Today's team of Angus, Andy, RJ and Kasher tackled an extremely overgrown path in Colden (on footpath Heptonstall 033). Its amazing what four volunteers with hedge trimmers, brush cutters and extremely sharp shears and loppers can do!
This overgrown path was reported to CROW a few weeks ago and has now reached the top of the pile of jobs . . . it may have been slightly easier to have cleared this path before the laurel and brambles started their vigorous growth but the path has now been cut-back to provide an easy-access pleasant walk with stunning views!
The laurel and the conifers were checked before we started working to ensure that we were not disturbing any nesting birds. All the laurel cuttings were bagged up for taking to the tip but the extremely vigorous brambles will need another cutting back later in the season as many of them, being well and truly rooted within the field wall, were impossible to fully cut out.
Many thanks to the resident of one of the houses which backs onto this footpath for the very welcome "brew" in the middle of the morning.
Please use this path as increased footfall will help to keep it 'open'.
This work was funded by Calderdale Highways. Many thanks.
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| Heptonstall 033 off Smithy Lane in Colden. |
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| The path was almost impassable. |
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| Brambles, nettles, laurel, overhanging branches and stones (which had fallen off the wall) barred the way. |
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| The path is in there . . . somewhere! |
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| The first section of laurel has been cut and the way is already becoming clearer. |
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| RJ clearing up the trimmed laurel. |
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| Andy, RJ and Angus working out how much more laurel would fit into the large, white, builders' bags . . . |
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| . . . and then trying to get the bags into the two vehicles . . . |
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| A path! Clear at last! |
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| The laurel, now heavily pruned to create a walkable path (compare with first photo!). |
