HEBDEN BRIDGE: Dodgy steps in Lee Wood

 In the lee of Lee Wood

On a day when a variety of thundery, showery conditions was threatened Stella and Frank, in the shelter of Lee Wood just above the Bowling Green alongside Hebden Water (see map), worked in calm conditions to make safe a flight of steps.

1. Worksite:  marked with blue index.

The flight of steps, which negotiated a steep bank, was in poor condition because of: rampant overgrowth, missing risers, detached side-rail, eroded tread areas and a badly supported end rail.

2. Lower end of steps: End rail is weakly supported,
a riser is missing and the side revetment is not 
actually attached!

3. Upper end of steps: Eroded tread areas,
detached side revetment and missing riser.

4. Work in progress: Side revetment now
secure and two risers are in place.

The new risers had to fit into the original structure, a factor that limited where the stobs could be placed. The ground was exceptionally hard but a combination of long bar, heavy lump hammer and muscular grunt saw the risers installed.

This path is very popular, especially with dogs taking their owners for a walk. We received a lot of thanks from the owners for making these steps secure and safe. The dogs seemed pleased too . . . but the sight of our lunchtime sandwiches might have had something to do with that!

In the rampant path-side overgrowth an elusive Wren (one of Britain's smallest birds) fled to safety. It was tricky to spot but looked like this . . .

5. The Wren (Troglodytidae:Troglodytes troglodytes) 
the name's almost as long as the bird!

6. Packing and levelling;

In the afternoon we inserted a bracing section of lower revetment, filled and graded the tread areas, hammered-in stobs to support the weak end rail, widened the path where it met a side-inlet and expended a disproportionate amount of energy to install a final riser. Phew! Some muscles may ache tomorrow!

Today's work was funded by general donations to CROWS. Many thanks for your support to help us keep open this footpath (Heptonstall 053).

7. End section; Everything braced and secured.

8. Mid and upper sections overview:
Now safe and easier to negotiate.

It's always tricky carrying out repairs to an existing structure - new sections have to be tweaked and compromises are inevitable. Attempting a full reconstruction would have been problematic - the rocks supporting the lower end of these steps have settled into a state of interlocked stability. Disturbing this might be catastrophic . .  . and there is no alternative route up through this 'hangra' (Old English for wooded slope).

More next week . .  if we can straighten up!

WADSWORTH

 Moorfield and Seed Hill

Nick and Paul were out today cutting back on footpaths in the Old Town vicinity. The weather proved to be very changeable with gusty blows, patches of rain and slivers of sun. We undertook to concentrate on two sites; the first the footpath running uphill along the side of Moorfield and up to Rock Edge and the second a path running at the rear of Seed Hill House downhill toward Dodd Naze Estate.

Work funded by Wadsworth Parish Council - a Big Thankyou.

Moorfield path highlighted in red

Site 1:

We began cutting back at the bottom end of the path where it meets Paddock Lane.

Overgrown

Once we finished here we moved onto the top end of the path

Cleared

At the top end the marker post was hidden among a gang of high nettles and the steps overgrown with tufts of grass, etc

Where is the Marker Post?

Clearer now!

We cleared the nettles, rediscovered the steps and cut back the path. and then after lunch moved onto our second destination near Seed Hill at the bottom end of Rowlands Lane

Site 2:

What path?

Here we were faced with some serious tall summer overgrowth including nettles, Rosebay Willow Herb, ferns and high grasses.

Brush cutter intervention!

Meanwhile, Nick cut back encroaching brambles, nettles and other greenery from the pathway leading to the stone steps and stile at the back of Seed Hill.

Overgrown by the stile.

Cutting back with shears

Clear now for walkers.

A satisfactory day's work clearing local paths.

Map of Seed Hill footpaths.

WAINSTALLS - mainly the Calderdale Way

 Rich, Angus and Ian S had four tasks to complete:

• Cutting back a path below Hough Gate Farm
• Replacing rotten steps and bridge slats above Castle Carr Road
• Replacing a broken rail on the school path near the Old Delvers
• Way marking off Bank House Lane  

Sunshine, rain, wind more sunshine, more rain, fantastic views. Today's work was funded by Calderdale Highways, Luddenden Conservation Society and donations to CROWS

 CALDERDALE WAY AT HOUGH GATE FARM

Path very overgrown between a wall and a fence. 

A little while later

Then on to the Calderdale Way above Castle Carr Road. 

Five steps had been identified as needing replacement (turned out to be seven!)

Three slats on the bridge were completely rotten and the waymark post was lying on the floor!

A good before and after

 

 

Couple of action shots

 Unfortunately we did not take any photos of the post, but it is now back up and showing people the way (which was not obvious). 

A very satisfying collection of jobs to complete. 

Then two small jobs on the way back - a replacement fence rail on the school path and some waymarking further down the hillside. 

 

Ryburn - Footpath work next to Ogden Farm above Cotton Stones.

Today, a seven-strong team of Rich, Jerry, Lynda, Jak, Angus, Kris and Nick (a new volunteer) headed to the section of footpath reported by the landowner to have several issues. Although the main task was cutting-back, there was also a stile which required tread-boards and a lot of waymarking; the lack of the later has seen walkers make their way across fields, much to the frustration of the landowner.

 Today's work has been funded by the Ryburn Ward Forum to whom we are very grateful.

The red highlight shows the sections of path worked on. The blue circle is the stile.

The stile consisted of two iron cross-bars and two posts . . . but no treadboards!

The ground was incredibly dry, even down to 0.5 m!

Jerry and Angus set to work on the stile (this mostly involved digging out dust and rocks) while the rest of the group spread out along the path to start cutting-back the overgrown vegetation. Despite the overgrowth the path is well used, but the lack of waymarks meant that people have chosen their own wandering routes across some sections.

 

Before and after images of the path beyond the stile, now with a waymark.

As the morning wore on the stile work was completed and several sections of the path were free of nettles, coarse grass, brambles and the like, We also uncovered a sad, dilapidated bench and a carved stone,

 

Checking levels before fitting the treadboards.

The remains of someone's favourite bench . . . a sad sight.

 Another interesting discovery. Any thoughts anyone ??

After lunch, during which a Eurofighter flew low over our heads, we moved to the end of the path where it exits onto Bowood Lane. In the first 50 m of this section there were a lot of brambles, wild raspberries, ferns, low branches and coarse grass that needed clearing.

During this last section of clearing we discovered an overgrown stile to a path which leads to Long Royd Farm. This will require a further visit to make good the stile and check the waymarking up to the farm. Overall we cleared around 550 m of path, added/replaced several waymarks and generally made the path easier to follow by all who use it. 

 

The entrance to the path off Birks Lane (before and after).

A bit of work still required to make this stile safe!

Nice to be treated to a fly-past by a Eurofighter!

TODMORDEN GOLF COURSE - CUTTING BACK

 

Friday, 31 July 2026

A team of four - Duncan, David, RJ and Catherine - set out for Todmorden Golf Course following a report that the path up to Wickenberry Clough had become overgrown.

Many thanks to Todmorden Town Council for funding today's work.

This is the path that the team worked on.

Catherine at the start of the path ready to get going.

RJ cuts back overhanging trees.

Plenty of work to be done.

A turn-by needed clearing out so water will drain
off the path when it eventually rains again.

RJ sorts it out.

Yet more cutting back!

Well-deserved lunch break.

Looks much more welcoming now.

And easier to negotiate.

Time to head for home...

...with a few bonus balls!!