Over the weekend of 11th and 12th April, mountain bikers across Scotland will be joining forces in a co-ordinated effort to take care of their trails.
Graeme McLean (issue 95’s Singletrack Hero and big cheese at Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland) introduced us to the project. “We are delighted to announce the first ever Scottish ‘Take Care of Your Trails’ weekend. Scotland has some of the best mountain biking trail provision in the world and those who spend time on these trails are keen to ensure that it stays that way. We believe that giving up time to help maintain local trails is something most mountain bikers can get behind. The sheer volume of volunteers mucking in over the course of the weekend is going to make a huge difference. We’re really looking forward to seeing all the ‘before’ and ‘after’ shots from across Scotland!”
There are a number of volunteer-maintained trails across the UK, and the involvement of mountain bikers as a whole user group (and not just the rare committed individual with enough time in their hands to campaign and negotiate, as well as ride and dig) is essential to keep our trails, as well as our access rights, in good nick. Scotland itself already has some volunteer groups working on trails; Andy Wardman, mountain bike ranger from Forestry Commission Scotland and member of the Glentress Trail Fairies, explains how being involved is important:
“We are really looking forward to being part of this nationwide event, showcasing the good work of trail repair groups and encouraging more people to give it a try. Here at Glentress we host Scotland’s longest running trail repair group – the Glentress Trail Fairies. As such, we really get to see the impact of trail repair groups over time. The group’s efforts are invaluable in sustaining the world-class offering of trails that we have here in the Tweed Valley.”
The work groups will be getting stuck into trail repair and maintenance in a wide range of locations, from Torridon and the Cairngorms to the Trossachs and the Borders. There will be a range of tasks to suit all ages and abilities, so if you’re interested have a look at the website and then get involved.
Got news of any similar initiatives happening south of the border? Let us know – while we might not have the liberal access arrangements of Scotland,
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Never out of the press that Wardman feller!
GT trailfairies will be building a new section for the Enduro World Series, which looks to be a great addition to the trail network- plus it’s a good fun, fast build, no bloody wheelbarrowing, and the only way to find out where the race is going in advance 😉 Chatting to Steve Peat last year and hearing him rave about our new trail was pretty cool
Its a pity Northamptonshire FC cant do this
Why can’t they? No reason English trails groups can’t hop on board.