A team of RJ and Kasher returned to Slant Lane off Cross Stone Road (Tod 040) to complete work which was requested by Calderdale Highways. On 16 August Andrew and Kasher had toiled on this footpath to build a number of steps at the upper end near Scar Top. This has made the pathway easier to negotiate.
Today's task was to cut back the path from Scar Top down towards Little Cornwall. We had delayed the cutting back of this route to ensure that residents (both human and bird) were not deprived of the abundance of blackberries!
Although the top of the footpath had been cleared and strimmed by the residents of Scar Top, the middle section of the path was nearly impassable due to brambles. We have now cut back all the vegetation to the stone walls. This has widened the route to make it a much more pleasurable walk, with lovely views down the hillside.
Growth along this path has been prolific since CROWS last carried-out a cut back but this session saw the removal of rampant brambles and rhododendrons as well as large stands of nettles, the odd sapling (well rooted into the pathway!), low branches from the trees and some Himalayan Balsam which had already shed its seeds.
Today's work has been funded by Calderdale Highways. Many thanks. Thanks too to the residents of Scar Top who allowed us to park at the top of Slant Lane thus minimising the distance the tools needed to be carried.
Please walk this route to keep it open!
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| Footpath Tod 040 (aka Slant Lane). |
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| 1. Looks like a jungle, but this was the easier section of the path to clear. |
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| 2. Getting narrower . . . and narrower. |
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| 3. After the initial strimming, RJ attacked the rhododendrons etc with the hedge trimmer. |
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| 4. Rhododendrons! . . . taking over the path! |
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| 5. RJ recovering from a mammoth session of cutting back . . . but both walls of the lane are becoming visible. |
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| 6. Getting clearer. |
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| 7. The cleared pathway. What a contrast to picture 1. |
