Haven Wood area: Stairway to Haven?
A calm day with occasional drizzle for Ian S to drive skillfully up Spencer Lane, past Great Jumps to park near Little Jumps - many thanks to the householder - before embarking, with help from second Sherpa (aka Frank H), on a carry of tools and equipment to the work site.
The footpath (Hebden Royd 045) goes down from the track between Little Jumps and Haven to pass near Haven Wood before reaching Wood Hey Lane.
The path has been heavily scoured by water action and inappropriate use, with the section shown being particularly difficult to negotiate.
Improvements posed a slight dilemma. Should steps be constructed in a widened version of the channel on the right or be installed further to the left?
We opted for the latter on the grounds that this is the route often favoured by walkers; it involves least damage to a fragile area and will be less prone to being washed or worn away.
Six steps in place!
What was needed? A combination of skill, effort and energy and, with waterproofs being donned intermittently, the shedding of a fair amount of sweat!
However, as the picture shows:-
Minimum disruption of the ground, flat horizontal tread areas, banked edges and a graceful set of 200 mm risers up the worst part of this slope.
We were pleased with the outcome but think the tread areas may need further consolidation after a few months - a lot depends on footfall and rainfall.
The other issue is to decide if more steps are needed immediately above and below this flight. Another six would not come amiss . . . but all depends on funding!
Today's work was possible because of public donations to CROWS. Many thanks.
