invasive growth (bracken, bramble, birch sprigs and miscellaneous weeds) so walkers on this popular path to Hebble Hole would have a safer journey. It might look to be a short distance on the map but it is steep terrain mainly consisting of stone steps! This work was funded by a partnership of Natural England and Calderdale Council Highways.

The Detail.

Start of session . . .

2. Narrow walled-path: overgrowth is rampant!

The work begins . . . Overgrowth is cut-back, dug-out and weeded before surface mulch is either scraped or brushed away.

3. Top section - clean as a whistle!

4. Middle section: more of the same.

In some places we left foxglove plants undisturbed. They produce a vivid Spring/Summer display at the edges of such paths and provide a colourful contrast to the side-walls. A warning, however. As attractive as foxgloves may seem, most of the plant is toxic! (Try an on-line search to find the interesting range of side effects!)

5. More walled-path:  'sample' foxgloves left in place.

Nearer to Colden Water, the path goes very steeply down a long, long flight of stone steps. Despite being overgrown and heavy with weeds, the steps were stable and in good (ish) condition. We cut-back, scraped, brushed and did some minor in-filling with aggregate to give widened access.

6. Stone steps (lots of them) cleared!

Clearing tasks sometimes reveal a curiosity! To one side of the path, completely buried in a massive tangle of overgrowth, was a stone platform and three stone supports for a stone 'bench' (see pictures). It's placed where weary travellers half-way up the steps could rest and enjoy the view down to Hebble Hole.

7. Stone seat being revealed . .  .

8. . . . . and here it is!

The seat of the stone bench is missing. Restoration might be a task suitable for CROWS.

Many thanks to the owners (AKA Jan and Jan) at Shaw Bottom Farm for the parking facilities and the post-work tea and scones (plus jam!) . . . a very tasty end to a successful day.

MIDGEHOLE - below the Blue Pig and Midgehole Lane

 This was a follow-up visit by Jan and Gareth to sort out some drainage prior to re-laying new aggregate. The fingerpost issue had already been sorted by someone (thank you) so we had time to start the cutting back work on Midgehole Lane. This work was funded by donations to CROWS. 

 

LUDDENDFOOT - the path to Kershaw Estate

 Carla, Rich D, Jerry and Sean went to clear this path for a third time in so many years. There were several recurring problems of encroaching vegetation - mainly Brambles and Snowberry. This work was funded by the Luddenden Mayor's fund. 

 STONE STEPS FROM THE MAIN ROAD

The problem with this section of path is that the Brambles are rooted in the stone walls and overgrow onto the steps every year. It's not clear what the long term solution is! 

 

The problem

After clearance

THE SNOWBERRY

A rapacious plant that can easily disguise a footpath. 

There is a path somewhere

 A wide path now exists. 

We also identified a possible safety issue due to a collapsed fence at the top of the stone steps.