By Ross Collie

Woodland destruction and illegal mountain bike traps have caused anger among Bridge of Allan residents.

The damage, which was originally posted in a local resident’s Facebook group, showed young trees in nearby Mine Woods had been chopped down to create a den.

The post alleges the culprit had also started a campfire beside the den and had not put it out correctly. They had also left a sheet of plastic tarpaulin and other rubbish in the area.

Replying to the post, other residents confirmed they had seen young boys building the den.

Speaking to Stirling Standard, Callum Wilson, a regular mountain biker to the woods, said: “[The destruction] was like to have been started by some young boys who, with probably a bit too much enterprising spirit, cut down 20 small trees to build a ‘den’.”

Other residents on the post alleged as many as 30 trees had been chopped, but also raised the option of the local Cubs group getting involved to fix the damage.

Shortly after the discovery of the destruction, Wilson’s local mountain biking group complained of illegal bike traps being set up on the trails.

“My group were riding through Mine Woods at about 9pm and encountered traps hidden from view, with our first rider crashing.

“We are mostly 45-55yrs old, so not the stereotype Red Bull rampage riders.”

Wilson has reported the recent bike trapping incident to the police.

Wilson claimed that traps are not a new thing in Mine Woods. There was an incident in 2012 where somebody laid traps, injuring many runners and mountain bikers. In that incident, the offender was charged by the police.

However, he says that the woods are generally peaceful, despite an uptick of trail users since the COVID-19 pandemic.

The recent incidents in the woodlands caught the attention of Bridge of Allan’s Community Council, who in response, released an article addressing the issues and reaching out for community feedback.

The article noted that mountain bike ramps had been created in the woodland without the permission of Stirling Council, who owns the woodland. In response, the council is contacting experts to help manage mountain biking routes.

The article also detailed fly-tipping on Glen Road, a small biking trail leading to Dunblane. The fly-tipping was removed by local volunteers.

The community council promised it will be working with Stirling Council’s Greenspace Rangers in order to maintain Bridge of Allan’s surroundings.