chopwell wood.

[earthworm jim]

I'd like to say a big thank you to the arseholes who have been in the wood and totally ruined all the hard work put in over the last few years by the N.E.F.A team. By deeming it necessary to tear up the power line to fell trees, and also smash the bottom of the north shore. We've worked very hard to build this facility and it is enjoyed by many people. I for one will not be wasting any more of my free time to put it all right. For them to come along again in few years time and F**k it all up again...... Rant over

[Reg Hollis]

i have not been up for ages...
feckin arseheads!
i hope one day some MTBer catches these shits and they get a good friggin kicking like they deserve

[psycho]

Reg Hollis said:

i have not been up for ages...
feckin arseheads!
i hope one day some MTBer catches these shits and they get a good friggin kicking like they deserve

reg you have misunderstood my good friend james's rant.

the culprits are contractors who are currently taking out trees .
they just seem to have little respect for the rest of the forest while they are doing it.

they have torn out several gates with there big machinary,destroyed many of the fire roads in chopwell wood and generally made a complete areshole out of what used to be a nice little forest

[warwick hunt]

wouldn't happen in Kielder, seems like we always end up spending our time re-doing sections that are already finished, and unlike other centres by hand.

[crashtest dummy]

And here's us mugs standing in a carpark directing punters,to help fund further repairs.Instead of using it to build new trails for OUR punters to enjoy.
Well said Warwick,cos it wouldn't happen in Kielder.Just like the KTR won,t come n help us out either.
Alex if your reading these posts,a little of your help and support would be appreciated.Cos NEFA are always there when you ask for help........

[Tonylem]

I think I'm with Jim on this one. We wouldn't mind if all the work we had put in actually gave us something worthwhile, but we have spent so much time building and then rebuilding sections many times that we just don't seem to be getting anywhere fast. Add to that the scant disregard shown by the loggers and the complete destruction of sections of the trail and I think most of us are getting more than a little pissed off.

With the amount of work put in over the 2 or 3 years that I have been around we could have had an extra 20 mile of trail. As it is we have probably got less than when we started!

I do understand that it is a working forest, but it seems we are not even a consideration when forest operations are planned.

[warwick hunt]

The real kick in the bollocks is, like you say boney - tree sales, marshalling, bridge building, signing, footpaths etc. all stuff NEFA jumps up to help with, in the last 12 months we've been promised a line of tabletops and been shafted out of that, had trail features removed without notification (last drop), been made to make sections straighter and smoother and then be told a whole new line has to go in instead, now the shore which took what 2-3 month to get sorted is destroyed.
Looking at what's left on paper we got the 1st section and very end section that''s it, about a minute of trail for 3/4/5 and in some case more years work, we all understand the forest is not "ours" and that's what we all say when we defend the forestry against all the illegal work and workers that go on, however it is becoming increasingly difficult to defend and we are left looking like a bunch of muppets for all the work we have put in while others are out riding, there comes a time when you seriously have to question whether your efforts are a) appreciated b) worthwhile and c) rewarded sufficiently.

[Dave F]

Sounds to me lads like whoever runs the show up there doesn't really want you there. What a crap deal!

As you say, you know its not ours, but anyone with an ounce of decency would see how much it means to NEFA and how little it would take to at least let you know - its not as if they don't know in advance when and where they'll be felling. Sorry for your bad luck

[earthworm jim]

we were never wanted there from the start. so now it seems they have there wish. over the last 12 months chopwell woodland park has been completely ripped to bits by machinery, to crop the trees. its a shame. it will return to natural woodland eventually. but i'll not be there to see it...... i'll stick to walking the dog there.... as for trail building i'm out.....

[crashtest dummy]

The current state of affairs in Chopwell certainly has me questioning wether or not i'll be investing my hard earned cash to buy a new ride.Chopwell was always my home for riding,cos thats where i spent most of my time and energy building a track that i could actualy ride.But it seems that has been taken away from me aswell.
I've busted more than a gut in the wood building,riding and crashing.So it realy hurts to see ALL OF OUR efforts destroyed,when only 12 months ago we were being praised and written about in National Magazines.

[crashtest dummy]

Just to add insult to injury on this topic.I've just received the renewal forms from the BTCV for our trail building insurance.All told,its about £300.So who's paying for that.Does it come out of our carparking funds?And put the trail repairs/building on hold again while we raise funds again.Or do we seek funds from those who have denied us materials and access to the trail over the past year.Which has wasted some 10 months of action in the wood.
Thats 10 months of insurance cover wasted.
That we paid for out of our own pockets.
The renewal date is December 31st.But if we don't renew then,we incure a new policy holder registration fee.Which is a further £50.So we're in a catch 22 situation,cos either way we get shafted.We pay now and don't work for how ever many months.Or we wait till we can gain access to the trail and end up paying extra.
Its upto the NEFA members to decide as i'm only the treasurer..........

[Alex]

ALL,
there are no hidden agenda's here, below are the facts!

Forestry Commission were alerted to this by Earthworm yesterday- thanks Earthworm. Since then I have made contact with the Forester in charge of the tree felling to sort out the damage.

Since then the Forester has forwarded the complaint to the contractors doing the work- it would seem they did not inform FC when they did the damage, we all know this is not good enough- they have been told.

I have asked for the repairs to the Northshore to be completed by Christmas eve.
On another note, the Forester has asked me to highlight that the area is still a worksite and observe all warning signage.

We are concerned that an accident could occur to a mtb rider going through a live harvesting site.PLEASE OBSERVE ALL WARNING SIGNAGE!

Cheers
Alex



crashtest dummy said:

Just to add insult to injury on this topic.I've just received the renewal forms from the BTCV for our trail building insurance.All told,its about £300.So who's paying for that.Does it come out of our carparking funds?And put the trail repairs/building on hold again while we raise funds again.Or do we seek funds from those who have denied us materials and access to the trail over the past year.Which has wasted some 10 months of action in the wood.
Thats 10 months of insurance cover wasted.
That we paid for out of our own pockets.
The renewal date is December 31st.But if we don't renew then,we incure a new policy holder registration fee.Which is a further £50.So we're in a catch 22 situation,cos either way we get shafted.We pay now and don't work for how ever many months.Or we wait till we can gain access to the trail and end up paying extra.
Its upto the NEFA members to decide as i'm only the treasurer..........

[bobtknob]

Thanks Alex, I just hope the forestry and other groups can work with us to get the trail up and running again, then build on it.
Also those contractors get a royal arse kicking for being a load of useless bell ends.