Volunteer group helping to keep bridleways open in south shropshire
We will have a short meetings starting at 6:45pm followed by a meal at the Three Horseshoes Pub, Wheathill on Thursday 13th April. Yvonne has spoken to the pub and the chef will provide us with a menu in due course. All welcome.
Further details and how to book to follow.
A belated Happy New Year to everyone.
It has been suggested we have an evening social meal/meeting sometime soon. It would be great to see everyone and to discuss plans for this year.
Please drop me an email with any thoughts on this eg. would you want to come along, possible venue, dates (would you prefer weekend or weekday) etc.
Hopefully after the last 2 years this year will be a bit easier to organise activities etc.
Steve and Ted are hoping to make a start on the improvements to Route D starting on Saturday 10th Sept. If you are able to help please contact Steve or Ted to see what help they might need. Many thanks.
Update on activities –
Meeting held with Chris and SWT reserves manager to discuss improvements to bridleway on Catherton Common coming down to the stream before gate to Crammer Gutter. SWT have no issue with us digging out a ditch to left of path going towards Crammer Gutter and putting in a cross drain and stone to improve the going. Main issue is that because this is SSI it will need approval from Natural England. SWT will contact Natural England to discuss. It is therefore unlikely we will be able to do anything in immediate future! Will probably need to chase.
Gates by Cattle Grids on Catherton Common. Gate clapper post by Abkats was lose and difficult to close. This has been repaired by Chris. Fence across cattle grid at Riddings Gate had been damaged and lose netting was making it difficult to use the gate. This has been repaired by Chris.
Hill Houses. Jo and Chris have cleared overhanging branches and brambles so should be easier to use.
Please let me know if you find any urgent issues that need to be looked at and also let me/John know if you do any work on any routes as we can log these with the council. Do feel free to use our Facebook/Whatsapp group to notify the group if you want to arrange a work party.
We have had a positive response from Council regarding materials for Factory Lane (D) improvements. They have said they will supply some 12″ pipe and also stone . They will also get back to us regarding the other issues raised although it sounds like they are looking for a new rights of way officer for our area.
John, Steve and Ted have managed to clear the fallen trees from Hinton (A). Digger and dumper were needed to be able to remove the larger trees. Many thanks to them for their hard work. Some general clearance work was also started (thanks to Matilda) but further work is needed.
We don’t seem to be able to get many helpers. Maybe weekend mornings are not suitable. There are a number of routes that need some clearance work and many hands gets the work done quickly.
Please can you let us know if a weekday early evening might be better for you or any other preferences. Alternatively if you do have some time to do some work on your own just let us know. Thanks.
Work party to clear Hinton – Winterdyne (A) (re-arranged from 18th June).
General clearance work with loppers etc. park at Hinton end and work up.
Tree clearance work with chainsaws start at Winterdyne end.
Any queries contact John.
John and Ted have mowed the long grass and cleared some of the worst overhanging branches. We will need to organise a work party after the nesting season to clear back the overhanging hedge.
Thanks to John and Ted.
We have had to cancel the work party today as the weather will make it difficult (we were planning to take the digger and dumper to help move the trees and timber). Will rearrange. Thanks.
General clearance work with loppers etc. park at Hinton end and work up.
Tree clearance work with chainsaws start at Winterdyne end.
Hope to see you on Saturday from 10am on.
Steve, John, Ted, Chris, Clare and Colin met 12th June 2022 at Factory Farm to work out how best to improve the bridleway from Factory lane (D) to the Detton – Prescott Bridleway (C).
Colin and Clare have already done some clearance work but the lower section does get very wet and can be impassable by the gate just before the river crossing.
Work required –
Clear out ditch above the first gate (on right side going up the path).
Lift out the metal gate and clear the build up of soil (hopefully there will be some hard standing under this)
Replace gate (might move it over to left slightly away from ditch) and adjust to make it easier to use.
Put down stone (grade 75mm down) under the gate area
Install large diameter pipe (ideally 12″ concrete pipe) under gateway into field on right to take water from ditch down to the river. Estimate approx 4-5 m length.
Material dug out can be spread on bank (to right of path going up) above river.
If time/finance allows also look at clearing out ditch on right of path above second gate across the bridleway leading to owners horses field.
Look at existing bridleway gate above this second crossing to see if this can be made easier to use.
Colin and Clare will take responsibility for how to stop water flowing into their field (eg open concrete channel with grid) and supply materials for this.
Priority will be bottom section but if time allows will improve ditch on right further up the route.
Materials – Stone approx 32 tonnes. 5 off 12″concrete pipe (usually comes in 1m sections) Note we do have some 9″ plastic pipe in store if required.
Stone can be unloaded at Johns and then moved by dumper (bridge will take weight of dumper but not larger lorry). Should be able to get dumper down to path.
Machinery – Digger and dumper (Steve/John)
We will need a clearance work party prior to starting any digger work.
ACTION: Chris to chase Council for contribution of stone and pipes.
ACTION: Chris/John to review budget and see if we can fund this work.