If you ride in the Surrey Hills, you need to read this
We've not posted an update on the recent Hurtwood Control meeting on the 25h July for mountain bikers
here, although we've been busy elsewhere. So here's what's happened - and why you should care.
Hurtwood Control is the biggest land manager in the Surrey Hills. It manages Holmbury Hill and a lot of Pitch Hill, too.
Hurtwood is a remarkably forward-thinking organisation, and it's also dedicated to public access to the land it manages. This was effectively brought about by a Deed of Dedication signed in 1926 - the current owner of the Bray estate is the great neice (I think that's right) of the original signatory of the Deed.
However, mountain biking on Hurtwood land has reached a point where it's starting to have a detrimental impact on both the land and other land users. Hurtwood has to act.
Rather than simply ban mountain bikes, they want to get us involved and help them manage the problem they have.
That means that you - and your mates, and anyone else who rides in the Surrey Hills - needs to get involved in one way or another. Here's a list of what you can do.
1) Join Hurtwood Control.
If you think the riding you enjoy on Hurtwood Control land is worth more than £25, you'd be right. Hurtwood Control membership costs £25 a year and allows the Control to keep managing the land. The more money - and the more mountain bikers - join Hurtwood Control, the better for them, and the better for us. The application form can be downloaded here.
2) Keep off Parklife / Yoghurt Pots for now.
The trail from the top of Holmbury Hill enjoys lots of swoops - and those swooopy bits are actually a scheduled ancient monument - an Iron age Hill Fort. English Heritage has the power to do all kinds of nasty things if we don't stop riding - and damaging it. So lay off for a bit, please.
3) Get involved in Hurtwood.
If you're willing to help move earth, or even put some of your non-biking skills to use helping organise things, drop mtb(at)hurtwoodcontrol.co.uk a line.
If you want to know more, drop us a line, or ask around - don't take our word for it. This is really important stuff!
I saw a lot of people from local bike shops at the meeting, including Dave from Cycleworks, Dan from Head for the Hills, and Jackie from Nirvana. Richard from Surrey Hills MTB tours, Ian Warby from CTC, and a chap from IMBA UK were also in attendance. Ask them what happened, how you can help and what they think.
Alternatively, take a look at these accounts:
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