TODMORDEN: Lower Laithe, Back Lane & Keelham.

 Lower Laithe Farm, Back Lane (near Pex tenements) and Keelham Farm.

Two teams were out today working in cool, draughty but not unpleasant conditions.

Team 1 of Kasher and Catherine carried out stile repairs below Lower Laithe Farm on footpath Blackshaw 066 (see map).

They then moved to Back Lane to finish last week's tasks. 

Team 2 of Gareth and Frank H initially worked on gate fastenings at Lower Laithe Farm then moved to Keelham Farm (see map) to complete the gate installation (on Todmorden 015) that was 'snowed off' last week!

This work has been funded by individual donations to CROWS. Many thanks.

The Detail.

Team 1. Due to camera failure no photographs are available but a stile at Lower Laithe was repaired and, at Back Lane, revetment and steps were infilled, drainage ditches cleared and intrusive brambles and holly cut-back. An energetic shift by Kasher and Catherine.

Team 2. The task at Keelham has dragged-on for some weeks being disrupted in the main by appalling weather. However, in snow and rain free conditions, Gareth and Frank H pitched into the interesting tasks of constructing side-rails to link the gate-post to existing fencework and fitting a strong enough closure spring to combat winds blowing out of the East.

Here are overall 'before' and 'after' views of the work:

Before:  i).

Original state of the 'gate' . . . that familiar South
Pennine stand-by . . . an old, very heavy pallet!

After:   i).

View from the field side

Side rails linking the gate's closure-post to the original (somewhat dilapidated) stock fencing; closure loop (yellow) between closure-post and gate; closure spring between gate and hinge post, and a tidied approach to the gate.

After:  ii)

View from track side

Access to the gate is through the original, but partly collapsed, stone side-pillars of the squeeze gap. The gate opens into the field and is therefore stock resistant. It is self-closing and walkers should spot the bright yellow closure loop (see picture i) . . . and even be able to use it!