March 25th 2018, postponed from March 18th owing to heavy fall of snow.

For reasons unknown, on a footpath through Mr Jeffries land, and for many years, a stile had been incorrectly sited.  This not withstanding the fact that when we recently visited to inspect the site, we found a yellow tag, emplaced many years ago, by Worc. County Council Rights of Way team, where the stile should have gone.  Mr Jeffries accepted that the stile could be replaced by a gate (thank you from all us increasingly un-agile oldsters) so the team did just that on March 25th.  Seems they were well looked after too.

OK for Some

The Start of it All

Finished Gate

note the yellow tag left there by Worc. County Council when path surveyed around 2000

We were asked to install two gates down by the weir where the Worcestershire Way and the Geopark Way cross from open land to trees. There are reports of motorised vehicles speeding through the woodland and the owner wished to stop it.

It was a big job, taking us 4 longish sessions to build ramps, install two RADAR gates, lengths of fencing with sheep and lamb proof netting and so on.  Moving all of the timber, rubble, netting, tools, generator to site was itself a big procedure, thanks in part, to the l/o who did take some kit down on the trailer behind his quad bike, otherwise we carried it!  Special thanks and commendations once again are owed to our leader, Jon Pearsall, who masterminded the plan, bought much of, and assembled all of the gear and generally kept us in order.  Thanks too to all of the volunteers who were able to come along.  The gates allow disabled users on mobility vehicles and in possession of a RADAR key, to open it up so they can pass through but at the same time prevents use of the gate other than for walking access.  Its design stops motorcycles for example.  Whilst trying with the combined intelligence of a dozen PONS to work out how the gates were to be assembled, we wished that we had been issued with drawings showing the exact layout so that footing holes could be dug in the correct place, one time only.  Ah well, we are used to being kept in the dark.

A final, fourth work party was held 1st Feb to attach mesh to sides and walkway.

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Wet, dirty, cold

and that was just my old pair of standard issue gloves.

Not many turned out–thanks for those who made it known that they could not be there–Ruari, Mike, Paul, Terry, Janet, Andy, Tony I recall.  Thanks too in great abundance to JP, who in short order had organized fencing, handrails and a real heavy load of kit to do a ‘special’, that is, to install two gates with ramps down by the old weir on the Teme.  The new gates are known as RADAR (Royal Association for Disability And Rehabilitation) gates that allow those on mobility scooters to open the gate with a key they carry but at the same time, walkers use a normal gate which with the hoops makes it really difficult for others e.g. illegal motorcyclists  to get through.

Big job and huge amounts to carry to the site along the Worcestershire and Geo-park ways, with sleet threatening and old snow lying around.  Tom took his ginger Discovery, sorry, gingerly took his Discovery along the track as far as he dared before unwilling hands offloaded and lugged the gear down to marshalling sites.

The combined brainpower of around 105 totalled from 7 of us, eventually worked out how we had to install the gates, their hoops, fences and ramps.  That exhausted us so much that we were forced to stagger back to Julien’s hospitality suite to enjoy minced pies, bacon butties, excellent mulled wine and a great variety of gins and vodkas brewed by JK.

We plan to have an extraordinary meet to complete the work so we can get back on to repairing our circular walks routes.  Anything like today’s gathering and it will certainly be out of the ordinary anyway.  Happy Festive Season to all our readers.

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What a difference a bigger crowd makes especially when the day starts with ARCC The Crown’s fantastic bacon butties once again (thanks Robin and his team–it has taken 30 years for us to be spoiled, and we quite like it). The PONS made a huge impression all over the parish today–see accompanying maps for areas that we cleared, starting with the lay by just past the saw mills and the paths leading from it (Map A); plenty of work south of Rodge Hill Farm (Map B) and Brook Court area (Map C). Some pics too.

Map A, Lay by on B4197

Map B South of Rodge Hill Farm

Map C, Brook Court Area

Ian on his fancy rampy

Andy hot already work not started

Tom struggling with a style

By Brook Court, really bad

John Corbett brush cutting nr Brook Court

Clear path--Oy what's that?

Bridge East of Brook court

Dave, Robin (mug behind the mug), Tom Pearsall (back to cam), Sam, Jon Pearsall, Ben Pearsall

Refreshments! Thanks Jan (Corbett)

Dave, Tom, Robin

JP and others

Tom with young apprentice

The Big Country

Things are really looking up in the footpath department thanks to ARCC The Crown (http://crowninnmartley.co.uk/) in Martley. Robin (Conway) kindly invited the Path-or-Nones (http://thepathornones.co.uk/) to enjoy lovely crunchy bacon saanies from home made sourdough bread and home grown and cured bacon before our work party yesterday. Fabulous, a real first, my only regret–no photos. Jon P then welcomed our new recruits (including Robin Jnr) and we set off in convoy for the morning, first to the Ham Bridge area, after to Newtown. Thanks to all who came along on a lovely day–won’t always be like that and we won’t always get the chow first but what a start to the season! If anyone wishes to join us to help maintain local paths–only once a month usually the third Sunday, meet at The Crown Martley at 9a.m. so next meet is scheduled for May 21st

23Apr17 map 1

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23Apr17 map 2

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PONS GRP 23APR17 (Copy)

Today seven of us spent all morning on Pudford Lane, clearing and refitting steps, removing over and undergrowth around several stiles and generally tidying up an area we have not visited for some time. Four new steps and a signpost are required and this has been made know to County via the database. A bridleway opposite the entrance to Pudford Farm is very badly eroded and extremely muddy as being used by quad bikes as well as horses and riders. Maybe the local contractor, who lives down the lane and whose trucks are to be seen all over the place, can drop off a load of rubble.

Some pics:

STEPS ON WW BEFORE

PUDFORD LANE

PUDFORD LANE 2

NEW WMP PUDFORD LANE CORNER WORC WAY

PUDFORD LANE STILE (SOUTH) BEFORE

IAN PUDFORD LANE

PUDFORD FARM DRIVE STILE

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PUDFORD LANE STILE BEFORE

PUDFORD LANE STILE NORTH END

PUDFORD LANE STILE AFTER

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Path 580 at end Pudford Lane

STEPS ON WW AFTER

COFFEE AT JP

Welcome and thanks to new recruits Charlie (new Manageress of the Crown) and Paul aka Ben (meaning that he has moved into Ben Cartwright’s old house leaving Ben and Joan homeless, wandering the dangerous streets of Malvern and beyond).  Great to see you both we hope we will see you again, in any case we know where you live so can always come to collect you.  Cheers us up no end to see new faces, given that many of our usual number cried off owing to very suspect excuses.

Focussed on the path around Penny Hill we did a huge amount, clearing all of the 135 (approximately) steps on that route–leaves, soil, over growth and installing and repairing a dozen or so others.  Have requested more steps from County.

Badgers been at Work

A bit tidier

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At Penny Hill--Coffee Break

Jan Corbett, Tom Pearsall, Jon Pearsall, Ian Pennell, Paul Kelley

At Penny Hill--Coffee Break

John Corbett, John Nicklin, Tom Pearsall, Jon Pearsall, Ian Pennell, Paul Kelley

Unloading, back at JP's

Paul Kelley, Jon Pearsall, Tom Pearsall, John Corbett

Ringed locations indicate where we worked. Three waymark posts (one new) installed or re-installed and firmed up; plenty of signing maintained and added to, the walk around the east of Penny Hill (882 and 566) discovered several quite heavy branches to remove (which we did) and one enormous fallen tree blocking two paths (557 and 551) that form the small triangle of paths at the junction of 552, 556 and 822.  This is too big for us to tackle so have informed our masters.  Let’s see how long they take. Finally, back at JPs we recruited a new PONS member then replaced the finger on a signpost (594) that the idiot hedge cutter had sent into oblivion.

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Rarely do we meet twice a month, those who read last week’s blog will recall the extreme wet weather, postponing serious work on steps up to Rodge Hill for a week. Thus it was that on 23rd 18 new steps were added to this very steep slope. Rival groups vied to do the best work with much muttering from those at the bottom protesting they were making good the work of those at the top (of the hill). Jan popped in with welcome coffee as the weather had greyed up and it was quite chilly. In addition to these steps, the narrow and slippy path out of the quarry behind Quarry Farm was widened.

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