A team of three (Jan, Steve and Kasher) worked on a number of tasks along the path (BS 087) adjacent to Hippins Clough in Blackshaw Head today.
The jobs included: fitting a replacement dog gate; cutting back Goat Willow; working on the bridge across the clough to strengthen the hand rail; re-installing yellow topped marker posts which had been used as convenient rubbing posts by the resident suckler herd; clearing the stone steps down to the clapper bridge; clearing the ditch under the small boardwalk to allow the water to flow under (rather than over) the boardwalk. Phew that's enough for three people!
Please note that this route is extremely wet and very muddy at the moment and is unlikely to improve if the cattle on the adjacent fields have access to the clough. However, we will return to see whether improvements can be made to the drainage on the section between Hippins Bridge and the wooden bridge.
Funding for today's work has come from the friends and family of Sheena McKerrrel, a keen walker who lived in BSH.
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| The route along Hippins Clough. |
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| The handrail on this bridge needed attention. |
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| Steve and Jan sorting out bridge repairs. |
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Using the long hex head screws to stabilise the handrail.
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| Jan sorting out the excess trim. |
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Hopefully the bridge and handrail will be good
for a while longer. |
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| Jan and Steve clearing the stone steps. |
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| The cleared steps |
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| Reinstating the yellow topped posts. |
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| Cutting back the goat willow. |
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| A replacement dog gate now installed. |
