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!

DODD NAZE: Heavy-duty digging for a stile!

On an ever-warming summer's day, Ian S, Steve and Frank H worked on replacing a one-step stile on the right-of-way (Wadsworth 079) that forms part of the path that goes NE from Manor Drive (on the Dodd Naze estate) towards Sandy Gate Lane (see Map).

1. Worksite marked by blue 'pin'.

The problem:

The original stile looked like this:

2. View from Manor Drive side:

3. View from Field side:

This much overgrown one-step stile had a very long, partly rotten, sagging treadboard wedged at one end into a stone pillar 'keyhole' (picture 2) and supported at the other by a decayed step leg. 

Additionally the top-rail was far too high above the step treadboard, and the right-hand side-post (picture 3), which doubled as part of the stockfencing structure, had some evidence of decay.

The solution:

i)  Cut-back overgrowth

ii)  Brace the weak side-post with a vertical stob and a diagonal strut.

iii) Dig out the field-side step leg, dig a new hole for a Manor Drive-side step leg and install two new step legs to accommodate a slightly higher treadboard.

iv) Lower the top rail very slightly and embed 'take-off/landing stones to act as 'first' steps.

v)  Put a protective sleeve over the exposed barbed wire where it is attached to the right-hand side-post (picture 2).

Phew! Here's how the job went:

4. First tasks: Overgrowth cleared. Stile side-post
braced vertically and diagonally.

5. Out with the old: Decayed 
treadboard and step-leg removed

The excavation of holes for new step legs was a prolonged and very strenuous task. The remnants of the field-side leg were deeply and firmly buried. The new hole on the other side revealed remnants of two old legs also deeply and firmly buried! 

Two + hours later after much barring, digging, battering and the cunning use of hauling straps the old timbers were out and the new step-legs installed. Take-off/landing stones were embedded and the approach area to the stile was tidied.

6. In with the new i : Manor Drive side view.

7. In with the new ii : Field side view.

Today's job was funded by Calderdale Ramblers and General Donations to CROWS. Many thanks for your support. Enjoy using the stile.

Today was energy-sapping and a disproportionate amount of time (and effort) was expended before any progressive construction work could begin. It was a relief to finished the task and finally start ferrying tools and spare timbers back to the vehicle . . . but . . . 

8. "Hi Steve, Going right here instead of left is
the shortest way back to the vehicle . . ."
"Steve! Steve!, I said right not left . . . 
. . . Ah, well! Enjoy the walk! Mmm!"

 More in a week or two when it might be steps near Hebden Water. Good for a lunchtime paddle?

DODD NAZE ESTATE - High Hirst Walk

Under an agreement with Dodd Naze Community Association (DCA) and the now disbanded Friends of High Hirst Woodmeadow (FOHH), CROWS have undertaken to ensure that the 'High Hirst Walk' - which follows a mostly tarmac path that passes through the woodland from the entrance to the allotments on Manor Drive to some steps down to Wadsworth Lane - will be cut back twice a year.

                                            Entrance to the High Hirst Walk from Manor

                                            Drive on the Dodd Naze Estate

In addition, a permissive path previously opened up and signposted by CROWS which loops round the top of the wood - offering an alternative route when another permissive path up from Sandy Gate through the meadow itself has to be closed after Hay Time when sheep are grazing the 'aftermath' - is included in this agreement.

So, after some delay at the depot when we arrived to find a team of even-earlier birds had already taken some of the tools we'd specially reserved (no names, no pack drill!), Angus, Kasher and Neil D. met with a couple of DCA Volunteers up at Dodd Naze to tackle the extensive overgrowth.

Slowly, paths were cut back and widened, long lost path edges appeared, as did picnic tables and benches which had been completely overgrown with brambles, bracken and the like.

Here are a few typical shots taken 'before'...

 

 

... and 'after':

 

 

  

 

The High Hirst Walk was first opened in 2004, and is a popular and convenient route for local people. It is also well used by the Forest School children who are based at the Community Centre nearby. Towards the end of our work, we even uncovered one of the entrance stones, long lost to the years' cumulative vegetative growth!

Before: 

And after:

                                                   The High Hirst Walk entrance stone sees the light of day again!

Of course, while working along the length of the path, a fair bit of litter was removed too - most commonly the ubiquitous dog poo bags!

                                                        The Commonly Spotted Dog Poo Bag

Residents we met walking the path seemed very pleased, and readily expressed their gratitude at the work we were doing to open up their path again for community use.

Reflecting on our day's work, we left feeling that despite the setbacks and seemingly excessive amount of 'admin' time behind the scenes that was taken in setting up the agreement in the first place, at the end of the day this is really a great example of CROWS working at what it does best. 

P.S. We've plan to return in the autumn, as per our agreement, to tackle this summer's growth again - and have already booked the tools out on the CROWS calendar. Fellow volunteers please note the date: Wednesday, 21st October! 

 

Hebden Bridge - Repairs and Revival

 Andrew and Stella went to Eaves Wood and to the Blue Pig to add revetment to some damaged steps, and to re-erect a fallen finger-post.

First stop Eaves, to the steps, installed a few months ago, which have suffered some damage to the edges.

These steps are steep and lead down to the Milking Bridge.

Starting to clear the stone steps

We put these in last year.

The edges have been damaged

So . . .  revetment to strengthen and help preserve. 

Then, it was off to the Blue Pig.

Where the Calderdale Way starts to climb.

A sad finger post . . . 

. . . now revived.

Todays work was funded by donations to CROWS.  Thank you all.

 

Hebden Bridge: Snow Booth Steps and Gate (deja-vu)

 Snow Booth; Tricky steps and even trickier gate (part two).

On the road to Old Town, beyond Hebden Bridge Golf Course (sometimes called Mount Skip Golf Course) near to where Height Road becomes Nook Lane there is a building named Snay Booth (sometimes called Snae Booth or Snow Booth). Below this building, a short section of right-of-way Wadsworth 078 heads due North and crosses to the opposite side of a drystone wall/stock fence. (see Map 1)

Today's tasks were:

i)   to install one more steps to the short flight that negotiates the drop in levels at the cross-over point where the path switches from one side of a wall to the other.

ii)  To install a pedestrian gate where a continuation of Wadworth 078 meets a wall corner.

1. Wall-corner worksite for task ii)
Marked with the blue 'pin' - some 100 m North (ish) of the extra step.

In idyllic conditions, Ian S and Guy worked on installing the extra step before joining Steve and Frank on the trickier task of embedding gate posts, hanging a pedestrian gate and rationalising side-rails. Lots of difficult digging attended by an audience of placid cows and calves!

i) Steps: 

The situation at the end of CROWS previous session was:

2. Before: three wooden steps up.

Some time later after much 'grunt work' . . . mainly excavating awkward rocks . . . 

3. After a): Four wooden steps up
and a useful grab pole.

(apologies for poor image quality):

4. After b): Four wooden steps up
and a useful grab pole.

Meanwhile . .  .

ii) Pedestrian gate:

Further along the path, Steve and Frank H tackled the following chaotic jumble of wooden fencing and the mystery of the missing gate.

1. Before: Collapsing posts, and broken pallet
acting as side-fencing with original
pedestrian gate missing.

The plan was to install a hinge-post on the right (next to the wall), hang the gate, embed a closure post to the left (nearer the collapsing posts), fix short side rails to bridge any gaps and re-organise the jumble of decaying posts and pallet. Lots to do but all in a confined space!

2. During: Hinge-post hole . .  . 0.9 m depth.
"Keep digging, Steve!"

3. During: Hinge-post in, gate hung
and closure post being packed.

4. Completed job a): Pedestrian gate hung,
spring fitted, closure chain in place and
short side rails fitted.

5. Testing! Testing!

"Caution: Cows with Calves" 'says' the sign. They were interested, in a half-hearted sort of a way, but soon wandered off in search of tastier grass and clover - wise move . .  but it's a pity we missed the photo opportunity - blame the mud-caked hands!

We were pleased with the end result. The gate is secure, well-installed and easy to operate - ideal for a route popular with local fell-running groups.

Today's tasks were funded by general donations to CROWS. Many thanks for your continued support of our voluntary work on rights-of-way.

HEBDEN BRIDGE - below Dodd Naze

Ginny and Rich carried out several small jobs on this path which is a well used route connecting the estate with the rail and bus services. The jobs included:

• Cleaning off the bridge to identify slats that need replacing
• Securing the path edge at the Junction 
• Cutting back encroaching brambles and tree saplings
• Clearing the stone steps 

 

Steps cleared but more work needed

All the jobs were completed, but we need to return to replace three slats on the bridge, brush cut more brambles, add three steps down to the bridge and improve the stone steps. 

Hebden Bridge: Snow Booth gate and steps

 Snow Booth; Tricky steps and even trickier gate.

On the road to Old Town, beyond Hebden Bridge Golf Course (sometimes called Mount Skip Golf Course) near to where Height Road becomes Nook Lane there is a building named Snay Booth (sometimes called Snae Booth or Snow Booth). Below this building, a short section of right-of-way Wadsworth 078 heads due North and crosses to the opposite side of a drystone wall/stock fence. (see Map 1)

1. Worksite: steps to build and a gate to repair.

In brilliant blue-skied conditions Paul, Ian S, Kris and Frank H were faced with two tricky tasks :- constructing a short set of 'steps' to cope with the height difference as the path switches from one field to another and the reconstruction of the gate and fencing where the path goes through the wall/stockfence.

The detail

Short, steep, carries moved a small mountain of tools and timber from vehicle to worksite so Ian and Paul could begin to puzzle over the 'steps', and Kris and Frank could pitch into gate rebuild, hinge-post installation and fence repair. It was going to be a long session! Good job Kris has lots of energy!

i) The steps:

This is a 'before' picture:

2. Old and decayed. the two original steps

The plan was to replace these two, parallel, wooden steps with three similar steps. Careful recycling of the one treadboard and use of side-bracing for the step-legs eventually produced a stable, secure structure.

 

3. Progress: two steps in place and
number three under construction.

4. End result: Three, side-braced steps. 

5. Final touches: it's three wooden steps
then it's up onto the massive stone block.

This looks very neat. Well done guys. We might consider a fourth step and a grab pole when we return next month for another job in the area. . . .

. . . Meanwhile -

ii) The gate and fence:

Kris and Frank H tackled a sagging gate, a rotten hinge-post, rusted hinges and dilapidated fencing. The former gate was re-usable (albeit with some fettling). Here's a 'before' picture:

1. Overgrown and ramshackle!

The plan was to: 

a)  remove the rotten hinge-post (centre of picture).

b)  embed a new hinge-post so the existing very narrow gate (with new hinges, a spring in-fill strip and a closure spring) would self-close against one of the fence posts.

c)  fix, to the fence post, a closure chain that would loop over a gate paling.

d)  install short cross-rails to link hinge-post to the fence on the left.

e)  repair and re-align the fence in the foreground.

Phew! Looks to be a high energy session needing lots of careful thought!

2. Old hinge-post gone. Original gate being
used to get optimum posthole position

3. Narrow! New post-hole being excavated

.

4. View from 'steps' side: New hinge-post,
hinges, in-fill strip and spring all in place.

5. Progress: new side-rails to link gatepost
to the fence on the right. 

6. End result. New linked to old.

Jobs are always difficult if new structures have to fit in with 'often-out-of-line' older ones! Today, working space was constricted and there was a fair amount of 'make do and mend' but we were pleased with the end result. Some compromises were inevitable but the gate works efficiently, is self-closing and sections of horizontal rail are more horizontal than they have been for years!

CROWS will check on this structure when we return next month to fit another pedestrian gate further down the right-of-way. This will be a gate CROWS have constructed so installation will be easier . . .  and there's certainly more working room!