Footpath clearance at Alderley Edge on Sunday 6th June 2021

Eleven of us met in the National Trust car park next to the Wizard Inn. 

Today's workday was hastily re-arranged when the team at the location, where we were originally meant to be working, weren't able to host us. Instead Tim, the Ranger at Alderley Edge, stepped in to offer us some path clearance provided we were happy to work unaccompanied (which we were!).

First job was to collect some wheelbarrows from Tim's compound, and the tools from Sue's car and take them across the Macclesfield Road, down Artists Lane onto a path on the right called Cow Lane, then turning onto the Bridleway, where we would be working.

Christine transporting not one, but two, wheelbarrows!

The Bridleway goes quite a long way down through the woods and, as horses use it, the soil on the path which has built up over the years, gets very 'sloppy' when it's been raining, making it difficult for walkers to get past. Our job was to remove the 'slop' - which fortunately for us was fairly dry having had no rain for a few days, barrow it away from the path and dump it in the woods amongst the vegetation, so it wouldn't easily get washed back onto the path once it started raining.

Tim also asked if we could dig some channels from the 'sloppy areas' into the nearby ditch, so the water would drain away from the path in the future.

It was a warm, humid day. We initially split off into smaller groups to tackle different 'sloppy' area's. 

After a socially-distanced relaxing coffee break in a sunny, sandy area (it was just like being abroad!), 

we got back to the job in hand and moved further down the path to a large 'sloppy' area that needed clearing.

It took a while but we managed to get it done and, just as we were finishing, a horse and rider came along to try out this 're-furbished' area of path - fortunately we got the thumbs up from the rider - phew!

Right on cue, a horse and rider appeared to 'test' the new path:-)

It was all too much for David, who needed to take the weight off his feet, while the rest of us gathered the tools together.

Taking the weight off!

This finished another great MNTV workday, which was full of chat, laughter and banter between the volunteers - all glad to be outdoors and helping another NT Ranger make good progress on a task that needed doing:-)

Photo's from Adrian, Jenny and Sue