Horam BMX Pumptrack

Aims: The project aims to address health, isolation, access and deliver carbon neutral spaces. These issues will tackled by increasing physical activity opportunities, free of charge, all year round, for residents. Improving mental wellbeing isolation by providing a social arena in which to make friends, and socialise. It will increase community cohesion through enabling more people from a range of backgrounds and ages, to have a reason to access the park, and more people make the park safer and more visible – and, we hope, fun! Finally, we have ready commenced a strategy to create carbon neutral spaces, and have made inroads on biodiversity through our youth volunteers and work on hedgehog habitats, bird boxes, bug hotels and planting new trees. Our monitoring and evaluation will ensure we get feedback on key issues including inclusivity and access, people’s perceptions of their improved health and mental wellbeing, and also management and safety of the site as a whole.

The works: In 2020 we consulted the public about installing a BMX Pumptrack, and a Health Pathway. After completing the pathway in 2023, we have been raising funds since then, with £17,938 raised to date, there is a deficit of £49,732.
The track features jumps, banked turns & pump track features and the design can be altered and adjusted to suit the user requirements.

Works will include the removal of the initial turf & topsoil from the track route, and substantial levelling & terracing prior to installing the track. The planned track route avoids any root disturbance, where possible tracking away from trees. Route planning ensures tree retention along the whole track. The track base will be made up of existing soil onsite, then capped with a Geo-textile membrane & imported crushed aggregates (20mm scalping/ 40mm MOT type1) or similar, provided by local quarries.

Expenditure Elements include:
Works £51,265
Vat £10,253
Contingency 10% £6,152
Total cost £67,670

Income:
Veolia Trust £49,732 (applying once we have project approval from Entrust)
Horam Village Hall & Recreation Ground Charity £10,438 ( achieved through local crowdfunder bid) ( secured)
Garfield Weston £7,500 ( secured)

The track riding width will be 1.8m in its entirety, tapering down to a wider jump base
depending on the obstacle. The entirety of the finished track surface will be covered with a specialist SMA Asphalt wearing course. Any riding surfaces will be cambered to encourage rainwater to run away & dissipate into soak away drains installed where required. Once the track is completed the surrounding area will be landscaped.

Overarching aim of the works: We expect the installed works to provide a new and free-to-use facility in a rural area. The Horam recreation ground is the only public recreation space in the area, and we offer completely free access to everyone, 365 days a year – there are no barriers. The aim is to increase levels of physical activity and mental wellbeing, increase social cohesion for all, be inclusive, and deliver carbon neutral spaces through increase positive environmental and biodiversity improvements at the site for all.

Value to community and environment: we expect to be able to evidence the achievement of addressing our aims of health improvement, isolation prevention, access for all to outdoor spaces, free of charge, and work towards a carbon neutral and bio-diverse site. We also have plans to link up with the local cycling clubs to undertake some voluntary coaching of youngsters, and Pembree, our local specialist cycling component manufacturer, has offered sponsorship for cycling coaching on the Pump track. The Cuckoo Trail, a natural walking and cycling trail crosses Horam, and in our village hall on site, we have a cycle repair cafe comprised of volunteers who offer cycle repairs and a mug of tea, and we hope new users will see the pumptrack opportunity for their own families and friends. We have also completed phase 1 of a perimeter ‘Get Active Pathway’ made of eco-friendly materials, which means that for the first time in its history, the top recreation field can now be accessed throughout the year, at all times. It can also be accessed by disabled people, people on mobility scooters, and buggies all year round, to exercise, socialise or simply to enjoy nature. We are also in the process of creating, with young people, educational ‘bug hotels’, ‘bee bricks’, ‘bird boxes’ and hedgehog nests along the pathway, and the perimeter of the pumptrack area, to encourage more wildlife and birds to make use of the natural habitat. Many comments in the survey also pointed out the benefit of not having to drive to the facility with their children or friends, enjoying instead walking and scooting/ cycling to the site.