mgsontour Posted November 7, 2022 Report Share Posted November 7, 2022 Hi all I'm in need of some advice on how and what to use to make some bridges across a variety of ditches, dykes and ponds on out shoot. It's boggy farmland around some areas and the metal temporary pedestrian bridges that are available to buy online are way too expensive so hoping someone has come up with a cost effective easy fitted answer? Thanks in advance for your help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave-G Posted November 7, 2022 Report Share Posted November 7, 2022 Some sleepers bolted together? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oowee Posted November 7, 2022 Report Share Posted November 7, 2022 12 minutes ago, Dave-G said: Some sleepers bolted together? Or just dropped across. The wood here has lots of drainage ditches and they are all spanned with effectively sleepers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snow white Posted November 7, 2022 Report Share Posted November 7, 2022 If using sleepers staple some mesh over them save slipping Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enfieldspares Posted November 7, 2022 Report Share Posted November 7, 2022 Make sure there is mesh (strong chicken wire is good if kept well maintained) on the walking surfaces and, now, I think, a good, strong, well anchored handrail. Elsewise you are leaving yourself at great risk of the "Where's there's bame there's a claim" ambulance chaser lawyer firms. You have been warned! LOL! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jall25 Posted November 7, 2022 Report Share Posted November 7, 2022 I have used some old - free - sections from a prefab garage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgsontour Posted November 7, 2022 Author Report Share Posted November 7, 2022 I kind of guessed the meshed sleepers TBH but thought I'd check before embarking in case there was a good decent alternative. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted November 7, 2022 Report Share Posted November 7, 2022 We used some fallen tree stumps on part of ours. Lash them together and jobs a good un. As others have said, nail some mesh or wire on them as they’ll get pretty snotty! Alternatively bolt a couple of pallets on them. Rock steady. 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob85 Posted November 7, 2022 Report Share Posted November 7, 2022 I would set a concrete pipe into the channel and then stone and soil it over Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted November 7, 2022 Report Share Posted November 7, 2022 as liggers on one of the shoots i was on ...used 2nd hand telegraph poles and cut scaffold boards with chicken mesh stapled down... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted November 7, 2022 Report Share Posted November 7, 2022 Sleepers are the best bet . I built a bridge across a wide stream with some level crossing sleepers (longer) and put the ends on concrete slabs. Welded up a frame work to take a half round fencing rail and bolted this whole contraption to the sleepers. Covered the sleepers with 1/2 inch wire mesh for grip. A hand rail is essential more so if you just go for one sleeper. My bridge was three sleepers wide but I still put a hand rail on it. Foolish not to considering it cost very little. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigbob Posted November 7, 2022 Report Share Posted November 7, 2022 old train tracks across the water then sleepers spanning the tracks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgsontour Posted November 8, 2022 Author Report Share Posted November 8, 2022 Some really good suggestions and as all not the same job might well do a mix and match, thanks as always lads Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted November 8, 2022 Report Share Posted November 8, 2022 the reason why the shoot used telegraph poles...was that they were strong enough to support a quad...when on feeding rounds ..dogging in..short cuts etc..they get alot more use off season than in season...think about it !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted November 8, 2022 Report Share Posted November 8, 2022 On 07/11/2022 at 15:40, ditchman said: as liggers on one of the shoots i was on ...used 2nd hand telegraph poles and cut scaffold boards with chicken mesh stapled down... We used exactly the same , the shoot I was a member on near Norwich had what they called a river , I would have called it a wide dyke , we had a work party one Sunday morning and most who turned up provided bit and pieces , one chap who owned a ground works firm provided two telegraph poles , another brought some scaffold poles and clips , and I cut a load of Oak off cuts from a load of planks we had left over from the 88 gale . for those who didn't bring any materials brought plenty of refreshments . We got the two poles over and kept them level and together , then I nailed these off cuts right across from one side to the other, then two small scaffold poles went in each side with a 21ft pole clipped on to act as as guard rail , then to finish the job off a roll of chick wire was stapled on to the off cuts . The final job was brilliant , never no trouble and as far as I know it is still safely getting the shoot members across there ( river ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted November 9, 2022 Report Share Posted November 9, 2022 On 07/11/2022 at 15:40, ditchman said: as liggers on one of the shoots i was on ...used 2nd hand telegraph poles and cut scaffold boards with chicken mesh stapled down... Liggers over rhines. Lovely terms. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted November 9, 2022 Report Share Posted November 9, 2022 39 minutes ago, Penelope said: Liggers over rhines. Lovely terms. we are very lucky to have english as a language...........some of the "local" terms are simply mouthwatering Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Centrepin Posted November 10, 2022 Report Share Posted November 10, 2022 On 07/11/2022 at 15:33, enfieldspares said: Make sure there is mesh (strong chicken wire is good if kept well maintained) on the walking surfaces and, now, I think, a good, strong, well anchored handrail. Elsewise you are leaving yourself at great risk of the "Where's there's bame there's a claim" ambulance chaser lawyer firms. You have been warned! LOL! Yes, trespassers and even burglars have more rights than the land owner, especially if the landowner is also a gun owner or has the audacity to require the use of their own land. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonty Posted December 30, 2022 Report Share Posted December 30, 2022 Whatever you use, make sure it’s fit for purpose and robust. I had first hand experience of the awful accident at the Roeburndale shoot at the start of the year where the bridge collapsed. No shoot day should ever go the way that one did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave at kelton Posted December 30, 2022 Report Share Posted December 30, 2022 On 08/11/2022 at 17:53, ditchman said: the reason why the shoot used telegraph poles...was that they were strong enough to support a quad...when on feeding rounds ..dogging in..short cuts etc..they get alot more use off season than in season...think about it !! Plus 1 and usually free if they are replacing any in your area. Three feet apart with treads across and a hand rail Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lloyd90 Posted December 30, 2022 Report Share Posted December 30, 2022 11 hours ago, Jonty said: Whatever you use, make sure it’s fit for purpose and robust. I had first hand experience of the awful accident at the Roeburndale shoot at the start of the year where the bridge collapsed. No shoot day should ever go the way that one did. Is that the one where the 2 gentlemen sadly lost their lives after the bridge collapsed? I was about to mention that. Whatever is build, take care. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mossy835 Posted December 31, 2022 Report Share Posted December 31, 2022 On 08/11/2022 at 17:53, ditchman said: the reason why the shoot used telegraph poles...was that they were strong enough to support a quad...when on feeding rounds ..dogging in..short cuts etc..they get alot more use off season than in season...think about it !! iv been on bt openreach, for 38 years,when i first started we cut down a pole, and it was 105 years old, and still hard in the middle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted December 31, 2022 Report Share Posted December 31, 2022 17 minutes ago, mossy835 said: iv been on bt openreach, for 38 years,when i first started we cut down a pole, and it was 105 years old, and still hard in the middle. arnt they treated with pressure treatment creasote and bitumn...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mossy835 Posted January 1, 2023 Report Share Posted January 1, 2023 years ago they were left in a big pit for weeks, now they are pressure treated.and dont last so long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandalf Posted January 1, 2023 Report Share Posted January 1, 2023 On 07/11/2022 at 15:40, ditchman said: as liggers on one of the shoots i was on ...used 2nd hand telegraph poles and cut scaffold boards with chicken mesh stapled down... This. You can cut to lenth poles and scaffold boards. Bit of wire mesh or, better still, twiweld - old chicken cages etc - with a suitable handrail. They will last for years and years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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