The 'open source' footpath
Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2016 1:51 pm
Many years ago I discovered a hidden footpath that meanders down a hillside through a variety of woodland. It is definitely not the quickest way to get from the top to the bottom, sometimes almost doubling back on itself, but is perfect for a gentle meditative walk.
I say hidden, well that's because the start of it looks just like a narrow animal track going over a mound and into the trees. At the bottom end, it joins up with a deeply rutted abandoned forestry track, and that bit of the path looks like it's a weathered ridge once thrown up by the machinery.
On one occasion, to my great consternation I saw there was forestry work going on in that area, and while I fully appreciated the need for this work, I was afraid the path would be lost. A few weeks later, with the work completed I found that, indeed, large sections, if not most, of the path seemed to have been destroyed.
However, I managed to cross one damaged area and re-find the path, so to remind myself, found some broken branches and laid them along the route where the path must have been. Next, I went round the, umm, 'quick' way to the bottom end of the path and did the same again, so there were now two sections marked, if not actually restored.
It was a month or two before I visited that patch of woodland again and I was pleased to see my markers were still there. Intending to try and do the same for at least one more damaged section I carried on along the path. To my great delight I found someone else had found and marked this, and had gone so far as to move some of the churned up undergrowth revealing the still present well worn path underneath.
It was now several months before I visited again, and by now the entire path was once more traceable, although you had to look carefully in a few places. The disturbed earth and undergrowth was also showing signs of repeated footfalls, so I was well pleased. I might add, that at no time did I actually see any other people along the path.
Fast forward a couple of years before I was able to visit 'our' path again, and all the markers had either gone or been covered with new growth, but now they were no longer needed. The path was clear and well worn, but still sort of 'private'. Also, about half way along, someone had placed criss-crossed logs over a very wide but shallow stream making it just that bit easier to negotiate without interfering with the flow of the water.
These days I do occasionally see other people on the path, and exchange greetings. Recently, catching up with an elderly lady (who apologised profusely for her dogs) I walked along with her and we chatted about the area and the restoration work being done on the woodland. Needless to say, the damage to the path got mentioned, and it seems after someone noticed the first few markers, word got around the regular walkers. I didn't tell her it was me that laid those first ones, but every time I walk there now, it's with a bit of pride.
I say hidden, well that's because the start of it looks just like a narrow animal track going over a mound and into the trees. At the bottom end, it joins up with a deeply rutted abandoned forestry track, and that bit of the path looks like it's a weathered ridge once thrown up by the machinery.
On one occasion, to my great consternation I saw there was forestry work going on in that area, and while I fully appreciated the need for this work, I was afraid the path would be lost. A few weeks later, with the work completed I found that, indeed, large sections, if not most, of the path seemed to have been destroyed.
However, I managed to cross one damaged area and re-find the path, so to remind myself, found some broken branches and laid them along the route where the path must have been. Next, I went round the, umm, 'quick' way to the bottom end of the path and did the same again, so there were now two sections marked, if not actually restored.
It was a month or two before I visited that patch of woodland again and I was pleased to see my markers were still there. Intending to try and do the same for at least one more damaged section I carried on along the path. To my great delight I found someone else had found and marked this, and had gone so far as to move some of the churned up undergrowth revealing the still present well worn path underneath.
It was now several months before I visited again, and by now the entire path was once more traceable, although you had to look carefully in a few places. The disturbed earth and undergrowth was also showing signs of repeated footfalls, so I was well pleased. I might add, that at no time did I actually see any other people along the path.
Fast forward a couple of years before I was able to visit 'our' path again, and all the markers had either gone or been covered with new growth, but now they were no longer needed. The path was clear and well worn, but still sort of 'private'. Also, about half way along, someone had placed criss-crossed logs over a very wide but shallow stream making it just that bit easier to negotiate without interfering with the flow of the water.
These days I do occasionally see other people on the path, and exchange greetings. Recently, catching up with an elderly lady (who apologised profusely for her dogs) I walked along with her and we chatted about the area and the restoration work being done on the woodland. Needless to say, the damage to the path got mentioned, and it seems after someone noticed the first few markers, word got around the regular walkers. I didn't tell her it was me that laid those first ones, but every time I walk there now, it's with a bit of pride.
