From early in the morning the sound of loud hammering drifted across the meadows from the direction of the Reserve workshop. Not able ourselves to investigate at the time, we later found out the reason.
Presumably the recent bout of wet weather had highlighted the need for duckboards along wetter areas of the new Red Route . . . as such, Dave had organised the Thursday Campfield Workparty into a production line to produce the required items
We gather that Stephen had built a template previously into which boards, cut to length by Malcoln, fitted neatly.
Dave recounted, “We had the first group working on a template to line up the runners and end boards. These were then passed down the line for the next team to add the cross boards. The next team added the wire and loaded them onto the trailer.
After coffee Stephen took them on the tractor up beyond the hide where we unloaded and carried them into position.
We made 14 sections (each one 3.6 metres long) which I make to be 50.4 metres altogether, all done before lunch – it would have taken days without any volunteers!”
Photos taken on Val Young's iPhone, of the production line process - Pic 1
Pic 2.
Pic 3.
Pic 4. Covering the boards with chicken wire recycled from Hodbarrow.
Installation of the finished boards in the wood - on the Red Route. Photo by Marjorie Hutchin.
The next day, John and I took a trip along the Red Route up to the flooded wood to see the duckboards in situ. They looked fine and provided a really good walkway over the wetter areas of the track. We noted that five more had been stacked near the gate,ready for installation at a later date.
Eight sections installed in the wood.
A single one across the track by the gate, earlier along the track.
Five more stacked ready for installation.
Three Cheers for the Workparty!