So what are we currently undertaking?

2024 was a frustrating year in that the works to replace the floodgates prevented us from accessing the full length of the path, and also prevented access to the Worsall Road path (which was originally closed following damage to the boardwalks). Once the floodgate work was complete we were able to start project planning for the remainder of 2025/26 with our principal attention being directed towards a re-commencement of the Worsall Road remedial work including the construction of new boardwalks.

Our normal maintenance activities include :

1 Planting plans for the True Lovers Walk path

2 Bank stabilisation measures

3 Invasive Species control (especially Himalayan Balsam)

4 Re-commencement of remedial, re-building and repair work on the

Worsall Road path

5 New member induction and Training

6 Current Members’ Training programme

7 Fundraising

A wooded trail with a weathered wooden bridge and green foliage surrounding it, a person in blue walking in the distance.
A woman with gray hair, wearing sunglasses, a black jacket, and orange gloves, is standing on a dismantled wooden bridge surrounded by overgrown bushes and trees, holding a branch.
A circular logo for "Friends of True Lovers Walk," featuring a landscape with a river, a bridge, trees, and a winding path, with hearts on either side and the text "EST. 2022."

TLW: Worsall Road Path Reinstatement

Project Update October 2025

Visitors to TLW regularly ask us what is happening with the Worsall Road pathway which was closed during Covid due to some structural damage to footbridges and boardwalks, together with the complete erosion of the path in some places.

So here follows an update for the work that the Friends of True Lovers’ Walk group have been conducting to reinstate the footpath which leads south from the Scholars Court river entrance on West Street, Yarm to an exit on Worsall Road.

Please note, we refer periodically throughout this update to “points” which are detailed within Appendix 1 (Maps and References) including a Map Key to help explain location sites.

We secured a Lottery fund grant to work on reinstating this path and we have used this so far for the purchase of tools and materials. All our labour has been on a voluntary, unpaid, basis.

During 2024 we conducted some preliminary work on scoping the project and obtaining advice from the Groundworks Charity and from Stockton Borough Council. We also did some vegetation clearance and minor path improvement working from the direction of the Worsall Road entrance. The project was put on hold for a time due to the difficulties in accessing the path whilst BAM Nuttall were installing the new Yarm floodgates, together with an instruction from the Environment Agency that we were not to attempt to clear Himalayan Balsam whilst it was in seed.

We recommenced work on the project in April 2025 when the floodgates were completed and we could obtain access to the path from the Scholars Court entrance ( 1 and 2 on the maps below).

Initial Path Clearance

The first section of the path from points 2 to 4 was densely overgrown and our first task was to uncover the existing path by strimming and overgrowth clearance. At point 3 the landowners prefer that we do not remove any overgrowth other than that along the 1.5m public footpath – additional clearance means the riverside can be too easily accessed by anglers, who have previously abused this area by littering or camping there. After several discussions with the landowners at 23, 25 and 27 West Street, we agreed to this request, and we have adhered to it in our operations.

Dense green foliage with small white flowers, possibly a wildflower or garden plant, along a narrow pathway surrounded by trees and bushes.
Dense green foliage with various plants, some with white flowers, in a natural outdoor setting.

At and beyond Point 7 there were several fallen trees which we cleared with a chainsaw.

A person in a blue jacket and white hat using a saw to cut a fallen tree across a narrow dirt trail in a lush green forest.

Bridge and Boardwalk Challenges

Our first construction challenge at points 4 and 5 on the map was to replace the existing damaged bridgework and boardwalks.

A narrow, worn wooden footbridge with a rope measuring 7.12 meters beside it, flanked by green leafy bushes.
Two men building a wooden frame outside near a yellow gate on a paved surface with woodworking tools and sawdust around.
A person wearing a white helmet, safety glasses, and work gloves stands in a forested area near a fallen tree. The person looks at the tree, with a chainsaw on the ground nearby. The scene is outdoors with green foliage and trees.
A narrow dirt footbridge with wooden planks and simple railings, surrounded by lush green foliage and trees along a forest trail.

To do this, we worked during May and June to construct robust wooden frames which served as the bases of the new boardwalks. We had all the timber delivered to a member’s house in Bridge Street and constructed the first nine frames in his yard.

A stack of wooden pallets leaning against a pile of wood planks, with a sawhorse and woodworking tools nearby on an outdoor patio.
Two men are working outdoors with woodworking tools, cutting and assembling wooden planks and beams. The scene takes place in a backyard with plants, flowers, and outdoor structures, with one man wearing glasses and a short-sleeved shirt and the other with headphones and a long-sleeved shirt.

The frames were heavy and awkward to move, and our next challenge was to get them to the location they were needed on the riverbank. As the house of one of our members was close to the bridgework, we moved the frames to there and, on Sunday 13th July 2025, we managed to move five of them to the riverbank down the steep slope, using dollies and ropes to lower them carefully and let gravity do the work.

Three people are working together to push a large, wheeled wooden structure, possibly a boat or cart, on a grassy field with trees in the background.
Two people working on a wooden cart in an outdoor grassy area. One person is wearing a light-colored hat and gray shirt, the other is wearing a dark blue uniform and cap with gloves. The cart has orange clamps and is being assembled or repaired.
Two people are working together on a wooden structure in a grassy yard with trees, possibly assembling a piece of outdoor furniture or a garden bed.
A backyard scene with a blue tarp on the grass, covering what appears to be wooden planks or materials. There are some stacked wood pieces on top of the tarp and a wooden fence in the background, partially fallen or leaning. The scene has trees and greenery.

Path Stabilisation Measures

We needed to carry these frames along the riverbank to the location they were needed. In parts, the riverside path was dangerous in this area and certainly could not safely be used to carry heavy loads. So, over a few sessions we improved the path by levelling it and installing boards to stabilise it

A dirt trail under green trees with a wooden border, a pair of gloves and a cloth on the ground, and a person standing further down on the trail near a water body surrounded by trees.
Group of three people working outdoors, digging a trench in a wooded area with trees and greenery in the background. One man is using a tool to dig, while the others observe.

Path Clearance

Whilst some of the group worked on these measures, other members of the team used the time to carry out other path clearance as far as the Skytering Beck outfall, point 10 on the map. This included chopping through dense vegetation at point 7 and removing as much Himalayan Balsam as possible.

Phase 1: Bridge and Boardwalk Installation

With the access path safe to work on, we were able to commence installing the first section (approx.20m) of elevated boardwalk.

We completed the finishing touches to this first section in mid-September.

A narrow, weathered wooden footbridge with gaps between the planks, surrounded by green foliage and small plants, with a measuring line showing 10.88 meters.

Moving north, along from this long section of boardwalk, there was a nasty step where the path had fallen into the river and we installed a short, 5m, bridging section over this to improve safety and access.

Two men working on a wooden structure in a wooded outdoor area, with tools and construction materials, surrounded by trees and greenery.

And this then gave us safer access for volunteers and materials to the 9m section of collapsed bridging which we replaced using 3 x 3m frames.

A narrow wooden footbridge with handrails crosses over a lush, green, overgrown garden path.
A small wooden footbridge over a muddy, dirt path beside a river, with trees and bushes on both sides, reflecting in the water.
a small wooden footbridge with a railing over a muddy riverbank, surrounded by green shrubs and trees, with the river visible to the right and reflections of clouds in the water.
Wooden boardwalk with railing in a green forested area.

We finished all these sections by late September 2025, with significant efforts made by the volunteers to complete them before any change in the weather.

Next Actions

Phase 2 Planning

With the onset of Autumn, the pace of our work has lessened slightly. The first flood of the season, with water levels raised at Yarm and most low-lying paths submerged, occurred on 21st September 2025 and some of our structures were submerged for the first time, fortunately with no damage.

We will use the time to plan for phase 2 and remedial works to the path beyond Skytering Beck outfall.

We will also continue path stabilisation where needed, working south along the river and particularly around point 9 where an existing wire fence has fallen and is partially obstructing the inclined path.

Looking ahead, we will have some significant challenges at points 11 and 12, where the river erosion has caused landslips which have obliterated the path. In those areas, we will need both path diversions and stabilisation measures, and we will need to liaise with the landowner and the SBC highways/footpaths manager to achieve a solution.

In some places we will need to construct additional boardwalks and stairs.

In the meantime, many thanks to everyone involved in this project – it has been demanding work so far but extremely rewarding.

Videos

For some video reports on the various sections, see the following Google Drive links :

Phase 1 Completion Walk Through end September 2025

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eOzNZCVGPBiWe9TkznIMWIbcOEwycj0M/view?usp=d rive_link

Walk through from Skytering Beck Outfall to proposed path diversion

https://drive.google.com/file/d/107zEl3Pwd1NaHrQ5- nUskVJQl5JQHuk5/view?usp=drive_link

Walk through from Worsall Road entrance to proposed path diversion

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dOdA0- 2k1ccI7jhjmOlxoQ8vvWtbMJOF/view?usp=drive_link

Appendix 1 - Map and References

Map of a river area with numbered points from 1 to 7 located along the riverbank, showing nearby streets, buildings, and a green park area labeled Place of Worship.
Map showing a river with numbered points 8 to 13 along its banks, surrounded by roads, buildings, and green areas.

Map Key:

(With acknowledgements to Ordnance Survey for the map screenshots)

  1.  Scholars Court / West St entrance to TLW

  2.  Start of Worsall Road path (path closed sign)

  3.  Strimmed 1.5m path adjacent to 23,25,27 West St
    (no other vegetation to be touched as agreed – that is landowners’ responsibility)

  4.  Bridge to be replaced

  5.  Boardwalk to be replaced

  6.  Carole’s boathouse

  7.  Dense vegetation now cleared

  8.  Fallen Tree forming tunnel

  9.  Fallen Fencing (railway ??) and path stabilisation needed

  10.  Skytering Beck outfall

  11.  Significant path erosion – diversion and stabilisation needed

  12.  Significant path erosion – diversion and stabilisation needed

  13.  Entrance to path from Worsall Road

Appendix 2 - What3words Locations for Phase 2

//awakes.airless.exporters                                      Stabilise Path

///tapers.hobbit.witless                                             Stabilise Path                            

///rejected.rotation.playback                                  Stabilise Path & move inward

///describes.outright.shopping                               Dangerous area, needs diversion and safety work, approx 5m (see map below)

///decking.explained.contrived                               Widen path/replace boards

///rewriting.tidy.prongs                                             Cut path horizontal & stabilise 20m

///swoop.hang.narrates                                           Really bad section/big divert around (see map below)

///fittingly.backs.successes                                     Bad step, build steps or otherwise as diversion (see map below for location of reroute)

///majority.incoming.giraffes                                  Fork in path where informal diversion starts. Left is into river slippage, right is proposed.

                                                                                     Replace steps at same location

///ramp.televise.clutches                                         Improve steps

///that.impact.contained                                         Improve path under tree

///hence.removed.swear                                         Rope Assist consider

///inspected.bake.toffee                                          Steps or rope needed

Map Extracts for Worst Locations

Three maps showing the same river area with different overlays: the first map displays a character icon and a red label; the second map shows a different character icon and label; the third map features another character icon and label, all over a river and surrounding land.

Yarm Town Council asked us for our help in looking after the small garden area attaching to Scholars Court, West Street (and leading to the start of True Lovers Walk) which, until recently, had been looking tired and a little neglected.

We were more than happy to take this on board and were also extremely grateful to have been awarded a donation of £500 from YTC towards the cost of improving this area.

At the beginning of October 2025 we erected a new wooden archway (which we will cover with a clematis), weeded and then covered the borders with 2 tons of top soil, planted a dozen or more new rose bushes, and re-planted the border plants and flowers.

All in all the area looks so much more attractive now and we would invite anyone passing who may wish to sit on the bench and take some well earned time out in this tranquil spot and to just sit and enjoy.

In May 2025 we were approached by Clara from Systra Landscape Architects who are specialists providing landscape design services and who wished to offer their thoughts and services in an effort to improve the “brutalist” appearance of the newly installed concreted areas which form part of the newly upgraded flood defence barrier and floodgates running alongside the TLW pathway.

Whilst theses improvements are absolutely vital in order to help protect and defend Yarm town centre against the on-going threat of flooding, nevertheless the concrete walkways, steps and ramps are very stark, hard hitting and not particularly easy on the eye.

So, Clara and her team of Systra volunteers kickstarted an enthusiasm for decorating these areas with paintings of flowers, small animals, insects etc in an effort to soften and slightly camouflage the impact of these new additions the walkway.

We have subsequently discovered our very own team of TLW artists who have happily taken on board this initiative; thank you to Arisha, Izzy, Matilda, Helen, Carole and Mike who have demonstrated their flair for creating a palette of much needed colour on these otherwise ugly blank canvases.

A painted mural of a frog with a fishing lure in its mouth, green grass, and the name 'Freddy' written on a wall. Soil with small plants in front of the mural.
Smiling group of six people posing outdoors in front of a brick wall with colorful floral and butterfly mural, during daytime.
A painted blue dragonfly and a painted bee on a concrete surface with red lines, likely on a tennis or basketball court.
Concrete steps painted with a pink cherry blossom tree and dark branches.
Colorful painted flowers and insects on a concrete wall, with additional smaller paintings of flowers, a hummingbird, and a butterfly attached to the wall. Green plants grow below the wall.