Friends of the Ochils Newsletter 15: September 1999
Roadmenders for a day
PRACTISING what one preaches is a precept which should be at the forefront of every conservationist's mind, and was the motivation for a small group of the Friends to become "roadmenders" one fine day in May. This represented a welcome revival of "on the ground" activity by FotO.
Under the expert tuition and guidance of footpath repair expert Dr Bob Aitken, a Friend whose home is in Edinburgh, we tackled eroded sections on the Tillicoultry to Blackford right of way, a former trade route that is now a popular walk. Dr Aitken had earlier identified six bad sections of the path where it runs along the north side of Elistoun Hill, high above the Gannel Burn. He has long experience of dealing with difficult path erosion problems throughout Scotland, including sites on Skye and in Glen Coe.
Our small squad, armed to the teeth with buckets, spades, packed lunches and picks, spent around six hours on Sunday 23 May completing repairs to three of the six identified eroded patches. The work involved defining the path-line and cutting drainage channels to take the water away from the surface. Thanks to Bob Aitken's clear guidance we learned something of the mysteries of shedding bars and drainage humps, methods and techniques employed to ensure that any water coming on to the path goes now across it and off its surface as quickly as possible. Another sortie is planned to finish the work. "Finish" is however not really the word to use in this context because shedding bars always need maintenance and cleaning - so don't sit back and relax too long!
Much interest was shown by the half a dozen or so walkers who passed along the path while work was in progress. The squad's size disappointed, but perhaps Alistair Lawson - our chairman and the project's prime mover - will manage next time.
It is hoped that FotO can become involved in further practical conservation work and path repairs in other Ochils locations. The Blackford path repairs were undertaken with the blessing of the landowner, Colonel Bobby Stewart of Arndean, the Lord Lieutenant, and FotO also informed Clackmannanshire Council Countryside Rangers of its intentions.