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Farmer John has rebuilt Lee Quarry's jump line, but heavy rain has left it a mud bath and it stays closed until a dry spell lets the team finish it.
The new jump section now offers three distinct lines to suit different abilities. A flow trail on the left side lets riders bypass the jumps entirely. The original jump line through the middle has been revamped with the first two jumps rebuilt. Below that sits a more difficult line for riders wanting to push their skills. The original trail reopened during the works, though some sections remained off-limits while digging was underway.
The volunteers, known locally as the "trail fairies," delivered a significant amount of work over the two weeks. Rock was moved, shaped, and raked into place to form berms, lips, and landings. The new layout is already drawing positive feedback from early riders checking out the changes.
The new jump lines are built and nearly ready to ride. Dirt Factory will handle grading this week, with signage to follow. A refurbished link road is also complete. The team is finishing the final tidying touches when the weather allows, and then the features should open to riders.
Lee Quarry has relied on volunteer effort since it opened. Every trail, feature, and repair at the site has been built and maintained by people putting in their own time. The Friends of Lee and Cragg Quarries team also thanks Smiths Hire for substantially discounting the digger hire, which allowed more funds to be reinvested back into quarry improvements. The two-week effort shows what's possible when the community and local businesses band together behind a project.
If you'd like to get involved, drop the team a message at leeandcragg@gmail.com or connect with them in their Facebook group. You don't need technical skills to help; moving stone, raking, and general site work all make a difference. Even a couple of hours can contribute to the next phase of improvements.
Check the Lee Quarry listing to stay updated on trail status, add your own reviews from recent sessions, and share photos and videos from the quarry. Your feedback helps the community stay informed about conditions on the ground.
Update: 19th September
Work to complete the new jump line still has no confirmed start date. The last week in September was provisionally pencilled in, but not confirmed.
Farmer John is currently tied up on a job in Wales that is overrunning. Hopefully a confirmation will come soon, but until then the team has to wait.
Update: 27th September
There is now a date. Farmer John, the professional trail builder behind Farmer John's MTB Park, will be on site at Lee Quarry from 19th October for five days.
The main focus is finishing and polishing the new jump line so it is ready for riders. If time allows, the team also plans to enhance the Blue Run with some more interesting features along the way.
Once the work is complete, the trails will be formally graded and prepared for reopening. There is no opening date yet, but the Friends of Lee and Cragg Quarries say they are getting very close. Keep an eye on their Facebook page for the opening date.
Update: 21st October
Work on the jump line started on Monday 19th October, and the whole jump line area is closed while it goes on. A sign at the trail asks riders to stay off until the project is complete: riding unfinished features can be dangerous, and repairs eat into the budget for new ones.
After two good days on site, an update in the Lee/Cragg Quarry MTB Facebook group says the line is "going to be awesome when it's finished" and that Farmer John is doing a great job. The work is planned to finish on Saturday 24th October and, all being well, the area reopens in the week commencing 26th October.
The jump line splits into three lines graded blue, red and black, so riders can progress through them, before rejoining the trail below and heading into the woods.
Local businesses are chipping in. Demplant have donated a digger for the week, Solomans have helped with the costs, and Limelight Signs are making new signage for around the quarry.
Update: 25th October
Farmer John's week on site is done. An update in the Lee/Cragg Quarry MTB Facebook group on 24th October says he has "absolutely knocked it out the park", with the jump line brand new and reworked beyond the team's expectations.
It is not open yet, though. Heavy rain all week has left the site a mud bath, and the jump line will stay closed until there is a good run of dry weather. Once it dries out, the team will top the line with stone donated by Fox Group to finish it. Nothing can be compacted in these conditions without making it worse, so the reopening planned for the week commencing 26th October has slipped, and there is no new date yet.
Farmer John has also agreed to come back at a later date to work on the section where the three trails meet, where he sees room for plenty more features. That date has not been set either.
The group thanks Farmer John's MTB Park and Demplant Plant Haulage for helping with the community jump line.
Keep an eye on the Friends of Lee and Cragg Quarries Facebook page for the reopening, and on the Lee Quarry listing for reviews once riders are back on it.
Photos: the jump line build, via the Lee/Cragg Quarry MTB Facebook group.