Three teams working around here today.
Team 1:
Paul, Stella and Ian S repaired and replaced rotting, missing and overgrown steps on the permissive path leading downhill from Stephenson House at the end of Burlees Lane. A couple more steps and some gravel infilling to do next week, when we'll repair the stile at the bottom of the steps too.
It was beginning to feel like Spring at last - no rain, hail or snow, a green woodpecker laughing in the woods and a buzzard mewing overhead. A good day to be a Crow!
Work funded by Mytholmroyd Walkers' Action with funds from Luddendenfoot Ward Forum.
Team 2:
Not 20 m away from Stella and co, in the same fine and sunny conditions, Fred, Ray and Frank H worked on two tasks.
Task 1 - a wayward boardwalk.(no pictures for this)
A nearby boardwalk, original constructor unknown, had an adverse camber - walkers could slide off it!! Fred investigated the problem and, initially assisted by Frank H, levelled and re-stabilised the whole structure. Frank was muttering about 'wrong size of bearers', 'no pinning of stringers to bearers, 'not enough stobs', 'no overlap 'plates' where boardwalk sections join' and other unfathomable technicalities ... but he can be very 'picky'!
Task 2 - a two-step stile with dog-gate.
This was the principle task for the day. Ray and Frank started the work to be joined later by Fred.
Here's the stile shortly after the work commenced.
At first glance, this stile appears to be perfectly adequate. However, closer inspection and some waggling of the stile-uprights and the step-legs revealed the following type of problem:
Some sections of the stile, however, could be re-cycled: namely, part of one upright and sections of cross-rail. Work continued so that by lunch-time, despite some difficult ground conditions, we have:-
By the end of the afternoon, all the step-legs were in place, treadboards had been fitted, a dog-gate upright was in position and cross rails had been fixed.
All-in-all, a long but very successful day. There are one or two minor 'finishing-off' items:- some 'landscaping', adjustments to the dog-gate and suitable waymarks but they will be done next week.
Team 3:
Meanwhile, on an adjacent hillside, Ginny and Rich were doing some waymarking and carrying out a 'recce' for further work on the Children's Walks.
Team 1:
Paul, Stella and Ian S repaired and replaced rotting, missing and overgrown steps on the permissive path leading downhill from Stephenson House at the end of Burlees Lane. A couple more steps and some gravel infilling to do next week, when we'll repair the stile at the bottom of the steps too.
It was beginning to feel like Spring at last - no rain, hail or snow, a green woodpecker laughing in the woods and a buzzard mewing overhead. A good day to be a Crow!
 |
| Looking downhill before we started |
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| The section where steps had disappeared altogether |
 |
| And looking uphill |
 |
| ....yes, it fits |
 |
| Here we go.... |
 |
| Looking up the new steps... |
 |
| ......and down |
 |
| The full flight |
Work funded by Mytholmroyd Walkers' Action with funds from Luddendenfoot Ward Forum.
Team 2:
Not 20 m away from Stella and co, in the same fine and sunny conditions, Fred, Ray and Frank H worked on two tasks.
Task 1 - a wayward boardwalk.(no pictures for this)
A nearby boardwalk, original constructor unknown, had an adverse camber - walkers could slide off it!! Fred investigated the problem and, initially assisted by Frank H, levelled and re-stabilised the whole structure. Frank was muttering about 'wrong size of bearers', 'no pinning of stringers to bearers, 'not enough stobs', 'no overlap 'plates' where boardwalk sections join' and other unfathomable technicalities ... but he can be very 'picky'!
Task 2 - a two-step stile with dog-gate.
This was the principle task for the day. Ray and Frank started the work to be joined later by Fred.
Here's the stile shortly after the work commenced.
 |
| The original stile. |
At first glance, this stile appears to be perfectly adequate. However, closer inspection and some waggling of the stile-uprights and the step-legs revealed the following type of problem:
 |
| Step-leg rotted away! |
 |
| Dog-gate upright rotted away! |
 |
| Side-upright rotted away! |
Some sections of the stile, however, could be re-cycled: namely, part of one upright and sections of cross-rail. Work continued so that by lunch-time, despite some difficult ground conditions, we have:-
 |
| New side-uprights permanently in place. Step-legs ... in progress! |
By the end of the afternoon, all the step-legs were in place, treadboards had been fitted, a dog-gate upright was in position and cross rails had been fixed.
 |
| Dog-gate finished. Frank and Fred re-attaching the stock fencing. |
 |
| The finished product! |
All-in-all, a long but very successful day. There are one or two minor 'finishing-off' items:- some 'landscaping', adjustments to the dog-gate and suitable waymarks but they will be done next week.
Team 3:
Meanwhile, on an adjacent hillside, Ginny and Rich were doing some waymarking and carrying out a 'recce' for further work on the Children's Walks.
 |
| The entrance to Hill House Farm |
