Ive House area: drainage and steps
Stella, Billie, Ray, Frank H and Frank S returned for a third successive session in this delightful location. They carried out a series of cutting back and clearance tasks some of which are described below.
Task 1. Field drain
On a local right-of-way, water runs from the fields above into this small sump, to then go under a path and wall, and eventually exit into a stone trough.
This picture show the sump cleaned out and the front edge banked up to prevent over-spill onto the path.
Water now runs slightly to the left then under the path.
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| Before |
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| After |
This is the exit point. The silt has been dug out of the stone trough and the culvert leading back to the sump (shown above) cleared and rodded.
The latter action was only partially successful - a blockage was encountered about 1.5 m into the culvert..
Task 2. Stream improvement
Two fields down from South Ive House, debris washed down by a stream had caused a blockage at the edge of a small weir so that water was flowing down and eroding a footpath.
Frank S and Stella clearing debris to direct water through the metal fencing
The debris was used to divert water away from the path and to repair the path surface.
Task 3. Lunch
This should be self-explanatory.
Sit down, relax, enjoy the sunshine, breathe the fresh air, listen to the birds and take in the wonderful views . . .
. . . all ample compensation for the sunburn, the nettle stings, the bramble scratches, the insect bites and the careless sitting in sheep poo!
This was the main task of the day and a direct continuation of last week's work.
This is where we had got to last week.
The perspective is slightly deceptive. It gives a foreshortened view - the stretch of path yet to be uncovered is longer than it seems.
A well-buried causey path had been found.
The surface is mainly large 'flats' with some 'pitched' stonework. and the edges are protected by 'pitched' stones.
The quality of construction is excellent and a tribute to the skill of the original builders.
This is where we got to at the end of today's session.
The path has been cleared to the end although at the very top, where some stonework was missing, we had to construct two steps.
This path has not been seen for several decades! It now directs walkers along the correct route and may discourage them from wandering aimlessly across grazing land.
Today's efforts were funded by a local donation.
