Details of the Working Party 27 May 2021
The Work Party was again tasked with making improvements to paths which will be part of the proposed routes for the Circular Walks, this time at Knowle Hill, near Evesham. Two stiles were to be replaced by kissing gates, a third stile removed and three steps installed on a steep bank.
While we waited for the materials to be delivered by Nick from the County, we removed all of the existing stiles. It soon became apparent that, due to the restricted areas we were working in and the fact that the PROW Team had supplied kissing gates much larger than normal, the installation was not going to be easy.
And so it proved! Several holes had to be dug to accommodate the kissing gate hoops before we were in a position to bolt them together, allowing enough room for walkers to navigate safely through.
After a brief donut break (thanks, Mike!) four members of the party remained to work on the steps which led up to the orchard on Knowle Hill. Having dug in the treads, we were left scratching our heads as to where we were going to get a large amount of soil for the infill.
Luckily, the owner of the orchard came to our rescue and offered to supply both unwanted hardcore and soil. Unfortunately, the hardcore was some 400m away and initially had to be transported by wheelbarrow before the landowner and a pick-up truck came to our rescue. We still had to wheelbarrow the soil from about 150m away.
Eventually, we were satisfied with the outcome and several walkers have since praised the improvements, so well done to everyone on the day – thank you for all your hard work.
The next Working Party is scheduled for Thursday 17 June.
