Hello everybody and welcome to Episode 15 of Ricky and Jonny’s exploits on the byways of our parish. This is a “not so funny” but still hopefully entertaining update from our dynamic (?) pair of path munchers.
In the last episode, we left the boys waiting to see if their April 1st meeting with Devon County Council would be a joke.
It turns out… it wasn’t a joke at all; Quite the opposite.
April 1st – Great Moor House – Exeter
Early on Wednesday, April the 1st, the boys set out to Great Moor House in Exeter. This is home to the Devon County Council Paths and Rights of Way (PRoW) team. They were scheduled to meet Debbie Ebsary and Emma Hellier. Debbie is the Public Rights of Way Senior Officer (Access & Trails) – Area South (now there’s a job title!) and Emma is her colleague.
Once the small obstacle of actually finding Great Moor House was out of the way (it hides behind the Exeter Park and Ride) , the PRoWler Mobile was parked up and the boys went off to reception.
And what a welcome they got! Well, actually, there was nobody on reception but there was a sign taped to the desk –
“Due to staff shortages, this reception might be unmanned – but I might be back in a minute.”
…or words to that effect.
Hmmm! thought the boys – so what now? All doors to the offices were locked with keycard-only access and stopping passing staff didn’t prove very effective as nobody knew where Debbie or Emma worked.
After what seemed like an hour (when you need a wee!) but was, in reality, only 5 minutes – someone appeared at reception and just as Jonny was about to “engage” – a cheerful voice called from the top of the stairs. “Are you Richard and John – the Plodders?“.
Ouch! Did she mean our intrepid duo? Plodders? Surely not. This does not bode well.
Hellos and handshakes introduced the boys to Debbie. A gentle correction by Jonny on “plodders” vs. “PRoWlers” didn’t seem to cause any offence – in fact, Debbie was the most smiley and energetic county council employee you could wish to meet. All fears allayed.
So over a cuppa, Debbie explained her role and also introduced the boys to Emma. Both had a really good knowledge of our parish and had printed off several large scale footpath maps to help with the meeting.
Ricky and Jonny explained what they do and how they do it. They were expecting some push-back but none came – only a positive response about everything the PRoWlers got up to. They talked through past and future projects and how some of the bigger ones might be managed.
Terms of engagement were ironed out and the boys left with an understanding of some of the strains on our local government departments. Like many things, it’s only the energy and enthusiasm of the staff that keep things running.
Thank you to both Debbie and Emma for hosting and listening. Well worth a few hours of PRoWler time.
Footpath 61 – The Bridge Project – Rotten to the core
One of the projects discussed was “The Bridge” project. This is the wooden bridge on Footpath 61 that crosses the stream. It was raised by a resident, but has been on the boy’s list for a while.
This bridge has seen better days with the foot-boards rotting through. The rest of the structure looks to be in pretty good shape, so that’s a relief.
The boys were told how DCC would handle the job if they were doing it – which would be to completely remove and strip the existing floor boards and after careful measurement replace them all with new timber. Debbie and Emma said they would be happy to arrange supply and delivery of the necessary materials when the time comes. This is a really good option as it doesn’t involve cash !
So that’s what the boys will do. At the moment, they think this project will be scheduled for the late summer or autumn. You’ll get further updates nearer the time because the path will be closed for the duration of the works.
Footpath 56 – A nice spring maintenance trim
All it was meant to be was a quick spring maintenance trim of the short footpath leading from Goldsmith Lane to South Common – FP56.
Unfortunately (for Jonny) it turned out to be a bit of a s##t show.
Strimmin’ and Trimmin’ is a brilliant way to experience the “great outdoors” – but when the undergrowth is loaded with “dog eggs” – it really is NOT fun at all.
Too late – Jonny had strimmed some “eggs” which covered his shirt, trousers and even his face, getting under his strimming helmet. Nothing that a quick trip home to wash and change didn’t sort out. I won’t tell you exactly what the boys said as it would scare the horses.
PICK UP AFTER YOUR DOG
Thank you.
Footpath 34 – Stairway to Heaven
The boys had a couple of reports that the Stairway to Heaven (FP34 – Churchill Lane) needed a bit of a hair cut.
And indeed it did. At this time of year, just blink and the under and overgrowth will bury you.
“I say Jonny, all of Steve’s work seems to have vanished behind a wall of greenness“. “Sure has Ricky, let’s deploy the anti-greenness tools and put Steve’s work back on display.“
So they set about the overgrowth with gusto. Who’s he? you might ask. Now you’re just being silly.
Here’s a before and after…
Whilst strimmin’ and trimmin’ there is a bit of dismay as it appears that one of the stair’s handrail posts had been damaged and the handrail had come loose, probably when the adjacent hedge was cut by a tractor. A bit of sawing and screwing soon had it back together safely.
A good rake and sweep up – Job done… until the next time.
FP60 – Diagonally behind the School – Issues and Sinks
Another report from a resident about a constantly muddy field gate between the two fields behind the school on Footpath 60.
Ricky and Jonny were quick (ish) to go and investigate. They arrived and Jonny said “It’s muddy“. “Yep…” said Ricky, “…that would be the water.”
A quick look around shows a spring to the north of the gate (marked Iss on the map above) and a sink to the south (marked Sks on the map). So it’s a natural flow that, over the years, someone has tried to “manage” by installing a pipe under the gateway and into the (blocked) ditch.
Needless to say the pipe is now completely blocked causing the spring water to divert. These two fields are inherently boggy anyway so there’s no real chance that clearing the pipe will resolve the mud.
On this occasion, the boys decided that anyone wearing the “correct” footwear would have no problems getting through the gate, there was no hazard and that the landowner might (if prompted) do a bit of ditch and pipe maintenance.
As there is now planning permission to build in this field – the boys said – “No further action at this time“.
What’s Next?
At the last Parish Council meeting (the annual meeting) – Ricky and Jonny were nominated to continue as P3 Wardens for the parish. This is a role that they both enjoy and so were happy to accept the nomination.
So next up – the boys have a list of major and minor works to complete. And in no particular order, they are…
- Replace the finger post at the very beginning of FP41 by the school
- New post now delivered and awaiting install
- Replace the finger post up by Dennings Farm at the north end of FP69
- New post delivered and awaiting install
- Try and mitigate the winter flooding on FP56 near Heather Bell
- Permission granted by the landowner for a bit of digging
- Add more scalpings to FP56 as it leads on to South Common
- We are waiting to see if the new water main might resolve the mud here
- Finish making and installing the metal number signs
- Who wants to be in the workshop when the weather’s nice!
- Plan for The Bridge project
- Replace a number of finger pointers that have been damaged by tractor hedge cutting
- Overlay several very faded finger pointers with new signage
- Continue the usual strimmin’ and trimmin’ around the many stiles and gates
- Stay in close contact with our colleagues at DCC
- And as always, react to residents’ contacts and reports
And Finally…
Don’t panic if you see these critters when you are out an’ about. The boys spotted this in a hedge opposite the church. They think it’s ermine moth caterpillars which are harmless and one of nature’s little wonders.
They always live in these congregations and spin the webs for defence against predators.
Read more about our ermine-clad critters here.
OK – you probably wouldn’t want them in your bedroom – but impressive none-the-less.
So that brings us to the conclusion of this PRoWlers’ Progress episode. Sorry, no cartoon this time as our resident artist is on holiday in Nice with Mrs resident artist. Nice!
Until next time…
Shut that Gate!
Keep your dog under close control
and, please please, pick up the poop.
Ricky and Jonny