TODMORDEN: A cornucopia of Cornholme tasks

 Cornholme: 

On a blue-sky day when the temperature barely rose above 0oC, Kasher, Gareth and Frank H worked on three tasks in the Cornholme area:

Task 1: Installing a two-seater bench on the level patch of ground at the end of the new footpath (Todmorden 216) which, starting from Pudsey Road, contours around the hillside to meet the existing right-of-way which leads up to Shore New Road. (see map)

Task 2: In the same area, removing detached, damaged or redundant plastic guards from the now well-established trees.

Task 3: Further up the hillside (near Hartley Royd), installing two low, yellow-topped marker poles to clarify a right-of-way.

The bulk of today's work has been funded by 'Active Calderdale'. Many thanks for your support.

The detail:

Task 1:

The new path (Todmorden 216) follows a well-used desire line and is a very popular local walk - especially for dogs and their humans.

1. Blue tag: marks the worksite.

The detail:

The plan was to install a two-seater bench on a flat section of land which, as well as being in a sunny location, offered views over Cornholme. The bench was pre-built in CROWS' depot by Ken, Steve and Frank H and looks like this:

2. Upside-down two-seater (resting on work bench).
The timber is tanalised and has three coats of a
waterproof preservative and a layer of 'Creosolve'
on the leg sections that will be buried.

3. The two-seater: the correct way
up . . . but not yet buried!

4. The digging begins: four leg-holes at
a depth to give a horizontal seat.

5. Down it goes: Bench being lowered
into holes prior to packing

6. End result: Stable, legs vertical and exactly
the right height. . . and that's just Kasher!

This was a very pleasing outcome. The bench is well-packed into the ground so is secure and stable with a level 'platform'.  Walkers enjoy!

Task 2:

While Gareth and Frank installed the bench, Kasher pitched into the collecting or removal of redundant tree guards. These are plastic tubes, supported by a stake, that protect small saplings from being nibbled by hungry sheep or deer. As a sapling grows it will often split the plastic so the guard may fall to the ground but sometimes the guard may act a restriction and hinder future development of the sapling. It is common practise to clear away or remove tree guards once they have served their purpose.

1. Well-established saplings - outgrowing their tree guards.

2. Redundant guards: Now unsightly so collected for disposal.

Task 3:

Hartley Royd is a magnificent yeoman clothiers house (and farm) dating back, at least in part, to the early 17th century. It's at the end of Blue Bell Lane which leads off from the hairpin junction of Pudding Lane and Gall Lane. 

Several rights-of-way run close to this property and over the years CROWS have carried out repairs or rebuilds of several stiles as well as providing markers to clarify path directions.

Today's task was to install two markers some 600 m SW of Harley Royd where the choice of route could be confusing.

Usually markerposts are not too exciting so we only have these picture!

1. "Is this vertical, Kasher?" . . . 
"Nowhere near. Do it again!"

2. "Come on, Frank!" "We need a hole, not a dimple. Hit it harder!"

Final mystery:

Overall this was a successful day in finger-nipping, cold conditions but we were left with a little mystery. 

Very near to task 1, an addition had been made to a low, yellow-topped square-section markerpost.

Here it is:

1. 'Artist' unknown. 

We are not sure if this is graffiti (which CROWS cannot condone), an indicator for a particular route or a wishful plea by a weary walker . . . . if the latter, then there's now a bench not 5 m away!