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Im definately going to build an epic pumptrack. ive bought an ebook, a spade and everything.

Only problem is ive scouted the land for miles and there isnt a single venue that i feel 100% comfortable with. So a compromise is needed.

The ideal spot would be a clear-ish patch in woodland or wasteland, next to a water source & discrete - not visible from a major footpath. Not an oasis of butterflies and foxes etc or anywhere my conscience wouldnt let me dig. I dont think such a spot exists anywhere nearby.

Ive found a clearish spot on the edge of some thick woods.No water. The other problem is the lack of a ridable escape route. Perhaps i sound paranoid, but these woods are scary!

There some fields here & there that fit the bill in terms of discretion & water access, but i wonder who owns them and whether theyd notice. They dont appear to be maintained at all - but for how long?

The other option is to hell with everyone and just build wherever i feel is reasonable according to my own sense of conservation ethics & community aesthetics, hoping hordes of kids/the council dont wreck it. Theres plenty of public grassland by roadsides etc.

Just wondered if anyone had any thoughts or pointers?

or maybe even a farm or large garden.. few miles ride from northolt perhaps?

I wish I knew what to tell you. Would love a pump track.

Managed to get one shot before the batteries died. Theres a big tree hidden behind the one you can see which is proving a design challenge.

This pic shows about 1/2 the clearing, theres another similarly sized area on the other side of the bike, but seperated by a mass of spiky, straggly trees & deadwood.

Theres openings behind me and on the far right, so the 2 areas could easily be _link_ed, although that must be at least 100 manhours away!

Im currently deliberating on which side to build the first loop...