Andy, Charlie, Graham, Jerry and Angus met at Mill Fold to start the day's work programme . . . which was well overdue having been surveyed originally back in November!
Jerry and Andy set off to remove a fallen tree on Hanging Stones Lane which had been reported last week as a footpath blockage. The remainder of the team headed to Blackwood Farm to repair a damaged flight of steps (see Map).
The area circled in red marks the location of the steps.
The steps to be repaired were on the path which went from the Long Causeway road and over Dog Hill. The steps, leading out of Blackwood Farm yard, were reasonably intact but the safety rail had collapsed against the farmer's garage where the narrow steep banking was undermined.
The extent of the failure of the safety rail next to the garage.
The path, reasonably well used by walkers and fell runners, has now become hazardous due to the collapse of the banking into which the original posts had been embedded. Having removed and dismantled the old structure we found the timber to be in sound enough condition for re-use:- 'Waste not, want not!'
With little left of the original bank we decided to narrow the path slightly, so that firm ground was available for installing the posts. Additionally, the first step had all but vanished so a new riser was fitted. (see picture)
New riser and three safety rail posts secured.
The repair completed using old posts at both ends, a new central post and the original rails.
Slightly narrower . . . but considerably safer!
Having cleared the fallen tree branches at Hanging Stones Lane, Andy and Jerry went with Graham who had identified tasks on the footpaths leading from Baitings Reservoir to Lower Wormald. They made good a rickety stile (circled on the map below) and cut-back some overgrowing trees where the path ran behind some farm buildings.
Damaged stile circled and the area of cutting-back outlined in red.
Exposed barbs! We encased these with heavy-duty pipe insulation . . . hopefully ripped clothing or worse (!) will now be avoided.
Overgrown trees restricted passage on this tricky path:- access now improved.
There is still more to do on this path; reinstate fallen fingerposts, add more stepping stones to the particularly narrow and muddy section and fit waymarkers.
Today's work, enlivened by the sounds of Curlews and Lapwings, was funded by general, public donations to CROWS - many thanks.
