TODMORDEN - Geology Trail

Earlier this week, RJ and Kasher returned to the Todmorden Moor Geology Trail to survey any remaining tasks. Now that the Geology Trail leaflet has been published (and is available as a pdf on 'The Heart of the Pennines' and 'The West Yorkshire Geology Trust' websites) it is likely that more people will be walking the route.

Painting the marker posts along the bridleways, footpaths and open access routes across this moor, and ensuring that these marker posts stay upright is almost a full time job - the Todmorden equivalent of painting the Forth Road Bridge!

With funds received from Reaps Moss Wind Farm (thank you), CROWS will be able to repair and/or replace the remaining boardwalks and bridges on the trail.

Some of the boardwalks just need the odd cross-tread replacing but one bridge will have to be totally rebuilt and an exceptionally wet area requires a brand new boardwalk.

Getting the timbers and tools to these sites will be a major undertaking - let's hope for dry, sunny days!

RJ measuring up one of the boardwalks.

The area which would benefit from an additional boardwalk.

One of the information boards that needs repairing (and cleaning).

The final bridge on the route which will need
to be replaced . . .

. . . because the stringers are rotten!

TODMORDEN -The Fielden Trail

Calderdale Council have kindly awarded CROWS a Ward Forum grant to survey and improve the way marking and information provision on the Fielden Trail, a route devised a number of years ago by Jim Jarrett.

This 20 mile route around Todmorden links together many of the places associated with the Fielden family. You may be lucky enough to have a copy of the booklet giving details of this trail but, if not, full details can be found on : https://www.jimjarratt.co.uk/walks/fieldentrail/contents.html

RJ and Kasher chose a beautiful sunny day to survey and improve the way marking on the paths along the first section of this route from Todmorden town hall to Frieldhurst Road in Cornholme.

We have identified a number of issues which CROWS will tackle over the coming weeks.

Marker post needed at the end of Hollins Road.

Erosion problems but we may be able to create 
 step or two.

Way markers being added by RJ.

The Fielden Trail goes past Springs.

RJ checking the route above Hudson Bridge.

HEPTONSTALL - above and below Edge Lane, Colden

 Billie and Rich dealt with a reported problem with waymarking on Heptonstall Moor, then went down towards the network of paths below Halsteads to look at a reported dodgy stile and some missing waymarking.Today's work was funded by donations from our supporters. Many thanks.

The path from the edge of of the moor had been waymarked earlier, but the route across the moor was pretty impossible to follow without the use of GPS. 

We put in four, low yellow-topped posts so you can now see where the path goes. 

If you look very carefully, in the photo you might see three posts (and two CROWS volunteers)!

Then it was down to Halsteads to do some waymarking (we ran out of disks so will need to go back to finish off). The reported stile does need some fettling, so it is now on our list of jobs to do. People reporting problems is so helpful; many thanks to everyone that has taken the time to send us the details. https://crows-coop.co.uk/report-a-problem/

TODMORDEN - Todmorden Moor - Session 4

There have been better days to work on an exposed moor above Todmorden! . . . .  However five hardy (and, by the end of the session, rather wet) individuals: Mick, RJ, Gareth, Catherine and Kasher continued to improve the boardwalks crossing Todmorden Moor on Tod 073 and Tod 077. 

One new boardwalk was built (the 4th new one) and three other boardwalks repaired and re-positioned. All the old boardwalks had to have new bearers attached; old rotten cross-treads replaced; new kickboards added and, finally, the cross-treads on the boardwalks were 'decorated' with staples! The staples should make the boardwalks less slippery but it's strange how the staplers all have different techniques and designs . . . . see if you can spot these when you next pass this way!

It was great to see people using the boardwalks today. We hope these new and improved structures will make your journeys across the moor safer . . . and drier!

We will need one more session on the moor to finish off this task and to de-nail and remove all of the old timbers.

Many thanks to Reaps Moss Wind Farm who have funded the replacement of these boardwalks.

Todmorden Moor and the footpaths off Tower Causeway.

Catherine, Mick and Gareth removing an old,
broken boardwalk.

RJ with one of the boardwalks in the process of
being restored and re-positioned.

Gareth was introduced to the delights of stapling
into the cross-treads on boardwalks.

Mick and Gareth: the new boardwalk in place
but with more anchoring stobs yet to be added.

Gareth and Catherine on stapling duty.

Mick, removing nails from the old timbers.

Towards the end of the session: the rain is coming down
and the visibility has reduced . . . . can we go home?

BLACKSHAW HEAD - Old Shaw Lane

Following a request from a local horse rider, Jan and Rich went to cut out overhanging branches that were making a bridleway difficult to use. Given all the extra traffic in the area, we thought we better to sort it quickly and, happily, chose a lovely cold blue-sky afternoon. Thanks to Blackshaw Parish Council for supporting this work. 

Difficult to see the problem . . . unless you are on top of a horse!

Top layer all cut out, Jan sorting some of the side-growth

HEBDEN BRIDGE - Foster Dam path

Second session on replacing the steps. Jerry, Ian S, Guy, Angus, Andy and Andrew. Several jobs were cancelled today due to very poor weather, however, we decided to push on as the site was sheltered and the forecast was promising. Today's work was funded by Hebden Royd Town Council.

 

The details

The work for today was to install two linked flights of steps, each of 7 steps with different pitches. These were to replace old steps in varying stages of decay. All old side rails, stobs and timber risers were removed.
A section of decayed and loose handrail was also removed, which will be renewed and extended to cover the complete 24 step flight.

The team split into two groups and undertook a flight each. The new flights had different height risers to accommodate the different gradients of the path.

Both flights were installed in rapid succession with all new timber sections securely anchored to the ground. Once installed the new steps were back filled with stone to the step heights and finished off with builders' crush aggregate.

 

Next session is to reinstall the handrail and deal with some path edging that needs securing.

HEBDEN, ABOVE FOSTER BRIDGE, clearing steps

 

On another dull, sunless day Angus, Clare, Neil and Ginny continued the work started last week to clear 'Dark Lane' which goes uphill from Foster Bridge to Hollins and the Heptonstall Road.  This is an old packhorse route which has become overgrown with mud, brambles, leaves and overhanging branches.

It is steep, cobbled and slippery, but is now much easier to use.

Neil and Angus tackling the overgrowing shrubbery

Now quite a wide track

Clare clearing the leaves and mud from the lower path

Finished before dark, and supervised at all times!

Funded by donations to CROWS for which many thanks.

TODMORDEN - Todmorden Moor (T’Other Side)

Todmorden Moor saw CROWS working in two locations today (Friday 13 December).  

After carrying much wood across the boggy peatland off Flower Scar Road, then leaving RJ, Kasher and Catherine to sink, swim or build some boardwalks, Mick and Gareth went to the Bacup Road side of the moor to re-erect some of the many loose or fallen waymarker posts which the resident cattle use as handy back-scratchers.  

Meeting a friendly member of Manchester Ramblers out planning a group walk along part of the Todmorden Centenary Way, we briefed him on the rival attractions of the Todmorden Moor Geology Trail.  Look out for the new trail leaflet, hopefully coming soon!

Today's work has been funded by Reaps Moss Wind Farm, many thanks.

General location of today’s work

Visibility better than it often is….

Mick and two re-erected waymarkers

TODMORDEN -Todmorden Moor -Session 3

Today saw our third session on Todmorden Moor. RJ, Catherine and Kasher spent the day building one new boardwalk; dismantling, rebuilding and repositioning some of the older boardwalks; and completing the new boardwalk whose construction was started earlier in the week.

We would like to thank Mick and Gareth who started their working day by helping out with the carry of all the timber and tools from Tower Causeway to the worksite. We hope your feet have dried out!

We will need another two sessions here to build one more boardwalk; replace the damaged cross-treads on existing boardwalks; reposition some of the existing boardwalks; add bearers and kickboards where necessary; fix staples to all the boardwalks and . . . .  clear away the old wood after de-nailing (the most wearying task of all!).

Today's work has been funded by Reaps Moss Wind Farm. Many thanks.

Tod 073, the footpath between Tower Causeway and Flower Scar Road.

Mick and Gareth abandoning us on Tod Moor . . .  to go and find
some more exciting jobs in Tod!

RJ and Kasher with the timbers and tools needed for
the day . . . and atmospheric cloud in the distant valley.

RJ fixing anchoring stobs to the boardwalk.
The perspective is deceiving - the boardwalk is horizontal!

Catherine levelling the new boardwalk.

The new boardwalk (cross-treads yet to be stapled). The stringers
are 3.6 m (12ft) long so a central long stob has been
added to reduce 'bounce'.

Kasher sorting out the last few cross-treads
on the boardwalk.

A restored and repositioned boardwalk.
Note the staples which should improve underfoot grip.

The boardwalks across the moor are starting to define a 'bog-free'
path (relatively!). Note the pile of rotten timber near the marker post.
The post itself will need painting but the scrap will be removed.

TODMORDEN - Todmorden Moor - Session 2

 A team of four (RJ, Kasher, Jan and Andrew) returned to Todmorden 073, a footpath that cuts across the moor from Flower Scar Road to Tower Causeway.

Funding has been received from Reaps Moss Wind Farm to replace a number of boardwalks and to repair others across this moor.

One new boardwalk was built last Friday. Today we managed to construct one completely new 3 m boardwalk and to fettle up a number of the older ones. The boardwalks have been in place for 10-12 years but have started to sink into the peat bog. Consequently, we have raised the boardwalks; inserted larger bearers below the stringers; put (where possible) the bearers onto a stone base; replaced damaged cross-treads; added staples to all the cross-treads and installed kickboards - the latter might help to limit the damage that bikes and motorbikes are causing to the ends of boardwalks. This right-of-way is designated as a footpath -and not a bridleway.

There will be at least another two sessions in this area to build additional boardwalks and repair others. 

Many thanks to Reaps Moss Wind Farm for funding this work.

Tod 073 across Todmorden Moor.

It's a long carry towards the original boardwalks!

Andrew and Jan (supervised by RJ) starting
on the construction of a new boardwalk.

Jan fixing the bearer to the stringers.

Jan and Andrew repairing one of the old boardwalks. New
cross-treads, bearers and kickboards have been added.

Jan and Andrew inserting stobs to anchor
the new boardwalk in place.

Boardwalk complete . . . nearly!

RJ, dismantling one of the old boardwalks. One new and
one renovated boardwalk visible on LHS of the picture.

RJ and Jan checking one of the old boardwalks:
unfortunately one of the stringers is
rotten - replacement will be needed.

A new and a repaired boardwalk realigned across
the moor. Two old boardwalk yet to be re-positioned.

Realigned boardwalks on slightly drier ground.