Puddletown forest t...
 

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Puddletown forest trails

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A shame, I was actually chatting to a bloke in Wales the other day who lives in the area and he was telling me how much work has been done.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cnvq2j9q460o

 
Posted : 04/02/2025 8:15 am
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That's a lot of quality work to invest your time and resources into when it's private land and you don't have permission.

Is it correct that the land owner holds responsibility for what's on their land and any injuries sustained whilst on it?

 
Posted : 04/02/2025 8:26 am
Retromud reacted
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I've had this conversation many times over the years with people pushing their luck building beyond a certain level . In a bike park there is graded progressive trails Green Blue etc etc . Places left ke this no control some people will always ride beyond their ability.

I've heard the " It's been sanitised etc etc" my response is work with the landowner like they have in Rowberrow on Mendip . We may not like the fact that someone owns that piece of woodland and they could unfortunately ban riders altogether. The upshot is if you feel that strongly about it then but your own piece of land , build whatever you want but be prepared for all the implications that that entails.

 
Posted : 04/02/2025 8:36 am
Ambrose and convert reacted
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I did my first ever xc race in puddletown as part of the SAMS series....

Came second.... from last!

Qwert - that is correct the landowner is responsible for any injury that could occur on their land, so people building stuff like this without consent is a bit dumb, yes the people building it may be able to safely make the gaps but as we found in Danbury years ago (following somone breaking their neck in the 'Canyons') there will always be the majority that can't...

 
Posted : 04/02/2025 9:45 am
 Yak
Full Member
 

Same everywhere though, small discrete trails get ignored, massive features get a bulldozer response. I don't know the Puddletown trails though, but they looked like a good build from the photos and probably a lot of fun to ride, but far from small/discrete.

 
Posted : 04/02/2025 9:50 am
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Flew too close to the sun IMO, forest is for growing timber but the launches and landings are timber frames...not very clever!

I will add I would have loved to ride that line, but I can see why the forestry are doing it, safety angle so so, more damage or theft of the product of that forest.

 
Posted : 04/02/2025 12:22 pm
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They were exceptionally well built trails in a section of the forest no ones walks and crossed no paths, they had been there a few years now but lately got particularly instafamous, though the forestry had become aware of them a long time, big props to Daz and his crew for not only the building these amazing trails, but his in particular attitude to what’s become of them now, no grudges, not his land, just glad people got to ride them, meet over riders while riding them, and inspiring more riders and trail builders, so in that respect, they did there job, and no doubt off to build something else somewhere else.

 
Posted : 04/02/2025 2:49 pm
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When I see the lads out building cheeky trails in our shared use local woods I always implore that they keep any features roll able. Not just because I'm rubbish, but the sure way to get it bulldozed is have a dog walker or horse twist an ankle.

 
Posted : 04/02/2025 3:44 pm

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that is correct the landowner is responsible for any injury that could occur on their land

FWIW, this is not the case in Scotland. It was all well covered when the Land Reform Act was passing through parliament.

 
Posted : 04/02/2025 3:48 pm
Full Member
 

Same in our local woods, we have been riding there for as long as I can remember, landowners National Trust turn a blind eye until features get out of hand . Polite reminder signs go up which sometimes the current local yoof take exception to and chuck the signs over the hedge . That and the litter problem I try and keep. both sides sweet but sometimes you can't educate pork !

 
Posted : 04/02/2025 3:52 pm
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the litter problem

This bit really winds me up. Both so self defeating and arrogant. imo land owners can be minded to ignore, and possibly even quietly applaud a bit  of studious graft. But when you disrespect the land by littering, custodians of that land are way way more likely to take your toys away. I might be naive, but my instinct is the builders are not often the litterers. You can say, kids will be kids. But...I didn't - and I suspect you dear reader didn't either.

 
Posted : 04/02/2025 8:13 pm