Paul and Frank H went onto Midgley Moor to improve the path just above Wicken Farm.
The path, although popular with running groups, has a slippery-steep, overgrown section so cutting back and step construction were the tasks for the day.
Heather, gorse and bilberry were hacked, an action that widened the path but also made several hundred flies homeless. This was no problem ... for the flies - they just settled on Paul and Frank ("... they come not single flies, but in battalions."!) and, undeterred by a protective layer of jungle-expedition-quality repellent, munched their way through to skin level!
However, despite these hot, humid, sweaty, fly-swatting conditions the work proceeded and we were pleased with the outcome. Here is a 'before' (nearly) and 'after' pair of pictures:
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| Path partly cut back and first riser in place. |
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| First four steps completed with treads in-filled and the sides landscaped. |
Another section of the path (out of picture) was cut back, a supply of aggregate for next week's work was carried into position and a problematic stile near the golf course surveyed for a future job.
Hot, sweaty, a little weary and blue lipped we then retreated to the base at Mytholmroyd.
Mmm! Blue lipped ... was this joint simultaneous heart attacks? Perhaps not . . . blame the bilberries!
More next week (work that is, not bilberries)!
Work funded by individual donations.
