What a fantastic day to be out. Brilliant views up to Bridestones and down towards Orchan Rocks and Todmorden . . . once the early morning mist had cleared!
A team of Neil Mc (welcome back), Andrew, Catherine and Kasher dismantled a two-step stile and the associated dilapidated fencing and replaced it with a new two-step stile, uprights, cross-rails and a dog gate.
This is an open access stile where the path leads to the top of Orchan Rocks and is on the route of the first section of the Fielden Trail.
Thanks are due to Gareth, Neil M and Mick for assisting us with the very long carry of tools and timbers from Hartley Royd over a saturated Hudson Moor to the worksite.
Details:
The first job of the day involved the removal of the old stile, with all four rotten legs coming out relatively easily. We then removed the antiquated dog gate and two very rotten uprights whilst trying to salvage as many of the cross-rails as possible. The "porters" then managed to transport useful timbers back to Tod to be dried out, fettled and eventually reused.
We installed three new uprights and the stile steps. Fortunately we could minimise the amount of digging by reusing some of the old post holes.
The installation of the new dog gate will make it easier for those on a 'dog walk', but we may need to return if the dog gate 'side gaps' prove to be slightly too wide and insufficiently 'lambproof'.
Today's work has been funded by a Calderdale Council Ward Forum grant and by individual donations to CROWS. Many thanks.
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| Location: The open access stile on Hudson Moor. |
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| Into the mist: Setting off from Hartley Royd with tools and timbers. |
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| Before: The state of the dilapidated stile and fence requiring repair. |
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| In progress: Andrew removing one of the rotten uprights. |
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| In progress: Catherine clearing out the holes for the side uprights and the stile step "legs". |
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| In progress: Andrew and Neil Mc installing the second upright post. |
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| In progress: Kasher and Andrew completing the dog gate. |
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| Weary plod: Catherine on the long carry back to the cars . . . |
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| End result: The fence, the dog gate and the stile. |
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| The fence, the dog gate and the stile towards the end of the day. |
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| Quality control: Giving us the nod! |