Well, we have finally broken free of lock-down restrictions and resumed our work-day activities .. at least in a very limited and controlled way.
On Monday 19 October myself, David S, Catherine and Peter joined up with Marion Farrell of Groundwork to attack overgrown vegetation alongside NCN 680 to the south of Rowsley station. I had noted the expanding vegetation was becoming a nuisance when we cycled by a few weeks ago and this seemed like a good opportunity to start cutting it back.
Marion provided all the equipment, as well as strong messages about social distancing, which meant that we could only ever get close up to the unwanted, encroaching and overhanging vegetation; not each other. Marion even felt that supplying and distributing the normal chocolate hob nobs was off limits, but fortunately Catherine had thought of a way to keep the team happy, and still staying within the new rules.
We didn't entirely clear the entire section in 3 hours, but we did make a significant difference and even received several verbal "thank yous" from passing cyclists. There is a bit more to do, which we will try to fit in to an additional work day on Monday 7 December.
Our next work day is scheduled for Friday 6 November. We are planning to make it a work day with cycle ride and it will be centred around Hartington/Manifold Valley area. Full details to follow in due course but we will aim to look at a couple of problems reported on NCN 549 in Berresford Dale, before moving on to tackle a couple of sections of Manifold Track, where overhanging vegetation is particularly bad and Staffordshire Council are not addressing the issues.
In other areas of interest, I am delighted to report that the much awaited improvement scheme to the track from Rowsley to Coombs Road is scheduled to take place through latter part of October and into November. This will create a temporary alternative link to one of the missing parts of the White Peak loop. Really looking forward to see what that will look like.
If you are planning to join in the work day on 6 November please do let me know in advance so that we can make sure the appropriate risk assessment is put into place.
