After the glorious summer we've had, we'd forgotten what it was like to be working in the wind and rain and the MUD! Paul, Kasher and Eleanor set out today to repair a much neglected stile on a field path that leads up to Ringstone Reservoir.
The job ! It was impossible to get anywhere near the stile until we'd cleared away the vegetation and re-built the stone steps up to the stile from Heys Lane.
Not the most flattering picture of Paul, perhaps, as he and Kasher struggled to get the old treadboard out. However, it was re-usable, so the effort was worthwhile.
Finally we got out the treadboard but one of the step legs was clearly rotten. Luckily the other leg was sound.
cKasher up to her armpits digging a hole for the new step-leg.
Finally, the treadboard and its new leg were done. The stone steps were cleaned off and re-postioned.. The job wasn't finished though as we ran out of timber and, given the relentless conditions . . . willpower!
We replaced some vegetation to the left of the stile to prevent sheep escaping from the field and will be back soon to finish the task....... Oh, and in the undergrowth we discovered the old fingerpost marking the path to Ringstone. It needed a good fettle so it was taken back to the depot for drying out and restoration!
This work was funded by a grant from Ripponden Parish Council and donations to CROWS.
