Nest Farm: stile
The fine weather continued for Rich and Frank H to salvage and rebuild a wrecked stile. Bernard (good to see you!), although conscripted by Eleanor and Lynda for most of the day, provided valuable help at the start and end of this task.
Here's a before picture:
Multiple problems!
Little that should be vertical is vertical:
Little that should be horizontal is horizontal.
Little that should be firm is firm,
Little that should be tight is tight.
Mmm!
Work in progress:
Rich engaged in the lesser-known sport of upright wrestling!
This side-upright was very firmly embedded but had a significant and permanent lean . . . possibly, but uselessly, indicating the location of some remote faraway galaxy!
Some time later:
One new right-hand stile upright.
One recycled left-hand stile upright.
Four cross-rails.
New pole at left-hand end for attachment of temporary fencing.
One new lower step on field side.
Miscellaneous wire fencing on right re-attached (without the barbs!) and suitably re-tensioned.
There may be some additional work to do here (waymark disks, a couple of standard steps on the path up to the stile etc) but the stile itself is user-friendly and provides a horse-proof barrier.
Meanwhile, a field away, Lynda, Eleanor and Bernard did mortal battle with a very narrow path that is bordered by a rusty, broken fence to one side and intruding bilberry bushes to the other.
As you can see, a bit of a squeeze ......
That's better.......
..... and further down the path, Bernard opened it up wider. Note to self though is to bring a mattock next time. Azads and spades do the business but it's harder work !
This work was funded with a grant from Ripponden Parish Council.
