Survey by PQ on 19 April 2025:
This is a short section of path near Greenodd, just a few hundred metres long, that starts from a minor lane just south-west of Smithy Green Farm. It goes through the farm and one of its fields before crossing a part-broken wooden stile into a small wood, at the end of which there is another part-broken wooden stile that leads onto the lane just south of St. Mary’s Church above Penny Bridge.
Problem 1: There is no fingerpost or waymark where it sets off from the lane along the farm access track.
Problem 2: At the farm there is no waymark to show which way to go.
The path actually goes through this gate, which is easy to open and then turns left once in the field 20m further on.
The path leaves the field at the far left corner, where there is a broken and part-overgrown stile into the wood beyond.
Problem 3: Although the rails and uprights on this stile are secure, both steps are part rotted and need replacing, and the upper step’s support post on this field side of the stile is loose in the ground and in danger of collapsing (the step support post on the left in first photo).
The second photo is from the other (small wood) side of the stile, looking back over the stile at the farm. The step supports on this side are still firm, but both steps are damaged and need replacing.
Problem 4: just beyond that stile the ground drops down a steep gravelly bank into the wood. This drop is a bit dangerous and it would be very useful if it were stepped to avoid the risk of someone falling.
Problem 5: The small wood is quite attractive, with bluebells and garlic, but the route through it is unclear and there are fallen trees blocking some apparent paths. So some simple path clearing and marking would be useful.
At the end of the wood the path goes over another wooden stile, onto the lane just south of St. Mary’s Church above Penny Bridge .
Problem 6: The lower step on this stile is part broken and needs replacing (the step support posts still seem firm). But also, there is nothing to hold onto when on the upper step (left hand side in photo, which is fro the lane side) since the finger post is too far to reach from there. So a second tall upright hand-hold post on the left (when viewed from the lane) would be useful and make it safer.
The second photo here shows the lower step, which is part-broken on the wood side of the stile.
