Back Lane - Part 3
Today's team sent to do battle with Back Lane (Ripponden 003), above The Alma PH in Cotton Stones, consisted of Angus, Frank S, Paul and Kasher.
The previous two sessions had made significant progress with most of the vegetation being cleared from this sunken walled lane, but now the greater problem was the volume of water flowing down (and across) the track.
Today's work consisted of trying to encourage the water into a ditch-drain which had been created at the side of the footpath. We had had great hopes for the effectiveness of a large drainage pipe which we uncovered last week. We thought that by clearing and unblocking this pipe we would be able to direct the surface water away from the track, but unfortunately, we found the pipe was less than three metres long! Although it has now been cleared and water is flowing, the pipe cannot cope with the torrents flowing down the hillside.
However, a "footpath" of flat stones has been created along this route so, at least, people can walk above the sea of mud! As the path was being cleared, we found evidence (at least in parts) of a stone surface. When (if?) this route dries out we may investigate how much of this original surface still exists..
We also cleared a set of stone steps on the footpath from Weather Hill (Ripponden 001) that joins the above route. Two large, gap-stile stone posts are an indication of how important these routes used to be.
We will need to return to this task to create a footpath for a 20 to 30 m central section which is exceptionally wet and muddy. We also need to prevent cattle wandering down this footpath by reinstating a damaged barrier.
With care, this path is walkable but it may be better to wait until the mud dries out before venturing down it in anything but the most waterproof of footwear!
Funding for this work has been provided by Calderdale Council Highways. Many thanks.
Details:
As the day wore on, it became progressively wetter and the mud became deeper . . . and stickier! At lunch time we'd reached a decision point . . . were we making the path better or worse?! We were all exceptionally wet and very muddy. Mmm - time to call it a day! There'll be drier times ahead.
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| Paul, Angus and Frank S in a tangle of brambles and the ever-invasive Himalayan Balsam. |
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| Cutting back . . . but look at that water! |
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| The water now directed into a ditch and stone underfoot. |
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| Stone steps revealed. |
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| Paul and Angus . . . and mud! |
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| Angus, Paul and Kasher . . . and even more mud! |
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| The route towards the end of the session - drier in places?. |
