In the bleak midwinter
A National Trust / Fix the Fells work party at Watendlath in December 2011
By Christine Hurford, Fix the Fells volunteer
A light fall of snow lined the A66 and ice glistened in the headlights of the car. The thought of digging to put new drains in was not very appealing. No one at Bowe Barn however seemed in the least bit worried and warm breakfast pies from Harrisons of Cockermouth were being consumed as I arrived. Full of bacon, beans, egg and sausage, they had been bought for us all by David. For me each would have contained a days worth of calories but today plenty of work would use that up.
This was a joint work party with National Trust rangers Joe Cornforth and Dan Simpson. The 12 of us were made up of two Rangers, six Fix the Fells lengthsmen and four National Trust Countryside Volunteers from Borrowdale and Buttermere. We left Watendlath carrying new drains up the icy footpath to where it levels off before descending to Borrowdale. In groups of 3 or 4 we started work on broken drains and stone bars that hold back the ever moving stones.
Work party leaving Watendlath>
Photo: Work party leaving Watendlath
Fears of frozen ground proved – very appropriately - groundless as with mattocks and shovels we dug up and cleared the old concrete and aggregate drains. These drains were in fact old friends, patched up and made to run as best we could on previous drain runs up to Watendlath - but we could never disguise the fact they were broken and open instead of hidden underground.
Care had to be taken to get the depth and slope correct so that water ran through and did not just stay in the drain. Using shovels to act as depth aids we kept lowering the new drain in – and then out again, for more earth to be removed from the wide water filled trench. Eventually all ran well and it was soon hidden by stones and earth.
Putting a drain up>
Photo: Manoeuvring a drain into place - with an audience of walkers
On a personal note, I enjoyed the views of snow covered hills especially looking over to Borrowdale – bumps, old tracks and paths, remains of mine workings clearly showing in the low winter light. For the most part the day was dull and cold, punctuated by brief bursts of brightness.
View of Watendlath Tarn>
Photo: View of our "office" for the day
The drain under the path by the tarn was the source of some pride. Of course it was blocked solid in the middle just beyond reach of arms and shovels. Icy water was all over the path but by damming this water and using a tree branch and metal bar we managed eventually to ram the debris out and water from the path rushed through the drain and out to the tarn – a good moment!
Clearing the drain under the Watendlath Tarn path>
Photo: Clearing the drain under the Watendlath Tarn path
As a result of the days work together, two new black plastic drains were put in near the top of the path over to Rosthwaite in the morning and later another one by the tarn. Also two stone bars to hold the path were repaired and two blocked underground drains were cleared of debris.
At home, filthy and by then cold, I headed straight for a hot bubble bath!