Wilsill: 08-04-2026

 

Wallers' Easter Update

from Barry, Duncan and Dave 

It was a beautiful sunny Spring morning in Nidderdale for stone stile repairs on the riverside paths near Wilsill.

Wood anemone and lesser celandine 

responding to the warmth on

 the riverside path

The Wallers split into two groups this week with Simon and Dave sorting a squeeze-stile with a metal bar downstream from Glasshouses on the south bank, and Barry, Andy, Rob and Duncan rebuilding a stile / steps adjacent to the Jogglyn footbridge on the north bank between Wilsill and Low Laithe.

The second group parked by the roadside between Wilsill and Smelthouses with beautiful views across Nidderdale and walked down to the footbridge passing through a field of newly born lambs and picking up a couple of wheelbarrows and tools that Barry & Andy had left earlier.  We then transported several impressively large stones from a derelict wall a couple of hundred yards away to the collapsed stile near the bridge.

Andy and Barry discussing the work ahead. 

While Barry toiled away making a collapsed wall safe (see picture below), the remaining wallers - Andy, Rob and Duncan - set about building steps up to the stile by the bridge.  At lunchtime Barry joined the others and pointed out the Brimstone butterflies which made a welcome appearance.  

Barry worked hard to level a derelict 

wall and make the steps up to it safe.

Andy and Rob worked near the bridge.

Here they are removing a large boulder 

that was in the way.  Note some of the large 

stones that had been barrowed to the site.

The completed steps up to the stile.

With just a bit of tidying up after lunch we were finished by 1.45. It was warm work walking back up the hill to the cars, but a really satisfying contribution to the amenity of local rights of way. 

Across the river, Dave and Simon grafted for another hour, completing their work by 3pm.This path by the River Nidd proved to be one of the most popular sites where we've walled with groups of walkers passing every half hour or so, all of them expressing gratitude for the improvements.  The completed steps were secure but would benefit from a handrail for those unsteady walkers who may pass down this well-used route.

'Before’ picture of the unsafe stile

 on the south bank

A veritable platform of steps

 constructed by Dave & Simon

A closer view of Dave & Simon’s work

Markenfield Hall: 01-04-2026

Wallers' update - April 1st 2026

by Graham

 It might have been April Fools Day but it marked the finale to our work at Markenfield Hall. We completed the main project of the 420 metre wall at the end of February but decided to repair bits of the adjoining Southern wall, partly to set off the main project but also to give us something to do for a couple of weeks. In doing so, another 24 yards of wall has been rebuilt and, in retrospect, a worthwhile achievement .  

It was another pleasant day of walling for the gang  completing and topping out the second section of 8 yards or so. 

 Final tidy up at Markenfield 

 After tidying up, work was finished by 14:30; but not after having a lunchtime treat of Barry's foray into making homemade pork pies. He is now arguably the best pork pie maker in the Harrogate and Knaresborough area.  All those who partook agreed these were extremely good, both in terms of looks, taste and texture!

One of Barry's amazing pork pies

Rod stretches up to top out

Duncan and the finished wall

 Another 8 yards completed

On a sadder note we had learnt that Catriona Cleverley had died suddenly on the 19th January. Catriona had walled with the group for as long as I can remember, definitely from 2011 onwards until late 2021. She was indeed a character, amusing and pleasant to all. Below are a few photos, mainly supplied by Tony Hudson, which hopefully reflect the Catriona we knew.

Catriona at North Stainley - August 2011

North Stainley  - Catriona explains to

 Chris why he might be wrong?

Darley playing field August 2012 - 

explaining to Roger how it should be done.

Phillip, Graham, Catriona and Chris at Darley

Fewston in March 2014 - Catriona

 explaining to Graham how a spade works

The team at Jenny Ruth in August 2015

 Tackling some bigger stones somewhere in Nidderdale

At a taster day at Heathfield 

caravan park in July 2017

Catriona at Low Waite in May 2019

Hackfall :31-03-2026

 Bye bye March!!

Having reached, unscathed, the final day of March without having had their ears boxed by mad March hares, been blown off their feet by strong equinoctial gales or narrowly missed tree planting overload, the NCVs were glad to hear that there would be a reasonable task this week to finish off the month. They were going to continue work on laying the hedge at the Grewelthorpe pond entrance to Hackfall Woods, so not far to walk!

However - on arrival it was made clear that the majority of the group would need to make the journey deep down into the woods to sort out a missing piece of path that had been taken out by a falling tree.

This involved a veeeery loooong

and extremely muddy walk 

carrying all the tools and wood.

Once there, stone was harvested from 

above the path .....

....and from within the roots of the tree.

These were used to pack up the 

boards that had been pegged into place.

Earth was removed to widen 

and flatten the walkway....

...and other stones used 

to create a crazy paved surface.

Steps were built for walkers to use to 

move easily from one level to another.

A broken board walk was utilised...

...to provide additional wooden planking.

The steps looked very 

professional upon completion.

Paul kindly provided a box of Tiffin

 to boost energy levels.

Thanks Paul!

Meanwhile - back up at the Grewelthorpe 

Pond entrance, 4 of the gang 

were getting on with the hedge laying job.

The Boss sat down on the job.

They thoroughly enjoyed their 

breaks in the sunshine....

....and made some excellent progress too!

As a little aside - the ROW team were out last Thursday (26th March) in order to repair some waymarkers at Low Riggs Farm up at Stean. Here they are in action...

New ROW volunteer, Richard,

got busy with the giant tweezers

in order to dig a hole 18" deep.

Then he and Ken inserted 

the first new post...

...and set it in place with half

a bag of quick setting 

post crete.

Then all that was needed

were some marker arrows.

Post number 2 was given 

the same treatment

further uphill.

This one just needed 

clearing of hazel branches.

Unfortunately there were some

very muddy patches.

Never mind.  Amy got busy with 

a spade and dug trenches.

Richard and Liz started making

mud pies too.

Down at the bottom of the valley

the tweezers were deployed 

again.

This time for the insertion 

of a new gatepost.

There you are - we just needed 

to hang the gate onto it once

 the post crete was dry.

A group of young 'stirks' came across to 

ask if they could help in any way.

Right back up at High Riggs

there was just this information

post to re-insert.

The ladies team worked

on this. Unfortunately there was a huge 

piece of rock a foot down.

It was EXTREMELY difficult 

to remove but they were not 

to be beaten!!