As promised on last week's blog, Linda, Jerry and Angus returned to Birks Lane to work on the access from the stile onto the road. As predicted, the previous day's rain had made the slope treacherous.
Initially, we considered building stone steps, but the lack of suitable materials made this a non-starter, so we opted for wooden risers secured by lengths of rebar. As with last week's work, this was funded by Ryburn Parish Council, to whom we are extremely grateful.
Blue circle at Birks Lane is where the steps were constructed.
No steps! Just a slippery slope. After an hour, things are looking a lot safer!
With such stony ground, using wooden stobs was a non-starter, using rebar which can be hammered into the ground, forcing its way between the stones, gives a strong anchor which can be stapled to the step risers. While Linda and Angus set-to with the steps, Jerry repaired parts of the wall above the steps removing and repositioning a number of loose stones.
The finished job, complete with a yellow-topped grab post (which
will also serve to alert road users).
We then went to the top of the path where we had previously built a stile (generously paid for by the landowner, Mr Ian Boulger). There was a second job to be done on his land (marked by the other blue circle on the previous map) where a crossing point through/over a wall/fence takes the path into some woodland towards Cottonstones.
On inspection, we discovered that the treadboard and one of the step-legs had rotted through; the wall was in poor condition and the fence posts were only held in place by the stock fence!
A tricky crossing, fraught with challenges.
After discussion with Mr Boulger, we decided that as there was no stock in the adjoining fields (and it was unlikely there would be) the best solution was to cut a gap in the fence and rebuild the wall but with an access gap.
Linda started cutting back the overgrown vegetation to get some light on the job, whilst Jerry and Angus assessed the best way to dismantle the existing structure.
Angus considers the options for this wall/fence/stile conundrum.
Decisions made! Linda and Jerry get to grips with rebuilding the decrepit wall.
We left an original post in place as it was ideally positioned for waymarks. The gap in the wall soon took shape, new posts were embedded, the fence tensioned and fixed to the posts. In the future, if the fields are to be restocked, it would be simple enough to fit a gate or a stile into this gap.
The weather was considerably calmer than last week, though when it did rain, Mr Boulger brought us very welcome cups of coffee! Hooray!
Another satisfying day's work completed.
