RJ, Fred and Kasher returned to Greystone Lane (Todmorden 011) to tackle problems on the upper stretch of this footpath. Unfortunately, since the water trough in the nearby field had run dry, thirsty cattle were venturing onto the path to drink from the adjacent ditch. This has caused the ditch to become blocked and water to overflow down the slope to mix with cattle dung . . . a recipe for a most unpleasant slurry!
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| 1. The overflowing ditch. |
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| 2. Slurry! Any colour you like . . .as long as it's brown! |
Our tasks (for the next two sessions) are to:
a) stop the cattle getting too far up this footpath.
b) reinstate the ditch to divert water from the path.
c) cut back any major foliage (in preparation for strimming next week).
d) improve the path surface (once it has dried out).
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| 3. A day when waders would have been better than wellies! |
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| 4. Fred and RJ in deep thought about today's strategy! |
At the end of the session it was difficult to judge if a permanent solution had been achieved. However, the water is now flowing more freely down the reinstated ditch; the fence across the footpath is stabilised (with cross-rails being added to reduce the likelihood of cattle moving up the track); and overhanging vegetation and the ever-invasive brambles have been cut back.
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| 5. A drier section of the footpath. |
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| 6. Lower sections of the path and a stabilised fence. |
We will be back next week (hopefully!) to see if the path has dried out sufficiently for large stones to be placed to form a firmer route. We will also strim the vegetation, starting at the top of the path, near Greystone and reinstate two marker posts further down the path towards Mount Pleasant.
Currently this is not a path to walk down without wellies, walking poles (and possibly a snorkel!), but our next session should see further improvements.
Today's work was funded by individual donations to CROWS. Many thanks.
