What we do (old)

Overgrown vegetation like nettles, brambles, trees or bushes can block a footpath. We clear these with shears, hedge cutters, saws, loppers and strimmers. This almost impassable path was at Luddenden Dean.

Occasionally, with help from friends with a chainsaw, we 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 with detritus which we scrape off. Where water is running over the path we create ditches and drains, or even divert water courses. 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 to walk. Widening a path involves using azads, spades and mattocks. On steep hillsides paths can become unstable, so we put in wooden revetment to hold up the edge. One of our favourite jobs 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 take their toll.

New tread boards, new uprights and new rails are often needed. Hammers, saws, drills and other carpentry tools are used  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 a new flight of steps. Hammers, saws, drills and other carpentry tools are used  on these jobs together with the big steel bar.

These steps are at Widdop Gate.

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 ground by long pegs hidden under the slats.

This boardwalk is above Mytholmroyd.

We usually have to repair walls where there is some kind of stile. Walls start to disintegrate where sheep climb over or where the stile getting a lot of use.

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 crowbar.

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.

Sometimes we walk along a published route to make sure it is in reasonable condition, and at the same time we add waymarks where needed.

When someone reports a problem, we usually go and inspect it to see how long the job will take and what materials and tools will be needed.