CRAGG VALE - Green Bank, Marshaw Bank, Dauber Bridge

There were three teams out in Cragg Vale today. 

Team 1: Green Bank - more steps

Ray, Graham, and Frank S were at the top of the river path where it comes up a field below Greenbank Terrace. Some of the steps were repaired last week, and so our day started like this.

After several hours work the steps looked a great deal better with all the rotten risers replaced.

And the steps lower down were cleared, filled-in and levelled, instead of lost under the grass.

We then moved on to the the stone steps leading down to the river, which were seriously overgrown and in need of a good clean.

And soon they were in a much better state.

The work was supported by donations to CROWS.

Team 2: Marshaw Bank Farm - heavy lifting!

Rich and Frank H tackled overgrowth and drainage problems.

Before: Side growth encroaching
onto the path

After: Wider and clearer

 The path is steep and rocky underfoot. In wet conditions water streams down the path and scours the surface. A major turn-by that diverts the water is damaged and blocked.

This is the turn-by. Rainwater is supposed to flow to the left and soak away harmlessly into the hillside but quantities have been flowing down the fence line causing scour damage.

The plan was to:

* improve the level and alignment of the stonework of the turn-by

*level and clean-up the first two steps that lead down the path

*Dig a wider and deeper drainage channel that will sweep round to the left.

*Fortify the edge of this channel with substantial stonework.

Work in progress on the
stonework of the channel

View (looking upslope) of the
new drainage channel.

Although we had the threat of light rain this was mainly a dry, cool day ideal for digging, scraping and lots of heavy lifting. The large edge-stones are in firmly in place, the area behind the stones has been landscaped and the original channel has been widened and greatly extended.

This work was funded by a donation from the landowner who also fortified us with mugs of tea. Hooray! Many thanks.

Team 3: Dauber Bridge - more steps!

Following on from Monday's clearing of a humongous beech branch that had fallen across the path above the bridge, Billie and Paul set about installing some much needed steps to ease the footfall down the muddy, slippery slope to the bridge. 4 steps in all were designed, dangled, dropped into place and filled-in accordingly. Some additional work to be done to enhance safety- installing a length of revetment along the banking. 

Funded by donations to CROWS.