Ireby Fell Footpath Repair
The footpath from Masongill Lane to Ireby Fell was paved with stone flags and timber bridges by CNCC volunteers back in 2009. Prior to this installation the site was a quagmire, which the landowner was keen to have rectified. In recent years however the flags have slumped down-slope and the timber bridges rotted to the point where it was no longer used and a “desire line” route was forming parallel with the slippery flags.
On 24th February, following an appeal to our conservation volunteers and UKCaving, a team was assembled.
The strong team levelled and reset the heavy stone flags, restored the drainage channels and installed three wooden sleeper bridges across the boggiest sections. The soft rush was cut back from the path edges to slow down the disruptive influence of the root system.
The group divided themselves into small teams and worked virtually without supervision to produce an excellent result. This kind of project brings out all the skills, determination and teamwork that cavers seem to have in abundance. The whole job was done in one day with all materials delivered to site during the previous week thanks to Pete Bann.
Volunteers Present:
- Alan Wylie
- John Gardner
- Simon Johnson
- Richard Bendell,
- Pete Bann
- Andy Richardson
- Tam Rennie
- Leann Rennie
- Andrew Hinde
Photos courtesy of Andrew Hinde (showing the flags being re-levelled, and a rotten bridge before and after).
This project was made possible by community grant funding from Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust.