Baitings Dam, Ripponden

On  a day of mellow mist and orange autumnal views Jerry, Stella and Rich D arrived with shears, loppers and the strimmer to cut back the overgrowth encroaching on a path just above Baitings Dam.  This short path runs from opposite the dam car park up to the cottages on Blue Ball Lane and has fine views across the valley.  There are two stiles towards the top which need new tread boards, which we will come back to do.

This work was funded by donations to CROWS for which we are most grateful.

This is the path, marked in blue.

Rich getting started with the strimmer

Making progress uphill

The lower section now very easily walkable

RYBURN - Off Longley Lane

 Today we worked on a stile on a path that links Longley Lane to New Longley Lane. A team comprising Carla, Jerry, Rich and Jak turned out in the rain which thankfully abated.

Location of stile

First we took down a very old and rotten stile.

Old stile

The ground was very stony because of being on two old wall lines so it was hard work to create the holes for the primary stile posts. This done we then made further holes for the two steps.

Steps and treadboards in place

Work in progress, it must be lunchtime soon

We were delighted to meet the owner of the field and after lunch we finished off and tidied up. We will return to do a little more work to the side of the stile. 

Topping out ceremony

This work was made possible by donations to CROWS. Very many thanks for the support.

Ryburn - Return to Birks Lane.

As promised on last week's blog, Linda, Jerry and Angus returned to Birks Lane to work on the access from the stile onto the road. As predicted, the previous day's rain had made the slope treacherous.

Initially, we considered building stone steps, but the lack of suitable materials made this a non-starter, so we opted for wooden risers secured by lengths of rebar. As with last week's work, this was funded by Ryburn Parish Council, to whom we are extremely grateful.

Blue circle at Birks Lane is where the steps were constructed.

 

No steps! Just a slippery slope. After an hour, things are looking a lot safer!

With such stony ground, using wooden stobs was a non-starter, using rebar which can be hammered into the ground, forcing its way between the stones, gives a strong anchor which can be stapled to the step risers. While Linda and Angus set-to with the steps, Jerry repaired parts of the wall above the steps removing and repositioning a number of loose stones.

The finished job, complete with a yellow-topped grab post (which 

will also serve to alert road users).

We then went to the top of the path where we had previously built a stile (generously paid for by the landowner, Mr Ian Boulger). There was a second job to be done on his land (marked by the other blue circle on the previous map) where a crossing point through/over a wall/fence takes the path into some woodland towards Cottonstones.

On inspection, we discovered that the treadboard and one of the step-legs had rotted through; the wall was in poor condition and the fence posts were only held in place by the stock fence!

A tricky crossing, fraught with challenges.

After discussion with Mr Boulger, we decided that as there was no stock in the adjoining fields (and it was unlikely there would be) the best solution was to cut a gap in the fence and rebuild the wall but with an access gap. 

Linda started cutting back the overgrown vegetation to get some light on the job, whilst Jerry and Angus assessed the best way to dismantle the existing structure. 

Angus considers the options for this wall/fence/stile conundrum.

 

Decisions made! Linda and Jerry get to grips with rebuilding the decrepit wall.

We left an original post in place as it was ideally positioned for waymarks. The gap in the wall soon took shape, new posts were embedded, the fence tensioned and fixed to the posts. In the future, if the fields are to be restocked, it would be simple enough to fit a gate or a stile into this gap.

The weather was considerably calmer than last week, though when it did rain, Mr Boulger brought us very welcome cups of coffee! Hooray!

Another satisfying day's work completed.

Ryburn - Stile replacement off Birks Lane.

A wet and windy Friday saw Eleanor, Linda, Jerry and Angus head up to a footpath leading off Birks Lane above Mill Bank, where it was considerably blustery . . . and very wet! 

Spirits undampened (unlike our clothing) we unloaded tools and materials and started work clearing the entrance to the path off the lane. The jobs were to make the entrance to the path more accessible, replace the stile and do further cutting back at the start of a second path near Bowood Farm. We are grateful to Ripponden Parish Council whose funding allowed this work to be done. Thank you.

The blue circles show today's work locations.

Battling the strong wind and scything rain, Eleanor and Linda set about cutting back the overgrowth at the edge of the lane, whilst Jerry and Angus started to dismantle the old stile and connecting fence. The wind made keeping the cut material under control a challenge and as Jerry and Angus started digging holes for the new posts, the dry earth was whipped up by the wind so they were soon cover in a thin film of mud.

Two views of the stile to be replaced. The images don't really show how wet and windy it was.

Starting work to clear the entrance to the path and to improve sightlines.

Linda in full "step clearing" mode.

Unfortunately, once cleared, the lower section of steps was found to be non-existent!

Once most of the old stile timbers had been removed, we dug out the rotten bases of the posts and set about measuring up the available space in order to fit a single-step stile and dog gate. With a very old fence strainer concreted into the ground at one side, and a crumbling wall at the other side, it was going to be a tricky fit! 

Fortunately the digging was fairly easy (if a bit dusty) and we soon got the basic stile structure as we wanted.

Jerry, rigged for foul weather, positioning the treadboard supports.

After clearing the vegetation, Eleanor and Linda headed along to Bowood Farm to fit new waymarks and attack a section of footpath overgrown with nettles. The remainder of this path is clear and follows the field wall down to Mill Bank. 

Just as we were finishing, the weather started to clear and the warm breeze that replaced the rain soon dried us out.

Linda checking the stile and the action of the dog-gate.

Angus fitting a CROWS information plaque.

The finished job . . .  now with blue sky and glorious sunshine!

 Despite the weather, this was a successful day but we will need to return and sort out the missing steps that should lead down to the lane. If you are walking this route, take care when exiting onto the lane (especially if it is wet) as the lack of steps makes this section quite slippery.

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.

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.