Bundles of brushwood or small size roundwood poles are a traditional material for making paths over soft or wet ground. These are then covered with a surfacing material dug from side drains, borrow pits or nearby stream beds, or by woodchips. The success of this technique is very variable, according to the type of ground and the level of use, and regular maintenance and ‘topping up’ is needed to keep the path in usable condition. On open ground and on peat this method of path building has been mainly abandoned in favour of geotextiles with aggregates or stone flag paths (see above), which are much more effective.
However, in woodland locations, corduroy paths topped with woodchips can still be a very useful technique for crossing damp ground, or for heavily shaded areas where grass will not grow and which become muddy when trampled. All the materials can be provided from within the wood itself, and the process of coppicing and constructing the path is an ideal activity for involving plenty of people, so is especially useful for encouraging local involvement in woodland management. Apart from operating a woodchipping machine, only simple tools and techniques are necessary. A corduroy and woodchip path not only provides a well drained walking surface, but also an attractive and easy route to follow which encourages use of the woodland. Topping up the path with woodchips can be done as necessary.
The base is made by laying roundwood poles across the width of the path. They are best cut from fairly straight coppice about 1.6m long, and up to about 75mm in diameter. Thinner material can be used, tied in bundles as necessary. The length is important to allow the ends to be secured by edging poles, and to give stability to the path. A finished path width of about 1m is the minimum. The poles can be laid in two or more layers as necessary according to the softness of the ground.
Birch, hazel, oak or sweet chestnut are suitable. Don’t use willow, as it will resprout. The largest poles are saved for using at the sides of the path, to anchor the corduroy and contain the woodchip surfacing. Secure them with stobs and wire as follows:
- Cut a stob between 300-500mm in length, and make a notch at the upper end to hold the wire.
- Wrap the end of a length of wire around the stob and twist it to secure, and then knock in the stob on the inner side of the edging pole, so that the top of the stob is buried within the corduroy, where it will not be a hazard to walkers. Knock in another stob on the outer side, secure the wire, and then knock it in a little further to tighten.
Woodchips can then be spread in a layer about 100mm thick.
Where conditions are dry enough, woodchips can also be used on their own without the base of corduroy to provide a delineated path with a pleasant walking surface. Woodchip paths are attractive to horse riders, but are not sufficiently durable, so should only be used on bridleways where frequent maintenance and topping up can be done.
Any group managing an area of woodland of about a hectare or more will find it well worth their while to obtain their own wood-chipping machine to process coppice, prunings and other woody material for re-use as surfacing or mulch within the woodland, and for re-sale or exchange with other groups. Advice and training in the use of wood-chipping machines should be obtained through TCV, Lantra or organised locally through the local council or other agencies.
Otherwise, woodchips or woodland mulch may be available from the local Forest Enterprise (Forestry Commission), local councils, nature reserves and other woodland management enterprises. Woodchips can also be bought from sawmills as a by-product.
