From the roots to the shoots 2010 Andy Wardman - Why are Volunteers Valuable

10 September 2010

From The Roots to the Shoots

From the Roots to the Shoots

Andy Wardman - Why are volunteers valuable

Volunteering - why are volunteers valuable?

A look at the..

Andy Wardman - FCS MTB Ranger, Trailfairy SupervisorRich Latimer - Trailfairy volunteer, TVTC, Bikes & BermsBruce Fraser - Trailfairy volunteer, Midlothian Council

Footer text10/09/20103

Valuable Volunteers

Intro

• About the Trailfairies

• Why Trailfairy volunteers are valuable to FCS, 7stanes & the Tweed Valley

• Trailfairies - a volunteer’s perspective

• Linking trail riding and trail building

• Summary, Q & A


Valuable Volunteers

About the Trailfairies

• Volunteer trailbuilding group who help with mtb trail maintenance work and trail refreshment at Glentress Forest

• Managed/supervised by Forestry Commission Scotland

• Sessions fortnightly on Saturdays (9am - 1pm) all year round

• Accessible - free, no pre booking/membership/previous experience required

• Why the ‘Trailfairies’??


Valuable Volunteers

History of the Trailfairies

• Est. Feb 2002 by FCS and Pete Laing

• 2002 - 2004: new trails/features during Phase 1 of 7stanes Project

First ‘fairy session - Feb 2002, Wormhole trail, Black Route

Ewok Village timber trails, 2002


Valuable Volunteers

History of Trailfairies

• Restarted in Jan 2006

• ~5950 volunteer hours contributed since then ( £35k labour)

Year Projects Total Vols TotalSessions

Sat vol(Av)

Wed evevol (Av)

2006 Pie Run; Freeride/Skills/Magic Mushroom maint’; FallaBrae re route

307 29 12.5 6

2007 Essentials timber trails; Shallow Grave; BlueRoute/Freeride/Lombard St/Falla Brae maint’; Pie Runexit re routes; Mushroom Pie

193 25 7.5 5.5

2008 Mushroom Pie; Zoom or Bust 255 26 11 4.5

2009 Zoom or Bust; Magic Mushroom/Pie Run/FallaBrae/Hit Squad Hill/Boundary Trail/Deliverance/Redemption maint’; Broon Troot exit

337 27 14 6.5

2010 Magic Mushroom resurfacing/re route; Falla Brae Blackoption re route

283* 19 (27) 17* 9

*sessions completed to date in 2010


Valuable Volunteers

How ‘Fairy Sessions Work

• ‘fairy jobs/projects picked from overall FCS trail maintenance program

• larger jobs/projects sit on 7stanes maintenance work program

• smaller maintenance jobs from trail quality notes (e.g de berming)

• Close link between FCS and volunteers


Valuable Volunteers

How ‘Fairy Sessions Work

• FCS plan/organise/supervise sessions. Provide and maintain safe/healthy work conditions and equipment (supply PPE, tools, R.A’s, signage, training etc).

• FCS manages volunteer sign up, records, web updates

• FCS MTB Ranger acts as Designer, Forest Works Manager for trail works

• 3rd party liability cover (via FC’s ‘self insurance’) for trailbuilding sessions and volunteers

• Trailfairy Code of Conduct - for volunteers


Valuable Volunteers

Why Trailfairy Volunteers Are Valuable

• Important contribution to trail maint’ program

• help keep trails in good condition - safe/fun

• Cost effective (minimal cash costs)

• e.g. Pie Run trail @ 480m long ( £7.5 - 10k via contractors)


Valuable Volunteers


• Excellent trail advocates:

• promote good trail etiquette

• care & pride in trails

• promote the trails, trail developments

• Ideas and input

• Wide range of skills

• Feedback on trails/trail issues

• Education - spread trailbuilding knowledge• wider mtb community develop better understanding of trail maintenance -

how and why


Valuable Volunteers


• Building/maintaining trail with the fairies:

• where excavator access is difficult/not desirable, efficient or cost effective.

• low environmental impact. Lower impact on canopy

• trail built tighter through trees, rocks and roots preserved/incorporated more easily.


Valuable Volunteers

• high quality/robust trail yet retain more ‘natural’, intimate feel

• adds to range of ‘trail types’ at GT

• contribute to program of trail refreshment - encourage repeat rider visits & raise overall quality of trail network = help boost local economy

One way for FCS to deliver part of Scottish Forestry Strategy: 1. Improving the health & well being of people & communities


Valuable Volunteers

Volunteering for the Trailfairies?

Name: Richard Latimer (Rich)Profession: Engineering/Mountain Biking BusinessesAge: 39Fairie: 4 years

Just a Big Fairie!

Hello and welcome to the Tweed Valley!


Valuable Volunteers

The Trailfairies

• Who we are?

• Why do we do it?

• What’s it all about?

• What else do we do?

• The future


Valuable Volunteers

Who we are

• A group of people from all ages and all walks of life• Men & Women

• Young & not so young

• Adults, teenagers, younger kids

• Average around 12 trail builders per session

• Energy, enthusiasm, fun, experience, responsible

• Local & from further a field• Approximately 50% from within a 10 mile radius

• Long distance fairies regularly travelling up to 100miles

• A wealth of experience and knowledge• Accountants, architects, engineers, mechanics, students, IT

The common denominator - Mountain Biking


Valuable Volunteers

Why do we do it?

• Giving something back• Knowledge & Experience• Free parking• Health & Fitness• Helping & Involvement• A real say in what gets built • Riding, • Meeting people • Fun and enjoyment

Or is it for the cakes?


Valuable Volunteers

What’s it all about?

• Sexy Soil & Jaffa Cake Boxes• High quality trail work• Knowledge or education of the trails and how they are built• Health & safety• Flowing trails• Drainage• Parties• Purpose• Responsibility• Exercise• Skills• Fresh Air• Making friends


Valuable Volunteers

What else do we do

• Working with the local mountain biking community

• Peebles Cycling Club• Innerleithen MTB Racing• Tweed Valley Tourism Consortium• The Tweed Valley Bike Patrol• Enabling things to happen

• Events

• European Downhill Series• Air Maiden• Demo Days• Kids Downhill Series• Winter Downhill series• Dual slalom• SXC Series


Valuable Volunteers

The Future• Maintaining existing trail network

• Trail use• Visitor numbers• Community responsibility• Progressive development• Developing ability• Funding challenges

• Developing knowledge & responsibility• Enabling things to happen• Community buy in• More events• Bigger cakes• Better riding• Moving mountain biking forward


Valuable Volunteers

A Community Activity - trail riding and trail building

• Background - Bruce Fraser, CLD Worker Midlothian Council and Trailfairy

• Broad based approach to courses offered

• Putting something “back into the system”

• Encouraging Volunteering

• Encouraging healthy lifestyles

• Opportunities for recognising achievement

• Other benefits


Valuable Volunteers

Summary

• FCS led volunteer group, maintaining/refreshing trails to high standard

• Skilled, experienced & enthusiastic volunteers - very valuable to FCS, 7stanes and Tweed Valley

• The future - maintaining/progressing the trails. Important role of volunteers.

• Linking trail riding with trailbuilding. Trailfairies - an excellent opportunity for informal education

Thankyou! Hope you can make it along to the trailbuilding session tomorrow at Glentress

Documents

From the roots to the shoots 2010 Andy Wardman - Why are Volunteers Valuable