Path Clearance Back Lane (Eastwood)

 Wednesday 7th. Guy, Ian S, Dave, Duncan and RJ cleared Back Lane. 

Ryburn - Path clearing above Bar Lane.

 October the 5th and it still feels like Summer! Well almost - apart from the drizzle - as the sun did come out . . . but after we'd finished!

Carla, Chloe (new volunteer), Jerry and Angus firstly headed along the A58 to  Cairnwood Drive, at the end of which was the badly overgrown footpath that leads down to Bar Lane. 

This footpath has been visited by CROWS on several occasions but, yet again, despite some work by local householders, it was almost impassable.

Path off Cairnwood Drive is highlighted on the right of the map, the bridleway on the left. 

  

The path as we found it. You can just see Chloe disappearing into the overgrowth!

Carla and Jerry started from the top and Chloe and Angus worked from the bottom. Despite previous annual clearing, brambles, nettles, bindweed, ivy and various other shrubs had taken over. 

After a couple of hours the path reappeared and we were able to remove the majority of the cuttings to expose steps and a cleared thoroughfare.

Path clearance completed, steps cleaned and overhanging branches trimmed.

Chloe brought homemade flapjacks for elevenses - yum!!

Having completed this in good time, we headed to the bridleway which links the A58 with Bar Lane. Work (which is done annually) to cut back the overgrowth started on this bridleway a couple of weeks ago but while it looks to have had use by walkers, there wasn't much evidence of horse riders or mountain bikers taking this route which would help keep the growth under control.

The bridleway cleared and ready to welcome 2-footed, 4-hooved and 2-wheeled users.

Despite the rain at the end of the shift, we managed to get a lot done. The opening up these two routes from the busy A58 to other walks around the dams, along the Riverside path and up towards Scammonden reservoir gives plenty of options for the local community. 

A big thankyou to Ripponden Parish Council for funding this work.

MIDGEHOLE - fallen tree on path to the Blue Pig

The tree team went to deal with tree branches which had fallen across the path. The branches were all cut back so the path is now easily passable. The main trunk that had fallen (but not blocking the path) seems secure, but if necessary we will deal with it on our next tree-sorting day. 

 Nearby to the tree a low point on the path has become very muddy, so we have earmarked this to be sorted in the next couple of months 

RYBURN - Crow Hill Bridleway

A crisp early autumn day saw two teams out from Ryburn working on two sections of a bridleway which crosses Crow Hill.

Location of work

Linda and Jak went to the southern section of the bridleway to cut back overhanging and underfoot foliage and to waymark the route.

Before

After

Linda with a new waymark

Linda and Jak rejoined the team of Carla, a new volunteer, Jerry and Rich at the other end of the bridleway where they were working on a stile rebuild.

Stile needing some TLC

At first, only one of the team was visible and there was some idle chat about the other two being in a hole! Indeed, this turned out to be true! The rebuild involved taking out some very large posts which had been deeply pile-driven into the ground making it very hard work to remove them. Fortunately, the steps across the stile were sound and did not have to be removed.

Bye-bye spade!

Carla getting stuck in!

After a considerable time, the post (a long way down) was removed.

Rich with part of the post

Eventually the stile was constructed without too much trouble.

Jerry next to the steps

Stile now taking shape

Carla testing the new stile

A group of CROWS in action

We returned to Crow Hill and completed waymarking the bridleway.

This work was funded by Calderdale Highways. Many thanks to them.

PENNINE WAY - Colden - day 2

Steve and Rich finished off the work started on Monday - path clearance, cutting-back and some waymarking. 

Before and after photo at the top. 

 

PENNINE WAY at Colden

 A team of four - Andy, Chloe and two Richards - went to clear all the encroaching vegetation on the narrow walled path leading down to Shaw Bottom. This was not just a cut-back but involved uprooting brambles, ferns and Rose Bay Willow Herb. The work was funded by a partnership of Calderdale Highways and Natural England. 

Before and after at the top end - still a section to finish off on Wednesday

Before and after at the bottom end - a great improvement!

Superb lunch spot.

TODMORDEN - Various

 Today, Catherine, Kasher, Neil B and Richard A worked together to sort out a few issues and to fettle up a couple of paths near Flailcoft (along Todmorden Edge) and then below the Old Golf House, on Tod 080 as it enters Ewood Wood.

We added more MOT to the steps descending from Flailcroft towards Scaitcliffe Wood (Tod 082). We reinstated the markerpost (again on Tod 082) , cleaned up the boardwalk which was overgrown with vegetation, and cut back the trees (and the odd bramble) on this footpath. We will replace the boardwalk in the near future.

We then moved onto Tod 080 in Ewood Wood to install more revetment and to widen the path. This was a continuation of last Friday's work.

Today's work has been funded by Todmorden Town Council. Many thanks for your continuing support to help maintain and improve the footpaths and bridleways in the Todmorden area.

Many thanks also to the residents of Millers Lodge who again allowed us to park in their garden and who helped carry timbers down to the worksite.

The blue "pin" marks the steps below Flailcroft which were infilled with MOT.

The path into Ewood Wood.

Neil B infilling the steps, built by CROWS
just over three years ago.

The small boardwalk cleared and more staples added.
This boardwalk will need replacing in the near future.

Catherine cutting back the path.

Richard creating the hole to reinstate
the markerpost.

The post back in position.

Sorting out revetments on Tod 080 in
Ewood Wood.

Revetments in place and the path widened.

Catherine and Neil B widening the path near a section
of the new revetment.

TODMORDEN - Daisy Bank Clough

Gareth, Catherine and newly recruited CROW Richard A headed up to Daisy Bank Clough, which runs from the Bride Stones towards Hebden, to carry out some general path improvements.

Some marker poles along the moor had fallen over or become loose due to the attentions of local sheep and cattle, while some paths and steps were in need of cutting back to improve passage.  We also took the opportunity to check stiles for future structural repairs and carry out some on-the-spot work.

We travelled quite a long way across the moor - the arrows on the map indicate the locations of the photos.  Quite how far we’d gone became obvious to Catherine when she had to head back to the car for the second set of shears we’d forgotten to put in the bag!

Today’s work was funded partly by donations from Cragg Runners and partly from general donations to CROWS.  Thanks to them and all of you, and also to the lovely folks at Daisy Bank Barn for allowing us to park.

Richard on the steps - sadly we forgot the Before photo

Re-erected pole number three

Gareth & Richard at the packhorse bridge

Catherine fights her way through the nettle patch

TODMORDEN - path widening and step clearing

There were two teams out from Todmorden today; a beautiful early Autumn day.

Team 1: Catherine, Gareth and Richard A were working on Blackshaw 044 and Blackshaw 050 to cut back vegetation, improve the way marking, sort out the drainage issues and generally fettle up the path network in this area. Please see the separate Blog.

Team 2: David, Kasher and Neil B worked on two paths. Tod 082 goes down from Flailcroft via a large flight of steps which CROWS rebuilt last year. This path then goes down into Scaitcliffe Wood. The team cut back the vegetation on this path and then infilled the lower flight of steps with MOT. We will need to return to complete the infilling of these steps.

The second path (Tod 080) enters Ewood Wood below Todmorden Edge and comes out on Ewood Road. Here, the team widened the path and cut back over-hanging vegetation from the field gate to the bench about 100 m down the slope. We will return to install at least one more piece of revetment.

Both of these paths will be used during the National Fell Race being organised by Todmorden Harriers which is due to take place in mid October 2026, see https://www.todharriers.co.uk/fell-relays-2026/.

We would like to thank the residents of the nearby house for allowing us to park on their driveway, thus reducing the distance the team had to carry the tools for our work on Tod 080.

Today's work by Team 2 has been funded by Todmorden Town Council. Many thanks for your continuing support.

The blue "pin" marks the flight of steps below Flailcroft.

Tod 080 where the path was widened and vegetation cut back.

Flailcroft:

A set of 40+ steps are on Tod 082 from Flailcroft to the field below
and then through Scaitcliffe Wood. The steps are well hidden 
by the encroaching vegetation.

David tackling the lower flight of steps.

The lower flight topped up with MOT.

Kasher and Neil B near the top of the higher flight.

Ewood Wood:

Neil cutting back the vegetation before the path 
was widened.

David widening the path.

The widened path. We will return to install at least one more
piece of revetment.

Neil B attacking the overhanging Rhododendrons.