Paul and Frank H embarked on a series of tasks in sheltered but wet locations.
Task 1: Charlestown: Knott Wood
Earlier this year CROWS re-built a wall and installed a fence on the path through Knott Wood.
The picture shows the up-slope side of the fence. Our work today was to 'lay' some of the smaller 'tree' growth to form the basis of a 'green' hedge that would flourish parallel to the fence. The only available growth is just visible to the right, on the down-slope side of the fence.
Work in progress:
The holly and birch is mainly from one clump. This is not ideal for hedge-laying but differing lengths of stems allow the gaps between stakes (difficult to spot) to be bridged.
This 'hedge', although sparse at the moment, should grow and thicken over the next few seasons to provide a green screen, a resistance to erosion, an additional barrier and a wildlife habitat - provided that the holly survives the festive season!
This work was funded by a local donation.
Task 2: Eaves Road
A new lamp-post has been installed (Council work, not CROWS'!) but it lacks a public footpath 'flag'.
Work in progress:
Overhanging foliage cleared from around the lamp-post.
More growth cleared and the appropriate marker flag securely in place and clearly visible.
The 505 on the lamp-post is a bit of a mystery. We presume it is a Council identification code although, by weird coincidence, it is also the driving distance (in km) from Hebden Bridge to Bournemouth!
Mmm!
Perhaps we should move on to something more useful . . .
task 3.
Task 3: Cragg Hall Wood
Joined by Frank S we went to check on a collapsed revetment in Cragg Hall Wood but found the path blocked by a major beech limb that had torn away from the parent tree.
The picture was taken after much of the tangle of beech branches had been cleared - this is the last section to be dealt with.
Hanging tree limbs can 'spring' swiftly (and very dangerously) when a saw-cut releases structural tensions so it might look here as if Frank is giving Paul a 'health and safety' warning. However, the saw-cut has not yet been made - they were both just posing for the camera!
More posing . . . but the path is now clear of any obstruction.
Further up the path was the collapsed revetment:
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| Collapsed revetment |
Here is the revetment. The slope is steeper than it looks. We did the following;
* pulled the revetment up onto the path and cut off the remnants of the rotten stobs.
*cleared debris from the slope's edge where the revetment had been.
*re-fixed the revetment with long stobs and back-filled the gaps at path level.
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| Work in progress: revetment being re-fixed. |
This is a temporary measure to secure the path edge. Further work will involve renewing the old revetment, installing additional revetment and building steps. Lots to keep us busy . . . once we get the funding.
