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). With the floodgate work now complete we can begin project planning for the remainder of 2025 and beyond with our principal attention being directed towards a commencement of the Worsall Road remedial work including the construction of new boardwalks.

The main proposed additional areas of work, besides our normal maintenance activity, are :

1 Planting plans for the True Lovers Walk path

2 Bank stabilisation measures

3 Invasive Species control (especially Himalayan Balsam)

4 Commencement of remedial & re-opening works on the

Worsall Road path

5 New member induction and Training

6 Current Members’ Training programme

7 Fundraising

8 Finance Planning for WR path

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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 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

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.