If you go down to the woods today you'd better not go alone!

 ....It was lovely out in the woods today, but perhaps better to stay at home? 

I will explain all later in these notes, as well as how we really enjoyed our summer work day picnic in the middle of Sherwood Forest. But first things first. ......

Our August work day was an "away day", outside our own region as we travelled over to Vicar Water country park at Clipstone, to lend a hand to Maldwyn and checking out a section of NCR 6 that he looks after. A couple of years ago we helped check the route down to Newstead Abbey, but this time the plan was to cycle the 10 miles up to Clumber Park, clearing vegetation and checking signage. Surely 10 miles and back wouldn't take too long?

It has now become quite common practice to start our work days with a coffee, and the lovely cafe at the car park provided us with far too comfortable a start; getting started on Sustrans work was accordingly delayed. No sooner had we got going than Maldwyn  pointed to signs in the car park that needed cleaning. He and David S gave us a masterclass in how to complete this important task whilst the rest of us chatted to one of the many people strolling past. 

We had no sooner left the car park and passed through the country park than the secateurs, loppers and shears were out of the bags and put into eager use. This pattern continued with short stretches of riding and long periods of cutting back the sprawling vegetation, which was encroaching the path with a vengeance. A number of cyclists passed us in both directions, but the overhanging branches of trees and brambles meant we all had to weave our way along the path to avoid them. The more we cleared the more there was we could do and so we decided quite early on that we would only have time to do the most severest problem areas. 

At one important  junction some serious cutting back had to be done to release the signpost from its tight weave of brambles and nettles that were obscuring the information from most cyclists' view. As we completed this task Peter and Maldwyn became engaged with a motorist, the outcome of which was that she invited us to her house for tea. Tricia told us she was an erstwhile Sustrans Ranger, but no longer carried out any volunteering activities (even clearing an important sign that she must pass by most days!!) She was thrilled to hear of the work we were doing, but explained that her spare time would be spent in Cyprus as soon as she could get there. Anyway, it would have been "rude" not to accept her very kind offer and so we followed her up the road and sat outside the folly that her home at "the Archway house" certainly was. 

We all enjoyed plant milk in our tea for the first time and listened intently to her Italian husband, Ricardo, giving us his thoughts on the impact of global warming. His arguments were very sound and it was very difficult to argue against any of them. However, too big a discussion over a mug of tea and we were by now very much behind schedule, so time to move on. Time to get back into the forest and chop back several years of virulent growth. 

By 1:30 we weren't even half way to Clumber Park and we had already decided to concentrate on just the worst excesses. We were massively behind schedule but it was time for lunch and we found a nice picnic spot, deep in the woods to eat our sandwiches. 

Progress after lunch started well, but we were soon bought to a very sudden halt when we found a post, displaying direction signs at a critical junction, had been completely knocked over and was lying flat on the ground. Not sure how it could have happened but there was nothing we could do to repair it with the equipment we carry. This was not the only distraction however for, striding up behind us came a naturist hiker with a full pack on his back, but not much else at all. Maldwyn explained to us that RSPB has given approval for naturists within the forest and they are now turning up all over the place. Not sure that I totally understand the connection, but hey-ho.  However no one was prepared to ask him why he walked around with a cycling helmet strapped to his pack! Having found an alternative solution to the damaged post issue we moved (very) swiftly on. 

Finally we entered the grounds of Clumber Park and reached our destination in the tea garden by 3:30pm. After 4 1/2 hours we had covered just over 10 miles, but worked very hard in clearing the track of its vegetation excesses. There was time to have tea before setting off on the return journey back to Vicar Water. Amazingly we flew back in under an hour and although there are a couple of areas where we could perhaps spend longer, for know I think we were all very pleased with the very visible difference we had made to quite a lengthy section of track that is used a lot by riders of all abilities. 

Another great day out volunteering. Thanks everyone. Next workday scheduled for Monday 6 September but I will be away. Anyone want to lead an event: doesn't have to be that date if something else preferable? 

Summer social, sunshine and picnic

 Despite the dire forecast for Sunday earlier in the week, the rains more than held off and we even had a few glimpses of warm sunshine for our summer picnic and social.

We started off the day with a walk up the impressive Ecton Hill, on the edge of the Manifold Valley. David and Catherine guided us to the top amazingly quickly, with regular stops on the way to look at the places of interest that are connected to the local copper mine workings. The views from the ridge at the top were truly amazing and I think we all thought the effort of getting up there was well worth it.

Our picnic site was in the grounds of Catherine and David's lovely house in Warslow, looking out over the Manifold valley. Many goodies were shared before the more energetic of us adjourned to the croquet lawn. Rule books were produced and hidden talents with mallets uncovered. Some blame for under par performances was accredited to the state of the lawn, but for the victors, natural skill in adapting to the conditions shone through!

I think all 10 of us really enjoyed the day and its success was in no small part due to David and Catherine's wonderful hospitality. Many thanks to them for making their home available for one of our social events, once again. 

Early morning maintenance work -NCR680

 The section of NCR 680 from the waste disposal site at Darley  Dale to station yard in Rowsley is one where we have invested a considerable amount of time and energy over the last 3 years. Under  the direction of Marion Farrell of Groundwork we have developed an important wildlife and environmental corridor. I cycle along this section regularly and most recently last Friday afternoon on my way from Matlock to Bakewell. It is a route that is very popular with cyclists, joggers and walkers. 

As I travelled along the section I was amazed at just how overgrown the verges have become and, despite our aggressive cutting back earlier in the year there are still branches overhanging the trail itself. Of even more concern was a large fallen branch lying completely across the trail

As you can see, a path has been created to get around the obstruction but nonetheless it seemed to me that the branch needed clearing as soon as possible to maintain the integrity of the trail. I do not know whether the Council has been notified about the obstruction, or not and, even if they have then how long it would take to get it cleared. The track around the obstruction suggests it had been there for some time. 

Early on saturday morning I co-opted my wife into the ranks of being a Sustrans volunteer and we set off to clear the branch. After 3/4 of an hour we had done all that we could do safely. 

As you can see, none of the fallen branch was left overhanging the trail, (truncated just above where Jenny is standing), but there is still quite a lot stretching back to the tree trunk, which will need felling in due course. I have advised the Council accordingly. The trail is now once again fully open for all traffic.

I have also notified Marion about the state of the trail verges and the need to get them mowed. 

She has already responded to say that she will initiate some response, which is great news. 

Thankfully it is not very often that we need to respond in this way to incidents on any of the trails we look after and mostly 1 work day a month enables us to deal with any problems. I know that David and Catherine have responded similarly to matters arising in the Hartington/ Manifold area and that others have done similarly elsewhere. It is what we do as our contribution to maintaining the National Cycle network. 

A new take on "work days", with an unpleasant finding

Our July work day was certainly full of surprises! At short notice David G, David S, Peter P, David and Catherine R decided to check out signage along NCR6 in the far north of our ranger region. It is a while since we last ventured up to Ladybower and I don't think there has been a formal work day to look at the section beyond, and under Stanage Edge, for many years. 

Rather than park in the Hope Valley and cycle out, and back to the edge of the Peak District close to the Norfolk Arms on Ringinglow Road in Sheffield, we decided to catch the train from Hope into the heart of Sheffield and then cycle back from there. 

We left the sun behind us in the Hope Valley and set off through the streets of Sheffield with overcast skies and the imminent threat of a cloudburst. We wound our way out from the city centre into the leafy suburbs around Endcliffe Park, before setting off up the Porter valley through Whitely woods. For many, this was the first time they had ridden this section of NCR 6 as it is outside the area for which we have responsibility: it is maintained by our colleagues in the Sheffield Ranger group.

Crossing the River Porter and heading upstream alongside it prooved demanding for David and Catherine on their Bromptons and we were all very pleased to finally reach the Forge Dam cafe for coffee (and for some a slice of cake too!) 

Directly as a result of careful planning and leadership, our coffee stop under the cafe's canvas awning meant we missed a real soaking from the heavy shower that had been threatening, ever since we left the station. Duly refreshed we set off again following NCR 6 signs to The Peak District. It was not long before some serious climbing began up one of Sheffield's 7 hills. But, what views we had from the top as we recovered from the climb, whilst eating our sandwiches. 

Shortly after lunch we finally reached the Norfolk Arms, Ringinglow Road and the boundary marker for not only the start of the Peak District National Park, but also the section of NCR 6 for which we have responsibility. It is quite a busy, popular road up here, but as far as I am aware there are no plans to reclassify or remove this section. There are only a few places where signage is necessary but finding places to which we can affix our signs is difficult. Initially we were generally happy with what was in place, although a bit of refresh of faded signs always looks good. 

As we got deeper into the moorland road we were shocked and disappointed to find that signs at crucial points had been wantonly vandalised. Rigid plastic signs had been ripped off, whilst plastic adhesive signs had been carefully obliterated with black spray paint. The signs are critical for anyone without a map as it is easy to miss the correct turns and hence unintentionally come off the route. We have restored signs as best we could, but the state we found the signs suggest that somebody is determined to ensure they are not left alone for the purpose of route finding. We may need to find alternative solutions. 

Stopping to deal with these problems not only meant it was getting late in the day, but it also meant that our stocks of rigid signs and adhesive stickers was getting low. We continued under the majestic Stanage Edge down to the Yorkshire Bridge pub, and then over the dam wall to the far side. All of the signs directing cyclists over the dam wall have disappeared, but I do remember replacing them a few years ago and noting the surface was not very good for our adhesive stickers. I suspect they have just dropped off and that there is no point just putting replacements up (even if we had any by that time!!) I think this section of route is earmarked for discarding and so I am not sure there is much point at present looking for a longer term solution.

Signs from the dam wall onto Thornhill trail were missing but the normal place for vandalised or missing signs at Thornhill car park seemed to all be in tact. We did not get chance to check the signs on the link route down to Bamford station but I will go back and check these at some point. 

And so we arrived back at the cars for about 4:00pm having had a most enjoyable day out. Why anybody would want to so conspicuously desecrate NCR signage is beyond me, but I have referred the matter to Peak Park rangers to see if they have any ideas about what we can do to ensure there is permanent signage of the route at critical points. Next work day is Friday 6 August. 

May showers and downpours

 For our May workday we had identified the need for a little bit of path and vegetation clearing on the approach to Carsington Water. The Severn Trent Ranger Group helped us out with this a couple of years ago and really cut back the trees on either side of the cycle track (NCR547). However, as they had grown back a bit since then, a little fine pruning was considered necessary.

As the route maintenance was never going to take up a full day of resource time, we decided to cycle a loop around the central White Peak area and carry out a signage check (despite the fact that some of these sections are to be ultimately reclassified or removed). So, we parked at Tissington station and, in now familiar fashion started the day off with a chat, a catch up and a coffee. Suitably prepared for the day we set off north up NCR68 as far as Biggin. We always comment on the fact that the Tissington trail is deceptively steep going north, and quite hard work, especially on the more "open" sections when the wind is quite strong. I don't know if staff at Parsley Hay warn people about this, as I am sure  some bike hirers will be blissfully unaware of what the return leg has in store as they fly down to Ashbourne!

From Biggin we used NCR548 to cut across to NCR54 and the High Peak trail. Another section we checked only 2 years ago, but already some of the signs had become faded and we were soon into full swing and replacing them. 

The lane leading away from the main road was riddled with puddles and I can't help but wonder whether the Sustrans Regional Network Development managers will want to reclassify or remove this section, all the way through to the Minninglow car park. It is far from ideal, but yet it creates such a wonderful link between the Tissington to High Peak trails. We'll keep it hidden from them for s long as we can. 

Rather than continue along NCR548 to the Minninglow car park we decided instead to use the shorter link track down to NCR54 as I don't remember us going down there recently. The signage was all fine and we carried on along the High Peak trail to the bottom of Hopton incline. Thus far the rain was holding off and it would not have been possible to not take in the beauty of this landscape that we are so lucky to live in. 

After postponing a group summiting of the Minninglow hilltop, we veered off NCR54 onto NCR547 and then down into Carsington. We were certainly testing the adequacy of our stock of red route number stickers! Just as we decided to stop for our lunch the first of the May showers came and having bravely tried to sit it out, we were eventually forced to take cover under one of the bird hides. 

Duly refreshed, and a little wetter, we sped around the rest of the reservoir and exited the Severn Trent boundary via the track running alongside the road. We have looked at the poor state of this section before and it is definitely not getting any better. There are deep ruts and one particularly bad, narrow, blind bend. Restorative work is now beyond our capability I fear, and some significant effort and resource will be required to get it back into good condition. I fear this is a section of NCR547 to be removed from the Network and so Sustrans are unlikely to want to commit any funding towards its repair. I will contact DCC again about the condition as it really is in a dangerous condition. I suspect it is quite well used given the number of campsites there now are in that area.

Anyway, onwards we rode further up the hill to tackle the overhanging brambles and undergrowth. What we found was quite surprising in that it seems as though somebody had beaten us to it! The main hazards both Peter and I had each spotted a few weeks back had disappeared, and so we had even less work to do than I thought we would have. Still, we smartened up even more.

Now doesn't that look good?

The section of NCR547 through Bradbourne to Tissington is definitely a bit that is destined for reclassification, if not removal, but again it is such a lovely ride and a wonderful, essential link between other routes within the White Peak. None of us dare brave the Tissington ford that was running high after all the recent heavy rains, but I think that was as much because of the dark clouds that were gathering and ready to break at any time.

Just as we got back to the cars they did and we all had an extremely wet journey home!

Well done everyone - another productive work day. Next one is Friday 4 June. 

Spring is sprung; lockdown is being unlocked

 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!!

Having done everything we wanted to do, it was then just a question of cycling the short distance back to the cafe at Hulme End for a cup of tea, then home!

Well done everyone. Great job, really well done and a good bike ride to boot as well. Thanks

The days when we could only get together via Zoom

 In the future we will look back and laugh about how, once upon a time, we were restricted in meeting together for work days, and instead we sat at home with our coffees, looking at each other on a computer screen . 

Thanks Peter for the image. 

What a fantastic turnout today on our February Zoom call. Just about everyone who regularly attended our work days in 2019 dialled in. I think we have a brilliant group of Volunteer Rangers for the Peak District region . We can confidently say that within our group we have actiive representatives in the far north, up to Whaley Bridge, and the far south down to Ashbourne, and beyond. 

I like the idea of a work day along the Cromford canal, taking in a clamber to the top of Scarthin Rock and a view across to Willersley Castle. Thank you Clyde for making us aware of the resurfaced track by the church. 

If anyone gets the chance to try the new link from Rowsley to Bakewell, via Coombs Road I'll be interested to hear what you think. Once it is resurfaced I think we can put up some suitable (temporary route) signage up . I think we know this is just a temporary alternative until the Haddon Tunnels are re-opened but, despite the hill up Church Lane it  is a great link between Rowsley and Bakewell that avoids the treacherous A6. Now we can start to put pressure on to find a temporary link from Wye Dale to Buxton. 

I have sent separately a link to the new Draft Derbushire Cycle Map.