Wednesday 15 September 2021

CRAGG VALE - River Path and Broad Head and Green Bank

There were three teams out today.

Team 1: On the river path

Paul and Frank S first of all helped carry two planks up the hill for Ray and Frank H to install as a revetment (more later). Then we returned to the river path where, on Monday, we were working on the fallen fence. The job was to tension the wires and complete the drainage works. Although the picture below looks much as it did on Monday, the fence is now pulled tight and stapled onto each of the new posts.


The difficult part of a wire fence is always the last post that pulls the wires tight. As this job aimed to improve the footpath rather than to improve the fence, we tethered the last post with an unconventional method - a tensioning wire anchored to the fallen tree trunk.



We then moved upstream to Spa Bridge where the finger post had fallen over quite a long time ago. Here's the work half-done with a spade in the new hole and the rotten end of the post being cut off.


Just below the newly replanted finger post is a set of steps and this is the view after we replaced one step. We then ran out of time, and so we'll be back next week to finish off with two further steps.


Team 2: Broad Head

Ray and Frank H started the day with a heavy carry uphill of tools and materials. Fortunately they were helped by two eager Sherpas - Paul and Frank S - who shouldered the revetment rails. Thanks guys.

The steep uphill climb raised a sweat that a very hot day combined with an energetic task did nothing to reduce. Here's the problem.


This is the public footpath that runs across the hillside just beyond Broad Head. The narrow path has collapsed down the steep banking.



The improvement work entailed:
*cutting back overhanging bracken
*digging and levelling to make the path wider
*re-aligning an existing short section of revetment
*installing two further lengths of revetment 
*banking and landscaping




Here's how the work progressed:

Mid-day: path widened and
revetment temporarily in place.
End of the session: A wider, safer and stabilised path.













This is a popular path especially at weekends. Surprisingly, today, we saw no walkers but a mountain biker did manage to come down the path, knock over a rucksack, skid into some of the freshly banked landscaping and express a view that he was within his rights to ride on the footpath 'because nobody had been prosecuted.' 
Other sections of this path are narrow, somewhat fragile of surface and exposed on the downhill side - robust and safe enough for footfall but not for more cavalier activities!

Team 3: Steps down from Green Bank

The steps down from Green Bank towards the river had been reported to be in bad condition so Eleanor, Billie and Ian V set out to try to remedy the situation.  The first task was to actually find the steps beneath the undergrowth.

Well hidden steps

Eleanor starts the clearing

Some steps were still serviceable and just needed clearing ..

.... but others had rotted away over the years




Two steps replaced ...
...and three more further down the hill



Some stone steps further down were also cleared but there is more to do. We think at least two more work parties will be required to complete the work and make this well used path much safer.

Today's work was supported by the Hebden Royd Mayor's Fund.