ERRINGDEN & CRAGG VALE

 i) East of Stoodley Pike and  ii) along Cragg Vale

i ) Jerry and Andrew took on the role of the CROWS' emergency call-out team to respond to a problem on the boardwalks between the Pennine Way and Dick's Lane (footpaths Erringden 012 and Erringden 028). These rights-of-way (for walkers) over very soft ground are very heavily used and the combined effects of a bearer shifting and an anchoring stob shearing resulted in the boardwalk 'bouncing' under load! 

Despite the very wet ground conditions the bearer was repositioned, packed and then screwed to the stringer while the stob was realigned and re-nailed. Here's the result:

1. Boardwalk restored!

ii) The section of footpath in Cragg Vale that starts from near the Hinchliffe Arms leads to a simple but extremely slippery footbridge - the finger of blame points to the adjacent small waterfall! 

Staples were hammered into the bridge timbers to improve grip.

2. The two-plank bridge and its wet neighbour!

Further along this path, just beyond some recent revetment work done by CROWS, a tree root forms a significant trip hazard. Rather than cut the tree root (!) a small boulder was positioned behind the root and two 'natural steps' were created. This was a big improvement for what was relatively minimal effort - Mmm! If only all jobs were like this!

3. The perspective is deceptive but 
'natural steps' eliminate the trip hazard.

Today's tasks were funded from individual donations to CROWS. Many thanks.