There were five people out on today's work party but with more than five different weather forecasts we decided to work on paths which were in the valley and out of the wind and possible sleet.
We did not find valley paths but managed to find some shelter from the worst of the weather on two paths above Todmorden: Back Lane and Greystone Lane.
Duncan and Neil Mc returned to Back Lane (Tod 031) to improve the section of shoring which had been installed to stop the clough eroding the narrow path. The high volume of water coming down this clough a few weeks ago, had started to undermine the previous timber shoring at this narrow point of the path.
Meanwhile, after helping Neil and Duncan to take timber and tools to their work site, Catherine, Kasher and Ken worked on Greystone Lane (Tod 011) to improve the drainage and to cut back encroaching vegetation. We also embedded two yellow-topped marker posts between Chapel House and Eastwood Old Hall, one at the junction of Tod 010 and Tod 033.
Today's work has been funded by Todmorden Harriers with funds raised from their recent Flower Scar Fell Race. Many thanks.
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| Back Lane near Pex Tenements. |
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| Greystone Lane. |
Team 1: Back Lane
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| Task 1: dismantle the original structure. |
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| Task 2: the rebuild: a similar but deeper structure slightly further upstream. |
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| Shoring in place. |
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| Shoring in place and braced. |
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| Path-side view of the shoring timbers. We may need to add further infill to this area once the existing stones and infill has settled. |
Team 2: Greystone Lane
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| Ken creating a pilot hole for one of the new marker posts. |
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| One yellow-top in place. |
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| And what do you do with a drain which overflows onto the path? |
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| Catherine with a water feature (RHS) and a blocked drain. |
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| Greystone Lane: exceptionally wet but walkable (with care). |
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| Himalayan Balsam seedlings now starting to show - it's a good time to start the clearance. |
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| The drainage channel now cleared and water is flowing . . . off the path and into the drain. |
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| The cleared and free-flowing drain. |
