This article describes ECR Footpath Project Team’s restoration works in Poynton-with-Worth Parish on paths, in an area of 1.5 sq km, northeast of Poynton and west of Middlewood. It is encompassed by Norbury Brook (north), the Middlewood road (east), Higher Poynton (south), and surrounds Rabbit Burro Farm and Prince’s Wood. Improvements took place, throughout 2017, on eleven footpaths, all identified on the map below.
This is a historic coal-mining area, and many of these paths are relics of coal-transporting routes which criss-cross the land with carting tracks, and railway wagon haulways etc. and which, at different stages of history, connected with (or avoided!) turnpikes, High Lane (north), the Macclesfield Canal (east) and, later, the railways in the east, and in the west at old sidings by Poynton Station.
The comparatively well-drained colliery railway and haulway embanked paths have been inundated with gorse bushes and trees over recent years, such that ramblers have been forced off the raised ground and have had to pick their ways along deep muddy cattle-formed tracks.
Crewe-based PROW Officer for this part of East Cheshire, Evan Pedley, presented me with 1:5,000 plans, marked up to show heavily overgrown or ‘lost’ gorse-smothered sections of paths. He asked if our Projects Team could clear the paths of the excessive overgrowth, and if we would provide replacement handrails in some places.
I programmed this work at Poynton-with-Worth in phases, alternating with visits to other East Cheshire project work sites. The Poynton project took up 18 days with visits to the area’s footpaths from February to October. As a result, 2017 was a busy and productive year for the Projects Team, which included 17 days through June to August spent reconstructing a long series of steps at Bollington*, and visits to work on paths in the parishes of Prestbury, Rainow and Wincle*. (*see previous posted articles).
Aspects of the team’s work in this Poynton-with-Worth area:
- General vegetation clearing (and grubbing up of roots)
- Establishing new finger posts and waymarker posts
- Relocating footpaths
- Preparing the north seating for a boardwalk – and erecting a new notice post
- Constructing new, and restoring old, handrailings
- Stile repairs
I will describe our work, in categories.
General vegetation clearance
Footpath FP 9
We commenced on February 15th with clearances on FP 9 progressing from east to west. Linked clearances encompassed various intersecting paths as pictured above.
FP 9 cleared westwards to FP 10. Brambles, saplings and branches cleared from fences and field . 
Progressing west – lopping branches. Mike Collins, Duncan Learmond, Barbara Hare (Others beyond). 
Ken Hobbs, Mike Collins. A gorse blockage in the middle section before a footbridge. 
The new cut cleared to avoid a cattle-mashed quagmire path (left)
Ken Hobbs, clearing this section with…… 
…….Duncan Learmond, Barbara Hare, Mike Collins.
FP9, between FPs 85 and 53, was especially smothered in gorse, and was unwalkable. Considerable effort and time was spent cutting down the bushes and grubbing up the interwoven roots, enabling a clear view and walkable path along its embankment.
View from FP 9 at FP 11 intersection. FP 9 continues just left of two central silver birches visible ahead….. 
FP 9 being cleared…… 
…..being cleared 
……progressing with gorse cutting and grubbing up 
View east in midst of clearance. 
View east – beyond 
Clearance progressing! 
David James clearing FP 9 west end beyond FP 17 
DJ’s work – hedge on north side 
viewed towards FPs 17 & 54 intersection
Four views taken in December 2020 along FP 9, east and west of its crossing of FPs 17 and 54, are shown below.
View west, after FP 85 crossing, approaching FP 12 intersection 
View west, at FP 12 intersection. It’s finger post is on the right of the view. 
View west, near FPs 17 and 54 crossing with boardwalk in view. 
View, west of FPs 17 and 54 crossing point.
Footpath FP 85
FP85, whilst walkable, was heavily overgrown and the team cut back the hedgerow each side extensively.
Starting clearance on FP 85, northwards from FP 9 
Duncan Learmond with a cleared segment. 
Clearance progressing. Duncan Learmond. 
Cleared, but FP 12’s crossing finger post is too far north. 
Four views taken December 2020. (A) 
(B) 
(C) 
(D)
FP 85’s intersection with FP12 was found to be located too far north, and we cut through the hedgerows either side of FP 85 at the correct location for FP 12 and relocated the finger post. (For more views see ‘Finger and Sign Posts – further below).
Corrected crossing location of FP 12 from west…. 
….and from east. 
Clearing hedgerows each side for new location of FP 12 crossing. Mike Collins, Duncan Learmond. 
FP12 Sign post at crossing (taken December 2020)
The south section of FP 85, is ‘lost’ in Prince’s Wood approaching FPs 6 and 7. The ‘selected’ approach follows the fenceline using unlocked gates for passage. Finding, clearing and clearly waymarking the designated path is a task for the future.
Footpath FP 17
Three thickets of trees were thinned out or cleared on FP 17 between FP 9 and the intersection with 53 and 62.
FP 17 viewed north. Helen Battilana, David James, Mike Collins 
FP 17 viewed south. Janet Allan 
David James near crossing FP 9 
FP 17. Further clearance ahead. 
Dec 2020. As cleared. View from FP 9. 
Dec 2020. Viewed approaching FPs 53 and 62 tracks.
An extensive length of FP17 north of FP53/62 intersection was cleared of branches, saplings, and brambles.
Janet Allan, Ian Wasson, Barbara Hare. 
Ken Hobbs 
Duncan Learmond, Ian Wasson, Barbara Hare, Janet Allan, Mike Collins
Footpath FP 54
On FP 54 within Prince’s Wood, several hollies and small trees were cleared from the path’s line, mainly between FPs 5 and 6.
Barbara Hare 
Ian Black, Adrian Flinn 
Ian Black, Adrian Flinn 
View south from FP 6
Footpath FP 14
Two of us visited FP 14 in woodlands at the north edge of this area, and cleared some hollies and other branches. We added new waymarker disks to existing posts, and, as described later, erected a waymarker post.
FP 14 to clear… 
…and more. 
Mike Collins finishing off. 
Clearance and post erection done. Now, the trek to the cars.
Preparations for a new boardwalk
At the north end of FP 54, where FP 17 crosses FP 9 onto FP 54, there are two sunken channels orientated east-west which flood in winter and walkers used to need to find alternative ways around these obstructions to go south on 54. As our path clearances exposed the crossing, East Cheshire Ramblers Group was inspired to approach the PROW officer, Evan Pedley, at Cheshire East Council to arrange installation of a boardwalk across the two hollows. East Cheshire Ramblers Group arranged finances from Ramblers UK for the boardwalk’s purchase and its erection. The erection contract was arranged by Evan Pedley.
FP 54 route south crosses two ‘swamps’ from FP 9 (left) 
Location of proposed boardwalk north seating (in gorse bushes) from FP 9
As part of FP 54 clearance, our project team cut down obstructing silver birch branches at the boardwalk north abutment on FP 9 edge.
Mike Collins in foreground, Janet Allan and Helen Battilana in background (strimming and cutting vegetation) on FP54 
View from FP 17 southwards of partial clearance for boardwalk seating….. 
…..and view looking towards FPs 9/17
With the boardwalk construction imminent, I attended the location for two days by myself to prepare the north embankment for the boardwalk seating pad, and to ensure free passage from the boardwalk to FP 9. For this, I completed cutting out tree branches, and grubbed up gorse bushes and some tree stumps.
Location of boardwalk’s seating, with obstructing stumps 
Tree branches being cleared at boardwalk location 
Stumps grubbed up .looking eastwards alongFP 9 (top left) 
Awaiting boardwalk. Looking over seating location and along FP 17
A contractor to CEC carried out the boardwalk installation work, which, as stated earlier, was financed by Ramblers UK through East Cheshire Ramblers Group.
Contractors installing boardwalks. Looking east from FP 17 
Abutment cleared at FP 9 
Boardwalks from FP 17 looking along FP 54 
View towards FP 9 (crossing), and FP 17 going straight ahead
Finger, waymarker and notice posts
As footpath vegetation clearance progressed on FP 9, the crossing point with FP 17 and 54 was exposed and the location for a four-way finger post was determined. Just south of this intersection FP 54 crosses the new boardwalk and a waymarker post was erected on the brow of the large field further south.
Finger post location. Boardwalk location aligned ahead. FP 54 waymarker to be placed in distance. 
Finger Post at path ‘crossroads’. Viewed on, and looking east along FP 9 
Path ‘crossroads’ viewed west along FP 9 
FP 54 waymarker post. David James in distance.
FP 12, crossing FP 85 and approaching FP 9 seemed to be mis-located 20 metres too far north. Thanks to GPS, this was readily confirmed, and its correct alignment determined. Following hedgerow clearances described above, finger posts on FPs 85 and 11 were moved south to locate the FP 12 intersections correctly. A waymarker was added to FP 12 on the brow of the rise crossing the grassy field eastwards to New House Farm.
Intersection at FPs 85 and 12. Fingerpost re-positioned here from 20 metres further north. Viewed west ….. 
….and viewed east along FP 12 (re-aligned), with hedgerows cleared. These two photos were taken Dec. 2020. 
Finger post in corrected (more southerly) location. Facing east along FP 12 and crossing FP 11. 
Waymarker on FP 12 approaching New House Farm, eastwards.
Two waymarker posts were erected at the customarily used south end of FP 85, where it splits to join FP 7 at two spots. Waymarker posts were added at the intersections of FP 54 and both FPs 5 and 6.
Waymarker at FP 7’s intersection with FP 85. Mike Collins. Viewed west. 
Waymarker on FP 85 viewed north. (Alternative approach from FP 7 comes from left). 
…Viewed south (Alternative path to FP 7 to right)
At FP 5 with FP 54 to right 
At FP 5, viewing north along FP 54 
At FP 6, viewing west, and FP 54 crossing left-right. Mike Collins 
At FP 6, viewing north along FP 54
A Finger post was added at the intersection of FPs 11, 18 and 19. A waymarker was added on FP 14 in the wood near a bend.
Finger post at intersection of FPs 11, 18 and 19, viewed east. 
Waymarker on FP 14, viewed west on descent to road at bend, from the wood’s entry point, left.
We erected a notice board at the north end of the linked boardwalks on FP 54, visible on FPs 9 and 17.
Making up notice. 
Erected Notice. 
Wording.
Stile repairs
Stiles were repaired or improved on FP 54 in Princes Wood, on FP 85 near its north link to FP 17, and on FP 17 by FP 53.
FP 54 Prince’s Wood, Lower step added (steep bank up to step)……… 
………As finished with staples for boot grip. 
FP 85 stile with see-saw step….. 
…under replacement, Mike Collins and myself. 
Two steps improvement. 
FP 17 at 53/62 intersection. Paving stones brought from my garden!
New handrailing and repairs
In Princes Wood a single wood sleeper crosses a small brook. A handrail was constructed there. Meanwhile staples were hammered to the stile steps to enhance boot grip.
Barbara Hare (stapling stile steps), Ian Wasson, Ian Black, Adrian Flinn excavating for handrail posts. 
Barbara hammering staples in the sleeper plank for boot grip. 
Finished Handrail 
Stapled stile steps. Note extra step added (see above).
In the northeast corner of this area, adjacent to FP62 there is a deep sump collecting water into a pipe culvert in a hollow formed by an adjacent brook. Evan Pedley had asked for a guard rail to be positioned by this sump and culvert to protect walkers and their children. In May, three of us attended to the installation.
Roger Jubb, Mike Collins excavating a post hole 
Roger reprofiling slope at posts. 
A satisfied survey of results! 
Rails at two levels to protect children.
Our third handrailing foray was to FP 13 across Middlewood Road, east side of the area. Mike and I engaged in replacing handrails on steps to a footbridge across Norbury Brook. We replaced the roadside posts, mid-height and top handrails both sides on these steep steps.
Partly dismantled. Mike Collins in distance collecting handrails. 
Showing rotted posts and handrails. 
New roadside posts in place. Handrails tie-in to bridge rails in progress. Mike Collins 
Works in progress to completion with two levels of rails. 
Viewed December 2020…. 
Viewed Dec 2020
ECR Footpaths Project Team Attendees
The project tasks described above were carried out by Janet Allan, Helen Battilana, Ian Black, Mike Collins, Roger Fielding, Adrian Flinn, Barbara Hare, Ken Hobbs, David James, Roger Jubb, Duncan Learmond, Gillian North, Tom North, Brian Richardson and Ian Wasson.
Amongst us fifteen team members, we visited the project on 18 dates between February and October 2017, attending on 51 person-days and fulfilling 219.5 hours of labour (excluding lunch breaks).