TODMORDEN: 1. Ramsden Wood and 2. Cranberry Dam

 1. Ramsden Wood - shoring up

A humid, energy-sapping day started with CALVAG arriving so promptly at the depot that Frank H was able to unload and stack a timber delivery before Ian V could arrive! 

Subsequently, the first task was to add another section of revetment to help shore-up the path that traverses a shale banking just above Ramsden Wood. Fortunately, the extra 3.6 m x 150 mm x 50 mm rail had already been delivered to the site by Ray (Thanks, Ray).

New revetment

       

Old path widened

 

(Above) New boards fixed to the old (but sound) support posts of the existing revetment which was being undermined. Additional long stobs have been driven in to improve the overall stability. There may be more to do here in a few years time!

(Right) The path above the boards, now levelled, is no longer subsiding and has been widened so that walkers (and local sheep) can keep away from the edge!

2. Cranberry Dam - steps and the attack of the flying ants!

A short drive to Ramsden Farm was followed by a longish walk with tools to the site of the steps. Fortunately, a double walk-in was avoided as Ken, who was working in the area, was able to carry a bag of stobs almost to the site (Thanks, Ken).

The day's work, in ever-increasing humidity, was to add another step to the North Bank, in-fill all tread areas with stone, construct a better stone step up from the stream to the South Bank and start cutting step profiles for the remaining South Bank steps. 

Nothing there that makes for an exciting picture but as an overview of progress we have:

Before work began

                  

Progress so far!

   

To help orientation, the large drainage pipe in the picture above is just visible on the extreme right of the other picture. There are still some steps to construct at the top of the South Bank. This will be next week's work.

Today's efforts were cut short by a battalion of voracious flying ants that took a special and somewhat sinister liking to Ian. Despite his application of industrial strength insect repellent, the ants continued their en-masse formic acid laden attacks. For some inexplicable reason Frank was virtually unaffected (he did try not to look too smug about this!) but we both judged it wiser to retreat back to the depot; slightly earlier than usual but useful for a major clean-up of tools.

Today's work was sponsored by the Crook Hill Windfarm Community Fund. The supplier of the ants is unknown!

3. Cranberry Dam - a stile and a table

Meanwhile, overlooking Cranberry Dam, Mick and Ken finished the stile that  Frank S and Ken were working on last week.

Stile: the work done last week

                                                             

Completed stile with very posh dog-gate!

                                                              

                                                  

Then . . . on to the 'picnic area' for table repairs.

Picnic table before repairs!

Repaired table undergoing heavy-duty
testing courtesy of Richard J!

This work was also sponsored by the Crook Hill Windfarm Community Fund.