[Johnny Brown]

Just a heads-up - work has started today on restoring the landing at the Trackside boulder.

Over the last few years the Peak Park warden added woodchip at the base to try to stop the erosion and reduce washout. Since the Eastern Moors Partnership took over the site they've been keen for a longer term solution. We had a site meet last week with the EMP staff and the BMC's local access team and decided to remove the woodchip, and replace it (to a lower level) with gritstone hardcore, as was carried out at the Plantation boulders a few years back. Hopefully this will stabilise the ground and allow the surrounding vegetation to come back in as it was getting smothered by the woodchip, whilst looking a little less like a municipal playground.

The site is likely to look a bit of a mess over the next few weeks, so just be aware its for the greater good and try to keep out of the way of any work. The staff have been really helpful so feel free to thank them, ply them with cake etc

When the hardcore arrives (probably in a couple of weeks) we'll be looking for volunteers to help move it, dump it and tamp it down. Its only a short walk so shouldn't be anything like as big as a job as the Plantation, but we'll try to arrange it for a Saturday so we get plenty of help.

Will keep you posted.

[Jim]

sounds good.
can't they get the hardcore delivered in a smaller truck with high ground clearance so it can be dumped exactly where it is needed or I am I forgetting what the track is like?

[cofe]

good work

[Bonjoy]

Excellent. Hopefully the lowered ground level will restore the problem left of the Trackside crack to it's original state (i.e. average height climbers had to jump in order to gain slopey boss with RH).

[dave]

Good shit. You know somethings wrong when strawberries became a sitstart.

[grumpycrumpy]

Good shit. You know somethings wrong when strawberries became a sitstart.

Would that up it's grade to a 5 ?  .......

[Johnny Brown]

If anyone's got any old photos showing the ground level be useful to post them up and get a good idea what the original level was.

[SA Chris]

Circa?

I might have one from 1989, but it would take a shitload of digging to find them; loft shoeboxes etc.

[douglas]

http://www.ukclimbing.com/images/dbpage.html?id=597

??

[Johnny Brown]

Clear as a bell that one!

This is the best one I've got - not a bad start but it'd be good to see further right/ into the past. Will have a dig in the files...

[cofe]

what about that classic of Lovejoy from OTE?

[SA Chris]

http://www.ukclimbing.com/images/dbpage.html?id=597

Even though it's in B&W i don't think it's that old. People on pads, Quiksilver T Shirt etc.

[Bonjoy]

what about that classic of Lovejoy from OTE?

Nice one, I was crossing my fingers and hoping nobody would say that. 

[Barratt]

not that old (2006), but looks pre wood chip:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/59538580@N00/148081578/#

[lagerstarfish]

If anyone's got any old photos showing the ground level be useful to post them up and get a good idea what the original level was.

what, and miss out on getting some extra boulder

I say - put the new ground as low as possible (as long as it drains OK) and let people stack pads/guide books/coats/sandwiches etc to recreate whichever year they want

[slackline]

not that old (2006), but looks pre wood chip:


100B0801 by mrjpeterj, on Flickr

[Barratt]

thanks 

[slackline]

thanks 

You're welcome 

[tommytwotone]

not that old (2006), but looks pre wood chip:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/59538580@N00/148081578/#

And post the rail snapping off the thing left of Strawberries as well, IIRB that came off in what, 2005ish?

[clm]

When they (the forestry commission?) build mountain bike trail centres they have wheelbarrows on tank tracks with a little engine. Might one be worth the investment by the group you mention if these ground stabilisation works are going to began more regular occurrence?

Just Googled it. Honda tracked power barrow. there's ones with wheels too. you can rent em.

[mr__j5]

Damn I forgot, that I'd taken that photo, let alone put it on flickr.

[mr__j5]

In fact, what about this, for what looks like really close to being wood chipped:

http://mister-j.dyndns.org/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=5846

[Johnny Brown]

Now that's what we were after!! Full marks mr j5.

[Snoops]

not that old (2006), but looks pre wood chip:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/59538580@N00/148081578/#

And post the rail snapping off the thing left of Strawberries as well, IIRB that came off in what, 2005ish?

I have the rail!2005 sounds about right.

P.S I didn't break it !

[LucyB]

And here's how it looks at the moment - with woodchip for comparison:



Sorry, it's not relevant. just having a HALAM moment 

DR Photography is the man for your wedding.....

[LucyB]

That hasn't worked, has it.   

[slackline]

You're flicker account (or those pictures/set at least) requires a guest pass to view so the "Share" link that normally allows you to copy and paste the BB code is greyed out.

[cofe]

you'd have thought he'd have splashed out on some decent shoes for his wedding day.

[Big Dave]

I'd probably say the Scarpa's would have cost more than a pair of wedding shoes!

Did she do Trackside as well? Not that I climb in a dress, but would imagine to be quite tricky in that one!

[LucyB]

Did she do Trackside as well? Not that I climb in a dress, but would imagine to be quite tricky in that one!

Don't be ridiculous, the tradition is that the groom does Trackside in his heavy, warm, woollen suit. Now that was funny....

[Percy B]

Nearly split me kecks on the high step..... 

[Joepicalli]

You're flicker account (or those pictures/set at least) requires a guest pass to view so the "Share" link that normally allows you to copy and paste the BB code is greyed out.

That is so romantic that I can hardly breath straight

Thanks for the do by the way
xx to you all

[dave]

You're flicker account (or those pictures/set at least) requires a guest pass to view so the "Share" link that normally allows you to copy and paste the BB code is greyed out.

The spotting looks a bit unrealistic. I mean he's got his arms out and everything.

[Percy B]

That's not spotting - that's somebody hoping to grope a bit of buttock. Disappointingly, she topped out.

[Jaspersharpe]

That is so romantic that I can hardly breath straight

Thanks for the do by the way
xx to you all

Man up Picalli! 

[Johnny Brown]

2 ton of hardcore has just been delivered to the boulder by the Eastern Moors Partnership.

We need some volunteers to help lay it - the plan is to create a strip a couple of metres wide up to the original ground level. Tomorrow morning - Saturday 8th October - would be ideal so any mess is as short lived as possible.

If folk would like to give up an hour of their Saturday morning it would be a great help. Bring a shovel, and with a few of us it shouldn't take long at all. Say 10ish?

The woodchip has been moved down to the road and will shortly be recycled onto other paths in the Peak.

[mr__j5]

I will try and turn up to help.

[Bonjoy]

Me and Spike will try and make it over

[LucyB]

Sorry, got poorly kids today.

Hope it went well.

[Johnny Brown]

Big thanks to Bonjoy, mr Pete j5, Cofe and Grimer for making the effort today. It'll take a while to settle in but I reckon its definitely a big step in the right direction.

Before:



During (back to old ground level):



After:




Good to find there is grass in places under the edges of the woodchip. Hopefully it should spread back in given a chance. The idea is as flat as possible, gently sloping away and downhill from the block - its pretty good at the mo but I'm not sure how well it will maintain itself.


There is still a big drift of woodchip downhill of the path. Ideally its need barrowing out, but hoying it into the bracken (as far and as wide as possible) will help. If anyone's heading there in the near future take a shovel and get stuck in. Great way to warm up!

[Jacqusie]

Good effort chaps, well done on getting the hardcore down. I'm thinking maybe a sign to ask people not to sit on the areas that need grass regen, what do you think?

We didn't have any at stanage but then there wasn't the same traffic impact PROW issue?

Si

[Johnny Brown]

I'm not sure where folk put their mats will have much effect on the grass coming back. If you look at the photos higher up the thread you can see the amount of grass before the woodchip was put down - the bare area is much smaller. The problem has grown due to too much woodchip smothering the grass. The key thing is to get as much of it removed as possible - if we can expose the old soil surface I suspect grass will come back quite quickly. Still work to do on the downslope side of the path in that department.

On a practical note I'm not sure anyone would choose to sit on the muddy bare areas currently when there is nice grass 6 foot away.

[Falling Down]

Is it possible to seed it with a local variety?  I had to reseed our garden after the septic tank backed up and turned our garden into the Somme with extra sh*t and was amazed by how quickly it took (sowed in the Spring).

[slackline]

Is it possible to seed it with a local variety?  I had to reseed our garden after the septic tank backed up and turned our garden into the Somme with extra sh*t and was amazed by how quickly it took (sowed in the Spring).

  Maybe you could provide some fertiliser for the area?   

Not sure it would fit well with the general sentiment of not shitting under boulders though.

:devangel