Just 1 team out today.
At the top of Chapel Lane in Midgley is a small ravine reputed to have been created in the 19th Century by villagers digging out a poor grade coal seam. There is a footpath which runs along the top of one side of this ravine and which has suffered endless problems of collapse over the years; no doubt caused by the past history of the site. CROWS have worked here before and will probably have to return again some day to carry out further work.
Today, however, Gerald, Alistair (a new recruit), Ian, Frank S and Nigel went to the site to replace a waymark post, insert some new revetment to stabilize the path, and to sort out a drainage problem.
Alistair, the "high vis" new recruit, on the section to be repaired with revetment
Much activity on this rather dangerous section of path
Digging out the embankment and inserting the revetment has made a significant improvement
Looking back up the path towards the newly constructed section.
Meanwhile, there was also a drainage problem caused by water flowing off an adjacent field and then down the path for about 20 metres. To divert this flow, a channel was cut across the path and a length of flexible pipe inserted. Stones were then pitched vertically on either side before a top covering was added.
The water is now draining down into the adjacent valley rather than down the footpath!
Finally, a new marker post was installed on this popular route that leads up to "Churn Milk Joan" (a well known landmark on Midgley Moor and referred to in poetry by Ted Hughes).
The work today was funded by the Mytholmroyd Walker's Action Group