About the Trailfairies
The Glentress Trailfairies are a group of volunteers who help build and maintain trails at Glentress forest, in the Scottish Borders.
WHEN
We meet up fortnighly on Saturday mornings throughout the year, with sessions running from 9am - 1pm (ish). We meet up at the FC Ranger's Office at the Osprey (Trailhead) car park at Glentress.
Dates for 2010 are:
9th and 23rd Jan
6th & 20th Feb
6rd & 20th Mar
3rd & 17th Apr
1st, 15th & 29th May (Note: session on Sat 29th May is meeting at Innerleithen 7stanes carpark)
12th & 26th Jun
10th & 24th July
7th & 21st Aug
4th, 11th & 18th Sep (bonus session on 11th Sep, part of IMBA UK Conference)
2nd, 16th & 30th Oct
13th & 27th Nov
11th Dec
We also ran 8 Wednesday evening sessions over the summer, meeting up at 6.30pm and finishing up around 9pm. Look out for more evening trailbuilding opportunities in summer 2011!
We'll post up work site locations for each session beforehand on this site/Yahoo mailing list and our Facebook page, so even if you can't make the meet up time, you'll still be able to find us!
WHY?
The fairies offers a chance to give something back to the trails, give them some lovin' if you will, help maintain, improve and progress what Glentress has to offer and have some fun whilst doing it. Ride what you've helped build/maintain - it's a satisfying thing. Plus it offers a good work out (beats the gym) and you get to have a say on what gets built.
Hand built trail is what the fairies do best. The beauty of building singletrack by hand is that a trail can be built tighter through the trees than a digger-built trail, whilst still retaining really good flow. Features such as roots and rocks can also be more easily preserved and incorporated. Add a sustainable surface to this and you get a trail that can handle lots of riders but also retains more of an ‘old school’, natural feel – the best of both worlds! The Pie Run and Mushroom Pie were both created by the fairies.
...pretty much sums the fairies up! Cake is an important component of what we do and several of the Trailfairies are dab hands at the home baking (no seriously)!
The Trailfairies is a Forestry Commission led group, meaning all you have to do is worry about turning up on the right day. Andy Wardman (FC MTB Ranger) organises the sessions and plans the work we'll be doing but is always very open to suggestions and ideas. Indeed, some of the best ideas for trails and features come at fairy sessions.
HOW?
New volunteers are always most welcome and no previous experience of trailbuilding is needed. All you need to bring along is kit suitable for working outside (bring waterproofs and it wont rain), sturdy boots and some refreshments. We provide the rest - tools, gloves, glasses, hi vis jackets and we'll show you and help you develop the techniques involved.
No pre booking is required to come volunteering - just turn up on the day and say hello! You'll be made very welcome, especially if you happen to bring some cake along! The first time along we have a quick form to fill out and Trailfairy code of conduct/risk assessment to peruse. For U16's we need your parent/guardian to go through the sign up form with you (bring them along first time you come). U12's - you'll need to bring your parent/guardian along to the session to accompany you.
Trailbuilding work can be quite hard going, but there's always different tasks to be done - feeling particularly manly? Some digging might be just the thing. Feeling a little less energentic? Branch pruning or trail fettling might be more up your street. And the Trailfairies aint no chaingang - work as hard or as easy as you like. Can't make a whole session? No problem, even a little bit of help makes a difference as is very much appreciated. 10 - 25 volunteers normally attend each session - with this many hands an impressive amount of work (and cake consumption) can often be achieved.
Sessions finish up around 1pm. Many of the fairies then head along to the Hub Cafe for some lunch and there's often a group ride after, taking in a mix of the waymarked trails and some of the cheekier trails Glentress has to offer.
If you'd like to find out more about the Trailfairies please contact Andy Wardman at andy.wardman@forestry.gsi.gov.uk or 07900 138901. Do have a look at the forums for the latest chat and you can also sign up to become a member on the homepage by clicking on 'register' just under the homepage banner.
Cheers!
