A DECADE of off-road biker abuse at a Barnsley beauty spot came to an end after a conservation group stepped in to reverse its decline.
A team from the Dearne Valley Landscape Partnership hosted two events at West Haigh Wood, Grimethorpe, last Tuesday and Wednesday to entice ramblers back to the area and engage children.
It comes after the DVLP held public consultation events earlier this year at Ladywood Primary School to gauge residents’ thoughts about what they would like to see happen with the wood.
Project leader Roseanna Burton said: “As part of the Dearne Valley Landscape Partnership’s environmental strand of its programme, we have a project dedicated to raising the awareness of woodlands within the area, focusing on a number of priority sites.
“The engagement project hopes to enthuse, educate and empower the local community to make the most of their local woodlands by encouraging them to take an active role in helping to protect and enhance what’s special and unique about them, exploring the local wildlife and heritage.
“A continuation of wildlife training workshops, volunteer work days, family activities, events and guided walks will take place over the next year across these key sites to help promote and conserve the wonderful biodiversity that inhabits these beautiful woodlands.
“In addition participants will have a chance to play more of an active role in the protection of these sites via a range of community consultations about woodland management, volunteering opportunities, wildlife monitoring and recording and what type of events they would like to see take place.
“These semi-ancient woodlands are of local and national significance for biodiversity, therefore it is important we encourage and educate people to play a part in protecting and enhancing such sites, to help to conserve rare and vulnerable habitats and species that inhabit them.”
West Haigh Wood, and neighbouring Lady Wood, are regular locations for police off-road action days after ramblers described them as ’no-go’ places due to motorbikers.
Sgt Brad Wynne said officers are becoming better equipped to deal with the issues posed by the illegal riders - although it is slow but steady progress.
“We’re looking into other ways in which we can purchase our own off-road bikes for our officers to use,” he said. “Barnsley Council has also purchased a drone, which we can use at action days, so we are getting there.
“It’s extremely important as Barnsley is the only area in South Yorkshire without having its own bikes and it shows. Off-road bikers who are using its fields, woodlands and often roads are common, we’re aware of it and we’re doing all we can to rectify that.
“I’m confident our own bikes will come, it’s just a case of when. Training is currently being provided to officers who are interested in taking up the role and we will have a dedicated team in the long-term.
“Residents can be assured of continued action as we know it’s a big concern to them.
“It’s also essential to have those who regularly see incidents to report the areas affected to us.”
