What we do

Overgrown vegetation can block a footpath. We clear this with shears, hedge cutters, saws, loppers, strimmers and brush-cutters.

Occasionally we need a chainsaw to clear fallen trees.

Himalayan Balsam is a problem. We clear any that encroaches on paths, but for other locations see our balsam guide.

A path may be muddy or clogged with leaf mould which we scrape off. Where water is running over the path we divert it into ditches and drains.   Azads, spades, shovels and mattocks are the tools for this work.

This shows a drain cleared out alongside an old causey path.

Paths can get very narrow and difficult. Widening a path involves using azads, spades and mattocks. On steep hillsides paths can become unstable, so we put in a wooden revetment to hold up the edge. A favourite job is uncovering ancient causey stones that have been covered by grass.

This path is above Sandy Brook at Barkisland.

Many stiles were built more than 20 years ago, and the Pennine weather and livestock have taken their toll.

New tread boards, new uprights and new rails are often needed. We use hammers, saws, drills and other carpentry tools on these jobs.

This impassable stile was on a path below Burlees Lane, Hebden Bridge.

Old stone steps can become overgrown and need clearing, and wooden steps eventually rot. Over time slopes can become eroded and very slippery.

One way of dealing with this is to install new steps. We use hammers, saws, drills, other carpentry tools and the heavy bar on these jobs.

Boardwalks get people across marshy ground where we can’t channel the water away from the path. Eventually these need repairing – usually to replace rotten or broken slats.

Sometimes we add staples to the boards to give people a better grip. The boardwalk is firmly fixed to the the ground by long stobs often hidden under the cross-treads.

This boardwalk is above Mytholmroyd.

Wall repairs are sometimes needed where there is some kind of stile. Walls start to disintegrate where sheep climb over or where the stile is used a lot.

Hammers and stone chisels are the main tools, but more importantly we need our two experienced wall builders, as they have the eye for the right stone in the right place.

This wall is at Shackleton above Hardcastle Crags.

Wooden bridges face the same problem as boardwalks with rotten or broken slats. Occasionally we have to rebuild a bridge if the main beams have broken.

For this work we use hammers, nails and staples. We secure the bridge to the ground on each bank of the stream by driving long pegs into the ground with a heavy steel bar.

This bridge crosses Hippins Clough at Blackshawhead.

More people are walking without maps and rely on waymarks – “The reassurance of the little yellow arrow” as someone put it.

We use finger posts, low waymark posts, and individual waymarks. Across moors we use yellow topped posts to make sure people don’t get lost in the mist.

When someone reports a problem we go and inspect it.  We decide if we can do it, how long it will take, how many volunteers and what materials and tools will be needed.

Sometimes we walk along a published route to survey its condition, and at the same time we add waymarks where needed.