Flailcroft: flights of steps (session 2)
An increasingly clear and sunny day saw Kasher and Frank H carry out further work on the flights of steps just below Flailcroft Farm. These steps form part of the footpath (Todmorden 082) that leads down to Scaitcliffe Wood and provides spectacular views across the valley.
Today's task was to work principally on the lower flight of steps to remove the old and rotten; cut new step profiles; fit new risers; pin them with anchoring stobs and generally landscape all the work done so far in this section.
The work is being funded by a donation from the Todmorden Wind Farm Fund accessed through the 'Community Foundation for Calderdale'. Many thanks.
The detail
1. The Start
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This shows the section to be worked on. The steps in view are in fact part of the old flight. Although, at first glance they seem to be in fair condition, a closer inspection reveals rotting stobs, decaying riser edges, sloping tops, collapsing tread areas, irregular spacing and risers that are too high.
2. Work in progress
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Each step profile is cut out of the banking and a riser is installed. The ideal fit gives a flat tread area backed by a riser with a vertical front face, a horizontal top and firmly anchored by two vertical stobs. Mmm! Easier said than done!
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Each tread area is then pounded down, scraped flat and landscaped at the edges. Progress overall was slow - the ground was rock-hard, risers had to be shaped to accommodate a water pipeline running down one edge of the flight and excess in-fill had to be distributed to level-off other parts of the flight . . . however, eventually . . .
3 End of session.
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So far, so good . . . but a long way yet to go!
In addition to the above, we fine-tuned one step on the upper flight, stacked all old timbers and as a separate task did a 'watering run' for the trees planted in the small, individual enclosures on Flower Scar Road. Growth is looking good!
Other sessions on the steps will take place in forthcoming weeks with the engaging puzzle of how to gain height on a banking of varying steepness while maintaining adequate tread platform. Mmm! Lots of brain work!
