[27August 2005]
Next dig day will be on Saturday 3rd September at Ashton Court. The aim is to sort out potential problem sections of the Hawthorns by getting creative with wood! For more details see the forum.
A local conservation group have expressed concern over riders' use of Abbots Pool Wood (The wood with the fishing lake between Leigh Woods and 50 Acre Wood). There is a thread on the forum where you can post comments and learn more about the situation.
We are looking for a new committee member as Matt Crook is leaving Bristol soon. The post demands a minimal amount of time but obviously it would be good if you were able to be actively involved in trailbuilding. Please contact Antony via the forum or ring him on 0771 265 0857 if you are interested.
[26 July 2005]
The next dig day at Ashton Court has had to be put forward to the 30th July due to Carl the ranger's festival-going commitments and the Balloon Fiesta.
Meet at 11.00 at the golf kiosk and please wear sturdy footwear. If you want to arrive later ring Antony on (0771) 265 0857 to check where we are, but we will probably be working on the Keepers Wood section.
Unfortunately after meeting with Cellan Michael, Ashton Court's manager, it seems that the closure of the far end of Beggar Bush Lane is going to be permanent. Obviously we are disappointed with this, but we discussed possible compromise solutions in detail and it seems that a really awkward combination of conservation and health and safety issues rules out the possibility of running a trail through there. The official route of the trail now runs round the outside of the treeline and the management have promised to keep an eye on this and reroute it if it starts to deteriorate.
For a more detailed discussion of why the trail was closed, see the threads on the forum titled "Beggar Bush Lane Trail Closures Meeting" and "Beggar Bush Lane Trail Blockages".
[28 June 2005]
The next trailbuilding session at Ashton Court will be on Saturday 2nd July. Check the forum for more details.
A new route has been marked out for the Timberland Trail in 50 Acre Wood. There is a map in the gallery section of the site and the route has also been marked out in the wood using safety tape. If you ride the new route please bear in mind that the trails have not yet been fixed and some are in very poor condition. If you have any comments please get in touch via the forum.
Following the recent trail closures in Ashton Court, the committee of the Group will be meeting with the management some time in the first week of July, with the aim of identifying the best possible route for the trail. If you have any suggestions or comments then please get in touch using the forum.
[28 May 2005]
The next dig at Ashton Court will take place on 4th June. The aim is to sort out as much of the trail as possible in time for the Bristol Bike Fest the following weekend. Meet at 11.00 at the Golf Kiosk. Tools and materials will be supplied but wear sturdy footwear. There will also be a barbecue afterwards.
The minutes from our latest meeting with the land managers are now up on the site. Among other things, a plan of action was drawn up for the rerouting of the trail in 50 Acre Wood. There was also some discussion of the re-signing of Ashton Court.
There is now a mailing list for news and discussion on the trails at Providence Plantation, a.k.a. Still. To subscribe send an email to majordomo@bris.ac.uk with no subject line, containing the text "subscribe mtb-still". Bandwidth is limited so please don't post attachments.
[18 March 2005]
Repair sessions to the Timberland Trail in Ashton Court are still taking place on the first Saturday of every month. Check the Forum for more details. Carl Jones, Ashton Court's Ranger is also currently repairing the trails on Fridays.
If you would like to help please get in touch with him on (07967) 566980. The Forestry Commission and Forest of Avon have provisionally agreed to a reroute and resurfacing of the Timberland Trail in 50 Acre Wood.
See the forum for further details or if you have any suggestions or comments. For the non-internet types out there - the Group now has a noticeboard with news, information and contact info at the Bristol Bike Workshop on Colston Hill.
[8 March 2005]
New Pictures in the Gallery. Before & After Pictures andmuch more.
Thanks to everyone who came out on Saturday. The work on both arms of the Quarry Trail is nearing completion - if you have any comments on what's been done so far please post them on the forum. The next dig day at Ashton Court is planned for
There will be another dig on the DH trail at Still Woods this coming Sunday (the 13th March). Go to http://www.southerndownhill .com and check the"Tribal Gatherings" forum for more info.
[27 February 2005]
The next trailbuilding session will take place on Saturday March 5th starting at 11.00. Meet at the Longwood Lane entrance or wander along the Lower Quarry Trail where we will be working. If you don't know where these places are there's a map in the Gallery section of the site. If you're really stuck give Antony a ring on (0771) 265 0857.
Thanks to some generous donations from local bike shops and Zoe we have some more tools, including some really nice wheelbarrows. We have purchased
insurance for future projects and are also now affilated to the
International Mountain Biking Association. For more details on IMBA follow
the link in the Links section of the site.
The minutes from the last meeting with the land managers are now up on the site. Lots of exciting stuff was discussed so check them out.
[2 February 2005]
The next monthly trailbuilding session is this Saturday 5th February. Meet at 11.00 at the Longwood Lane entrance to Ashton Court, or wander along the Lower Quarry Trail until you find us. If all else fails ring Antony on (0771) 265 0857.
[18 January 2004]
We now have a bank account up and running and are looking for financial donations. For details of what resources the money is required for and how to donate, contact Antony via the forum.
Edd Wright, a local downhiller, and our own Rob Forrest are looking for volunteers to help improve and surface the trails in Still Woods. The next digging day will be either the first or second Sunday in February, with tools and materials supplied. For more info contact Rob via the forum.
[9 January 2004]
Saturday's trailbuilding was cancelled due to the high winds. Apologies to anyone who wasn't informed but it was a last-minute decision by the management at Ashton Court.The session has been rescheduled for the same time and place on Saturday 15th. Check the forum for more details and we hope to see you next weekend.
•
Antony, Matt and Phil Lee have been interviewed by What Mountain Bike Magazine for a forthcoming feature on urban trails. The feature should appear in next month's magazine.
•
The next big digging session at Ashton Court will take place on the 8th January. Further details will be posted on the forum.
•
It looks like work on the Upper Quarry Trail will soon get finished. If you've got any nominations as to which bit of trail in Ashton Court to fix next, post them on the forum.
