For the first work day this year we returned to NCR 549 at Hulme End to finish the work we started at the end of the last lockdown in November. Quel surprise!
David and Catherine have spent a lot of time badgering Staffs County Council to cut the vegetation at the side of the track, but they had done nothing. Until that is, our efforts in November came to their attention and they were finally embarassed enough to get a tractor with a flailer and do the whole length of the Manifold. They have done a great job, which saved us having to spend further time here.
So, we set off along NCR549 down the Manifold to Weag's bridge where we assessed the lack of signage caused by a deliberate act of vandalism. We then enjoyed a great ride up the hill to the lovely village of Wetton before traversing across the hilltop and dropping down into Berresford Dale, via Narrow Dale. Catherine, David, David and myself contemplated forming a consortium to buy and rennovate two wonderful old, derelict farms half way down Narrow Dale .... but then we remembered we had urgent work to do on the steep approach into Berresford Dale.
Berresford Dale is such a magical place and it must be one of the most scenic stretches of Sustran's routes in the whole country! Our task today was to reduce the overhanging vegetation that lines the difficult track into the dale. We were undertaking this work with the full authorisation of both DCC and Peak Park Rangers - so it had to be right.
The before....
and the after...
But we haven't finished yet... its a long hill
You can see all the way down now!!
