Gavin Rose a National Trust ranger and expert trail maker taught people about the technique of 'pitching' at the close of our two week bridge building workshop .
Pitching creates a cobblestone surface along the walking surface of a bridge or trail.
In this case the anchor stones are dug in and secured at the approaches to the bridge and then stones are set deep into the ground and laid in rows up and over the arc of the top of the structure.
Its a slow process but the finished stone path ends up being a very durable surface providing lots of traction.
The courses of stones all have to have level faces running across the width of the bridge between opposing copes the entire length of the bridge. They are supported by carefully placed hearting packed and shimmed underneath each stone.
Here's a picture of everyone who pitched in, pitching at a feverish pitch, yesterday.
Here is a pitcher perfect section of completed surface.
Today we finish the bridge and clean up the site.
(Lots of pictures of the completed Little Long Lake Bridge workshop tomorrow.)
