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I have been involved with a project helping to build tracks for the local lads in the area get off the streets and into the woods on their bikes. On Saturday the 14th November, Matt Simmonds from Chain Reaction Cycles and myself went over to the woods to mark out a trail in which the boys can dig and make the track grow. This is going to be an ongoing project and both Matt and myself will be back in the woods in December to see how they are getting on and help them out with the trail building.

Below are a few pictures from th 14th November and a press release giving the overview of the project. There is more to come when I get the information through.

Picture 1 - The Team at Work! 

Picture 2 - Getting the Digging done!

Picture 3 - Wenlock Edge Team

Police Promote Plans for Mountain Bike Track

A mountain bike track looks set to be built for youngsters from Much Wenlock - thanks to the efforts of the local police and the National Trust.

During the past few years, the National Trust has been highly supportive of efforts by the town's local policing team to engage with young people.

PC Stuart Lippitt, the local officer for Much Wenlock and Morville said anti-social behaviour had been reduced through working with youngsters, providing them with constructive and rewarding things to do.

One of the projects involved teaming up with the National Trust, carrying out maintenance work on Wenlock Edge earlier in the year. In return, teenagers were taken on supervised camping and adventure outings at Nesscliffe Army Cadet camp. They have also been able to pursue different sporting activities.

There are now plans to build a downhill mountain bike track on Wenlock Edge, promoted by the police and backed by the national Trust.

PC Lippitt said he wanted to highlight the project to mark the Home Office's current Not In My Neighbourhood campaign. The aims of the campaign include increasing awareness among local communities about what the police and local agencies are doing to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour; increasing public confidence in work designed to make communities safer; and encouraging the public to play their part in tackling crime and anti-social behaviour.

He said: "I am working in partnership with the National Trust to organise the creation of a downhill mountain bike track and a proposed site has already been earmarked.

"The idea was thought of and discussed by local youths and Trust wardens when they helped clear up rhododendrum plants in the woods to prevent the spread of disease. The Trust has been keen to move the idea on and we have done a site visit with the Trust warden and project manager and taken those interested to see the site."

He said the facility was what the youngsters themselves wanted and they would be consulted over the design and involved in the building work.

"I have approached the local quarry who think they will be able to supply some aggregate for us. We will then organise some ‘dig days' where the youngsters will be involved in the on-going development of a project of their own creation. As some of the youths are in the local youth club, I have also involved the club."

PC Lippitt said he was also planning a bush craft day, again in conjunction with the National Trust, where a group of teenagers will learn about the environment. Under supervision, they will discover how to set and cook on a camp fire, what wild vegetation can be safely eaten and how to build a shelter.

Well I thought for those of you who read my website regularly, I should do the best thing and keep things updated. Most riders finish their racing for the year and then you don't hear a word until the first race of the season!

So here's my November:

Winter training has begun, since the girls weekend in October things have really been happening! As you know i'm now doing boxing, hitting the gym and i've been riding loads. This month I went for a ride round the Malvern hills with a friend who has grown up there, so it was awesome to get some local knowledge - there were some secret trails there that were good which i'd never of found had I gone all on my tod. I also went digging at another place and clearing away a downhill track (overgrown with brambles). I also done a downhill uplift that Pearce Cycles organised at Bringewood. It was really muddy but I had so much fun it was unreal! I'm glad I wore my Loeka pants or i'd have been soaked!! Was good to catch up with another 2Stage rider - Rich Robertshaw. Man that guy has some serious skill!

So i've been flat out; i've done lots of other various things and i've got lots of stuff planned for the future. It's Christmas soon too! I've got my advent calendar already and I'm not telling you what I got as it would be absolutely and utterly embarrasing if I told you I got a barbie one ;) !!

All the best,

Jess