MIDGLEY

 Calderdale Way above Midgley Village

Ian S, Guy, Andrew and Paul were out today on the moors overlooking Midgley. It was a drizzly start with a few showers turning to sunshine by mid-day. The task was to repair a stretch of the Calderdale Way that runs high above the field boundary along a steep banking. This banking has seen lots of erosion over time with CROWS past interventions propping up the path with lengths of revetment. One such length had been damaged by cows using the path while another section of banking had collapsed and was needing some maintenance.

Blue arrow marks the spot!

As you can see from the above map, the worksite was a long way from the track by Midgley Hall Farm.

Fortunately, the farmer (and landowner of adjacent fields) transported timbers and tools in his Landrover from the farm track to the worksite. This saved us a lot of carrying though we did walk from the farm up Coal Dyke and along the Calderdale Way to meet the famer and Ian S who bagged a lift!

Thank you to Midgley Community Forum for funding this work and to Sam Barker for helping us with transport.

Carrying the kit from the drop off point

The damaged revetment:

Trodden on by the cows!

Banking displacement:

Eroded section of the path

We split into two teams - Ian S and Andrew tackling the eroded section and Guy and Paul repairing the damaged section.

Andrew cutting a trench

Andrew and Ian S fitted two lengths of revetment to a depth of 40 cm fixing them in the ground using long stobs.

Looking better!

Meanwhile Guy and Paul set about dismantling the damage timbers to reuse in the repair of their section and then fitted a new length of revetment (with the reused lengths on to) along the gap.

New timbers in place!

Guy had brought along some apples from his garden:

An Apple a day . . . 

There was lots of filling-in to do on both sections to ensure the new sections of pathway were firm and stable for walkers to use.

Lots of infilling!

We widened the path to obtain infill material.

The gang posing...

Job completed in the sunshine:

Completed!

Where was that Land Rover to transport the tools back to Ian's car?

Help!

WAINSTALLS: 'Mini-gate' on the Calderdale Way

 Calderdale Way: dilapidated 'mini-gate'

On a day enlivened by sharp, sudden, cold showers, Jan and Frank H worked on replacing a 'mini-gate' where the Calderdale Way footpath (Halifax 135) goes over a stile comprising stone wall-steps topped with a 'mini-gate' before descending to continue as a bridleway (Halifax 113) in the direction of the Moorcock Farm (known locally as the old Moorcock Inn).

Today's work will be funded by a donation from the landowner. Many thanks for supporting CROWS.

1. Worksite indicated by blue 'pin'.

2. Aerial view!

The detail.

The 'stile' has seen heavy use by enthusiastic 'Calderdale Way' walkers and runners, so now it looks like this:

3. Before: View from track (bridleway) side.

4. Before: View from field side.

The mini-gate is ramshackle and is fixed by T-hinges to a 'round' post. 

The plan was to remove the whole structure and install a replacement pedestrian gate T-hinged to a square-section post and fitted with a closure spring and a closure loop.

The drystone wall to the left of picture 4 has a castellated top but the section to the right is more haphazard! However, this section (on the closure side of the gap) is stable so will be left untouched.

The existing 'round' gatepost will be re-embedded to form a 'stop-post' that prevents the gate from swinging too far back on its hinges. This post and the new hinge post will be linked by short side-rails and, to enhance stability, the new post will be bracketed to the wall. 

Phew! Time to start digging . . .

5. "Keep digging, Jan." - Longer arms are available!

6. Field side view: New hinge-post deeply
embedded. New gate hung on T-hinges
and fitted with closure loop.

7. Field side view: Hinge-post
fitted with one of the side-rails
which is bracketed to the wall.

8. After: View from track (bridleway) side. 
The right-of-way direction is shown by the
public footpath disk.

9. After: View from field side. Re-cycled 'stop-post'
side-railed to new hinge-post. Closure spring fitted and
a closure loop (anchored to top stone) goes over a gate paling.

We were pleased with the outcome. The hinge-post is very secure and stable. The mini-gate is robust and poses no problems to users of the stile. The Calderdale Way direction (clockwise route) is shown by the existing metal fingerpost which directs walkers towards Moorcock Farm where CROWS have painted the tops of the existing waymarkposts bright yellow . . . no chance of getting lost! Mmm!

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. 

 

TWO PATHS AROUND WADSWORTH

HURST BRIDGE AT NUTCLOUGH

 A few weeks ago a large branch fell off a beech tree on to the bridge. This was speedily dealt with by the council. 

After they had finished we discovered that the nearby fingerpost had been knocked to the floor . . . so needed reinstating. 

 

The reinstated finger post

CALDERDALE WAY BELOW PECKET WELL

Calderdale Highways received a report pointing out the lack of waymarking across Keighley Road. This was true but the least of the problem - the path on the Old Town side was nowhere to be seen! It looked like you were walking into a hedge!

 

Raspberries, Hawthorn, Rosebay Willow Herb, Himalayan Balsam, Brambles and Blackthorn were the main culprits. So Kris and Rich had to use the full set of cutting back tools to deal with the problem. 

 

It's jungle chaos! Where is the path?

A nice place to sit?

The path emerging

It became clear that bits of the stone surface were very large causey stones suitable for pack horses. 

Now you can sit and admire the view

Waymarks attached to an existing post.

 

The bottom of the path is now passable but will need another session to clear it completely. We think the wide causey paths will go to the Keighley Road, so clearing them will save time on future maintenance. It's very exciting to have uncovered this lost path. 

PENNINE WAY AND CALDERDALE WAY AT COLDEN

Today was Day Three on this Pennine Way job. On Day 1 we cut back the path, began clearing the steps and replaced some rotten risers. On Day 2 we continued the cut back and cleared more steps in preparations for today's session which was to finish clearing the steps, doing more cutting back and re-stoning the tread areas. 

Nic, Jan, Jerry, Stella and Rich arrived to find a one tonne bag of 'crusher-run' delivered to the path by a local farmer - many thanks. 

This work was funded by a partnership between Natural England and Calderdale Highways. 

It was a warm day of . . . up and down the path . .  . with wheelbarrow, trugs, shovels, rakes and a heavy tamper. 

 

Very different to Day 1 when we arrived!

The second job we tackled was on the Calderdale Way where a very overgrown section was forcing people to deviate from the paved path. 

Before and after

 

Many thanks to Heptonstall Parish Council for funding this job. 
 

TODMORDEN - Tod Edge and Ashes Lane

 There were two teams out from Todmorden today:

Team 1: Gareth and Neil Mc were working in Ewood Wood on right-of-way Tod 080 which forms part of the Calderdale Way. The tasks were to widen the footpath and to shore up the stream side (See separate Blog). We will return to work on more of the footpath, cut back the Rhododendron and install some revetment further down the hillside.

Team 2: It was a return visit to Ashes Lane (Tod BW 022) for Andrew, Catherine and Kasher to complete the steps on this short section of the Calderdale Way (on Tod 017); to cut back the overgrowing vegetation; to add staples to stile treadboards; and to clear more of the turn-bys. 

We will return to Ashes Lane in the next few weeks to cut back some of the bilberries and heather and to re-inspect the drainage issues.  A local resident (thanks, Jim) has said that he would help by resetting some of the slightly out-of-line turn-by stones.

Many thanks to residents at Lower Winsley Farm and Millers Lodge for allowing the teams to park on their land. A reduced carrying distance for timber and tools is always welcome.

Today's work has been funded by very generous individual donations to CROWS. Thank you for helping to keep our footpaths and bridleways open in this delightful walking area.

The blue "pin" shows the location of the Calderdale Way crossing Ashes Lane (Team 2)

Today's work site for Team 1, the entrance to Ewood Wood.

Team 2:

Andrew starting on the second flight of steps.

Catherine sorting out staples on the stile 
treadboards . . . with 'The Pike' in the background!

Andrew continuing his single handed challenge of
step replacement.

The completed flight (towards Tod).

The completed flight (away from Tod).

Catherine clearing out one of the turn-bys.

Catherine, and another cleared turn-by.

Well the water has to go somewhere!

Cutting back overhanging branches on this BW.

Trying out the new pruning saw.

Andrew and a sheltered, sunny spot for lunch.