The statutory responsibility for maintaining rights of way is explained in Chapter 2 – Rights and responsibilities. Vegetation, other than crops, growing from the surface of the path should be kept clear by the highway authority, and vegetation encroaching from the sides is the responsibility of the landowner.
Unless clearance of all paths in a particular area is being undertaken, it is best if volunteer energies are directed at paths that will be used and so kept open. This is more likely on paths that make a circular route, a link, or lead to a viewpoint or feature of interest.
Clearance is often only part of a scheme which may include stile construction, waymarking or publicity, and normally any work would be done after consultation with the highway authority and the landowner. The Parish Paths Partnerships between highway authorities, parish councils and landowners are active in promoting this type of work.
- Make sure all parties agree about the exact line of the path. If possible walk it with the landowner or occupier, but bear in mind they may be misinformed, or may deliberately mislead. Any discrepancy should be referred back to the highway authority. Removal of vegetation not directly in the line of the right of way could constitute an act of trespass for which damages could be claimed by the landowner.
- There is no general right to go into a field adjoining a path to do clearance or to burn debris. If debris cannot be disposed of along the line of the path, come to an arrangement with the landowner about its disposal.
- Try to establish what will be done once the initial clearance is finished. It is very discouraging for volunteers to return to a cleared path only to find it overgrown again.
Time of year
Ideally, lush non-woody growth should be cut back twice each year, the first cut being in May or June, and the second in August or September. In practice, most paths will be lucky to receive an annual cut, which is probably best done in June.
Woody growth, scrub, hedgerows and brambles should not be cleared during the bird nesting season from the beginning of April until the end of August. October and November are often the best months for major clearance jobs as working conditions should still be pleasant with the ground not yet at its wettest.
How much clearance?
There is no statutory minimum width for a public right of way, and the width of any particular path will depend on local custom, and the terms of the dedication, if any. If the path has been created or diverted by a public path order, the width should normally have been defined in the order. In some cases, statements accompanying the Definitive map of rights of way give the agreed width of path. Always consult the landowner or highway authority about the height and width required.
An appropriate working minimum is 2m wide x 2m high for a footpath, and 3m x 3m for a bridleway. However, advice from experienced clearance workers is always to cut back as much as possible, usually to the boundaries of the path. A path cut back to 3m width will stay open for twice as long as a 2m wide path. Some shrubs such as blackthorn and bramble will regrow, unless dug out or treated, even in the presence of quite heavy trampling. As detailed below, a wide path should develop a ground cover of turf, which is easier to manage than a shaded and often muddy path.
Before starting clearance consider the following:
- What sort of use will the path receive? Will it be by groups or individuals, one-way or two-way use? A newly opened path in a country park may attract a high level of use and will need to be at least 3m wide.
- By making a bridleway wider than 3m you may attract illegal vehicular use. Likewise, by clearing a footpath wider and higher than is necessary you may attract horse riders. Bridle gates and barriers can be erected, but often the resources are not available. A fortuitous fallen tree which stops horses but not walkers may be useful to deter unwanted use. A tunnel of scrub 2m high will also discourage riders.
- If time is limited, try to gauge the work so that the clearance is completed in one project or session. It may be better to clear right through to a narrow width and widen it later if there is time. A ‘no through road’ will only cause confusion and trespass.
Vegetation and shade
The width of a path through woodland or scrub obviously affects the amount of shade that is cast, which in turn determines the type of vegetation that will grow.
A path completely enclosed by scrub or low trees will have virtually no ground flora at all. Unless there is good natural drainage the path is likely to be often muddy as sun and wind cannot dry it out. Once cleared of branches which block it, the path is likely to stay clear for some time as non- woody growth will not flourish in the dense shade.
Ground under tall or open canopy will have a woodland flora of plants such as dog’s mercury, bluebell, red campion and ground ivy, which are not resistant to trampling. (Beech woods are an exception in having very little ground flora due to the deep leaf litter, and the early emergence of the leaves in spring which shade out other plants.) The woodland flora can rapidly grow to obscure or block a path in the absence of trampling.
A path not enclosed by a canopy and receiving plenty of light will develop a flora mainly of grasses, especially in the presence of trampling or grazing. The width at which such a flora develops depends on the height of the trees and the alignment of the path. A path running on a north-south axis will receive more light than one on an east-west axis.
If it is feasible to clear to a width of about 4m, an attractive and relatively hard-wearing path can be made which is easy to maintain by machine. The initial clearance is likely to produce a flush of growth of weedy species such as thistle, rose-bay willow herb and nettle, but these will decline with regular cutting, grazing or trampling to produce a grassy turf.
Landscaping the path
Often clearance will simply be a matter of cutting back growth to the original edges of a path, enclosed by banks or walls. On other paths there may be opportunity to vary the amount of clearance to increase visual and ecological interest.
- Grade the edges by cutting at different heights or frequencies to create a diversity of habitats.
- Clear glades at intervals along the paths especially on the northern side of the path where they will get maximum sunshine. These glades will attract certain types of butterflies. They will also provide pleasant places for walkers to rest.
- Cut sections in rotation each year to maintain a succession of habitat development.
- Vary the width to give visual interest, for example retain a narrow section to emphasise the drama of a viewpoint ahead.
Narrow or winding sections can be created when clearing along old railway lines, to add variety to the path. - Views can be opened up by clearing scrub or trees but consider first any unwelcome effects these may have. Views of nearby features such as a pond or stream may attract trespass by walkers on the path. Clearance of vegetation on a slope to open a view may expose the slope to erosion by rainfall and encourage people onto the slope which will further hasten damage.
View points through tall trees are best opened up by cutting back the lower branches so that the canopy remains to protect the slope and to shade out growth beneath. View points made by lopping trees or clearing scrub will only be temporary features, unless they are maintained frequently.
Rights of way, although private property, attract public interest. There may be conflict, for example, between naturalists who would rather see overgrowth left undisturbed, and walkers and riders who want clear and easily passable paths.
Adjacent landowners not responsible for the path may complain if vegetation is thought to be spreading weed seeds onto their land, or harbouring pests. Landscaping the path and being sensitive to these interests should help reduce conflict.
Marking the route
New paths through woodland or scrub need to be surveyed carefully to pick the best route (see Chapter 3 – Path surveys and Chapter 4 – Path design). In very dense scrub it may be necessary to have two people, one with a tall pole for sighting the line of path. A telescopic surveying staff is useful for this as otherwise negotiation of thickets will be difficult.
The route should be marked with stakes painted a bright colour, or by strips of fertiliser bag tied to branches. Shrubs, saplings or trees which you wish to retain can be tagged at the same time. Be consistent in the way you place the markers so that they mark either the centre or the edge of the path. It is usually better to put the markers to the edge so they can be left in place during clearance operations and collected at the end of the task for re-use.
