A drizzly Friday morning in Todmorden. At the end of May we could have hoped for a better day but heigh-ho. . . two teams set forth.
1 David and Andrew: replacing steps on a footpath off Allescholes Road, Walsden
2 Mick and Catherine: cutting back on TOD 29 route over to Ratcher Clough in preparation for restoring stile in the very near future. Also post erected at junction of TOD 97 the old route up to Hartley Royd & TOD 86.
Today's work was funded by Todmorden Town Council. Many thanks.
Team 1:
Both teams set out for Allescholes Road where the wood for the new steps was unloaded and carried to the site. Unfortunately the risers we had taken were too shallow so Mick and Catherine nipped back to base to get some deeper ones. Meanwhile David and Andrew started to cut back to make access to the site easier. They worked on the top section and put in five new steps. There is plenty more to do on this steep staircase of a path including lots more steps, revetment and a handrail.
It would be untrue to say no Crows were harmed in the course of the day. In the short time it took for the correct timber to be delivered the guys had already been seriously midged! Leaving them with some repellent spray the others departed. We did ask for their comments at the end of the session but decided not to print them!
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| The damaged steps revealed after cutting back. |
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| Some are completely broken. All need replacing. |
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| The team start at the bottom of the top flight. |
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| And they work their way up... |
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| Nearly at the top now... |
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| Ta-da! Upper flight completed. We'll be back! |
Team 2:
Mick and Catherine worked on three smaller jobs.
1. Catherine cut back on the path down from the steps where team one were working to where it crosses Allesholes Road and meets a bridleway. They checked posts and replaced bridleway signs that were completely faded.
2. The pair then drove to a site above Ratcher Clough and where a broken stile was inaccessible. They cut back and assessed the requirements in readiness for repairs in the near future.
3. Then it was off to put a post in on the route up to Hartley Royd.
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| New post in place. |
