There were four teams out from Todmorden today. A whole series of tasks had been planned but by mid-morning with the snow falling thick and fast the teams retreated!
1) David, Ken and Frank H went to Keelham Farm off Eastwood Road to do further work on the gate for footpath Tod 015. Despite the biting wind and driving sleet they managed to install the closure post. Commonsense then prevailed over valour and they retreated (not without some difficulty) down icy roads to the somewhat calmer valley. Another short session will be needed to complete this task and to tidy up the site. There are also a number of other outstanding jobs in the immediate area (e.g. waymarking and drainage).
2) RJ, Neil M and Neil Mc carried out repairs on Back Lane (footpath Tod 031) near Pex Tenements. Here the stream had undermined the causey stones on the path which had then collapsed into the stream. The rebuilt path will need back-filling once the groundwork has settled.
A new marker post was also added at the junction of Tod 031 and Tod 032.
3) Gareth and Mick: installed a marker post at the junction of Tod 086, on the trackway from Knott Road towards Hartley Royd.
4) Catherine and Kasher after acting as Sherpas, went up Meadow Bottom to repair the bridge above Bents Clough on Tod 029 and to do some cutting back along the track. The marker post which was scheduled to be added to the CW nearby will be put in on a drier and warmer day!
Today's work has been funded by individual donations to CROWS. Many thanks.
Details/Photos:
Team 1) No photos taken today - camera mechanism frozen , , , along with the photographer's fingers!
Team 2) CROWS had repaired this pathway three or four years ago. Unfortunately the adjacent stream had undermined part of the track and the causey stones had slipped under the original revetment. Today's task was to limit further loss of the causey by re-establishing (and deepening) the revetment, rebuilding the pathway and clearing the stream to reduce scouring.
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| Earlier picture in dry conditions of the causey stones which had collapseded into the stream! |
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| Wetter conditions but the bank is now protected by stonework and enhanced revetment. |
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| The repaired path . . . and a very wet CROW!. |
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| The repaired path . . . more in-fill will be need! |
Team 3) We had planned to add a number of marker posts to routes. However, this was the only one completed before being forced off the hill by deteriorating conditions.
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| Gareth and a vertical marker post! |
Team 4) The bridge over Bents Clough (between Scrapers Lane and Ratcher Farm) was repaired last year. However, this is such a damp location that timbers (even if tanalised) tend to have a limited 'lifespan'. We cleaned up the walkway of the bridge, replaced one cross-tread and then, along the track, cut back the intrusive holly.
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| Bents Clough: One clean bridge with a new cross-tread. |
