Anger at illegal biking trail at Norwich’s Mousehold Heath

Mousehold Heath Defenders, Margaret Bush, in white cap, and Clare Cohen, angry at the damage that bikers have done on the Heath by cutting out a bike trail through the site of St Williams Chapel. Picture: Denise Bradley

David Bale Tuesday, August 7, 2012
6:30 AM

Heritage lovers have hit out after an illegal biking trail was created through an ancient monument at Mousehold Heath in Norwich.

The damage that bikers have done on the Mousehold Heath by cutting out a bike trail through the site of St Williams Chapel. Picture: Denise Bradley

The trail has been constructed through the St Williams Chapel site, which is a scheduled ancient monument and of European importance. Any damage to it is a criminal offence.

The Mousehold Heath Defenders, who look after the site, have reported the damage to the police.

They also want better signage at the site to let people know that it is illegal to ride bikes across the monument or cause any kind of damage, and are hoping to set up an interpretation board in the near future.

Wardens on the heath are now dismantling the trail and filling in the large holes that have been dug.

The marker stone marking the edge of the site of St Williams Chapel at Mousehold Heath. Picture: Denise Bradley

Margaret Bush, from Mousehold Heath Defenders, said: “Before the trail was constructed there was just scrub on the site, but now you can see that the soil has been dug up to create the trail.

“We have seen tyre marks from mountain bikes at several points on the trail, mainly at the back of Zaks restaurant, where they can ride down a hill. I think they are trying to join up all the tracks they’ve made, to make one big trail.

“Obviously, we don’t know who is responsible. It’s an open site, and can be accessed 24/7.

“But it would take considerable work to dig up the soil there, which is quite firm. The people who did it might have used some tools.”

The Defenders’ publicity officer Clare Cohen, from Sprowston, added: “Unfortunately, the problem is there is no signage as yet to say that St William’s is there or that it is an ancient monument and a protected site.

“Our main concern is to let people know that this is a protected site, and it’s a criminal offence to cause any damage of any kind to it.

“This a major historical site, of European importance.”

The site of St William’s Chapel was founded at about the time of the Norman Conquest and its foundations are believed to still be under the heath. Above ground, the chapel was destroyed during the Reformation.

There is also an unconfirmed story that there is also a monk’s house and burial garden under the ground.

The heath is officially cared for by a committee known as the Mousehold Heath Conservators, but in 1972 a new voluntary action group known as the Mousehold Heath Defenders was formed to “protect Mousehold against encroachment on its area and its environment”.

With representation on the Conservators this group, working with the governing body, has tried to make a significant contribution to the long-term survival of the heath.

According to the Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI), the St William’s Chapel site is a Scheduled Ancient Monument – and is protected by the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 (Revised).

Section 28 of the above act states that:- “A person who without lawful excuse destroys or damages any protected monument – knowing that it is a protected monument; and intending to destroy or damage the monument or being reckless as to whether the monument would be destroyed or damaged shall be guilty of an offence.”

Damage to an ancient monument is a criminal offence punishable by a fine or up to six months in prison.

Do you know of an ancient site in Norwich that needs protecting? Call reporter David Bale on 01603 772427 or email david.bale2@archant.co.uk.

31 comments

The cyclists should be applauded, looks like they are providing a weeds and grass cutting service for free.

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Bruce87

Saturday, August 11, 2012
Looks like good use of suitable land to me and the cyclists don't seem to be doing any real harm. Maybe the 'Defenders' could do something positive for this part of the community that simply want to use the Heath for a pastime that is simply different to their own.

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AE

Thursday, August 9, 2012
exactly!! one minute people are moaning that teenagers aren't as active as they used to be then they sanction where they are allowed to be active! it's a very mixed signal to give. Surely this is part of the public saying there is a need for the space to be created - with the olympics and tour de france success you'd think the council would support the construction of such a venue and use this as a sign of the requirement rather than focussing on the bad...

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Hudson1984

Thursday, August 9, 2012
I love the lady on the lefts shirt, it really goes nicely with her hair.

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joe cook

Wednesday, August 8, 2012
I love the lady on the lefts shirt, it really goes nicely with her hair.

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joe cook

Wednesday, August 8, 2012
I think this story is one sided and unfair, you are having a go at kids using a forest to ride their bike, such an offence, and it's not as if every kid is going to know that one tiny stone in the ground translates to "this is an ancient something that was crushed in the 12 hundreds, is it not time to leave the past behind and put the land to good use. This story is a snipe at teenagers just for having fun!! Shocking and despicable!!

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PeterC

Wednesday, August 8, 2012
oh I do hate the "keeps bikes off paths" statement, it does nothing of the sort! if people are going to ride on the path then they will still do it on their way to the site... thing is you've got a track at the bottom so I assume that it's pretty inevitable that people will blitz through the unmarked forest. in all honesty I think they should make a dedicated mountain bike track and run it similar to thetford in that their important areas have interesting boards etc giving info on the site.

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Hudson1984

Wednesday, August 8, 2012
I think that we have to be careful here, this should not be an attack on the individuals that are spending there time trying to look after the site, it’s more about them educating the people that use it. We can say that they are the “Fun Police” or “Old Biddies” That’s not fair. What we can do is state that if this site is underground, not marked or signed, how can we expect people to know that it is there, that they should take care of it or not cycle in that area. I have read the Mousehold charter for 2012 13 and within this there is a mention of anti-social behaviours listed, cycling on the Health does not appear in this list, so it is an issue or not….the council (the authors of the document appear not to think so). My question is if this site is of such a Local, Regional and as stated European importance that it is protected, who is protecting it? Leaving it buried and unmarked is not protecting the site so what action are the Defenders Council People of Norwich Europe going to do to ensure that this historical site is treated appropriately….investigated and shared, hiding it and getting annoyed that no one is taking care of it is not the solution, obviously. In York they excavated their historical Viking site and made it a tourist attraction, London has a huge number of historical attractions, Norwich has a fabulous castle (which I visited only the other day) and sites all around it that are exposed to the elements with no protection (Caister St Edmunds Roman villa and Burgh Castle for example) no visitors centre why in Norfolk are we not that interested in preserving our past, we have a great and rich history, Bodica & The Iceni tribes, Rebellions, Roman and Saxon invasions, Stone, Bronze and Iron age settlements, Neanderthal sites, including huge hauls of Architecturally rich finds. Yet we appear to do very little to educate or protect sites of this nature from both nature and people, whilst using them to educate, like I said this is not about attacking the people that are interested in these sites of historical importance, but asking the question, WHY DO WE DO LITTLE OR NOTHING WITH THESE IMPORTANT LOCATIONS?

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Tim Kett

Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Mousehold Heath Defenders, don't make me laugh. More like the Fun Police. If they were any good at defending the path wouldn't be there. Maybe they should have a chat with Alan Hansen.

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Duck and Dive in NR5

Wednesday, August 8, 2012
If its an ancient site then agree it should be marked and maybe excavated. But at ,least it keeps bikes off the pavements, Many in Norwich ride bikes on pavements with no consideration at all for pedesdrians, they seem to come out of nowhere , i am amazed noone has been knocked over with them. The pavements around Mousehold , where i live are particularly bad for this. As someone said have a proper trail in the wood for bikes, then perhaps the pavements will be safer.

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june muskett

Tuesday, August 7, 2012
I agree that the "illegal" path is out of order, but I bet this "defenders" group is a load of old biddies moaning about kids living. I have ridden my bike over there recently (shock!horror!) and saw some other bikers over there (call the police!) and they were very considerate of other heath users. As long as they are considerate, and dont ride on protected area's, who cares? would you rather them commit otther crimes like mugging or burglary? Of course not, so put up signs etc round protected area's and get a damn life!!!

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markt74

Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Is that Brian Badonde'??

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christoph

Tuesday, August 7, 2012
I agree with the comments about this site "of historical importance". If it is so important why has it been allowed to remain hidden with only a stone marking the site and not revealed as part of Norwich's fine history? Strange.

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CovCanary

Tuesday, August 7, 2012
I may be wrong here, but was Mousehold Heath given over to Norwich City Council to look after on behalf of the citizens of Norwich, whilst I do not agree with the destruction of Public or Private property in anyway, if the site is being used for off road biking activities by the people of Norwich, then surely as this is an obvious requirement of these very same people.(after all people walk dogs on the site and are given bins and facilities to do so) it should be facilitated. This should be an area set aside and marked appropriately to help stop injury to those not involved in the sport, but the activities of those that wish to use the public site should be given consideration. If the site of the chapel is of that much importance (which it is, I agree.) why is it left to rot underground and unseen. Get some archaeologists down to the site to uncover what is such a precious history (Heck, check out the name, I think I may have some grounds to speak on this one being a KETT) and uncover and bring back to life for the future, the history of the Health, Get the local and regional schools involved, allow the youth of today to understand and accept why this is such an important site both to Norwich and its People, lets not hide it under the earth and just moan when people that don’t even know of its existence show no interest or respect in what to them is a patch of sandy soil. Don’t make me get all revolutionary on you!

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Tim Kett

Tuesday, August 7, 2012
The council ought to provide some proper facilities for bikes- what with all that we read about health and exercise being so important to people. Thetford is no good for many people, not only as it’s so far away but it is pretty poor nowadays, the motorbike club events used to really look after the tracks and improve them but ever since they stopped coming the forestry people won’t do anything to them, so it’s a big loss for everyone. Someone at the sports part of the county council should take this up.

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john smith

Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Having had read the comments, I agree with some of these comments - there ARE not enough biking trials where people can go and enjoy biking. Nearest I know is Thetford and it's miles away. Kids can't get up and ride there... If there are no signs up, you can't really blame them for using the land - it's the land owner that is responsible to put up the signs if they want to protect the land! Perhaps this is a message? What can we learn from this? Is this a call for help that we need biking trials to be set up & built? Food for thoughts...

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Tony Sutton

Tuesday, August 7, 2012
How are people supposed to know about ancient monuments if there is no signage? As soon as people start having fun someone has to clamp down and declare it atrocious behaviour. I think it looks quite a neat track and if it keeps young people out in the fresh air and out of serious trouble then let it go! I've lived near Mousehold since Birth and spent a lot of my childhood building dens, swinging from ropes and charging around up and down hills on my bike and I LOVED it. It's a beautiful place that should be enjoyed by everyone and ok a track has been made. It;s not like they've concreted it over and painted it pink for heavens sake!!!

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Lesa

Tuesday, August 7, 2012
If we could all work together on this we could have a designated class biking track trails, race days etc away from walkers paths all officially organised. BUT.... The council, the defenders and the people that use the Heath for a dog loo have always tried to ban cycling and fight the needs of the community and the youth in terms of bikers. I too have seen "older" individuals making professional traps for kids to suffer from nasty injures and engaged in strong words once they where caught. this is what the bikers are up against so have to go low profile and make their on routes. The fact the site isnt even marked makes this articule even more biased as no proof it was bikers and second surely the focus should be on marking the area out so people won't damage it?

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curlysaysgo

Tuesday, August 7, 2012
While I remember - there have also been acts happening over Mousehold (suspected to be done by these Mousehold Defenders) of glass and barbed wire being placed on the tracks and rope being strung up between trees in order to stopharm the cyclists. Like I said, it only suspected to be the Defenders, and we currently have no hard proof yet.

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Lee Powell

Tuesday, August 7, 2012
These youngsters are being active and using their local surroundings rather than sitting infront of a computer console for hours on end. Back in my day, and that's going back I'll tell you, we used to make use of the local wooded areas too in order to be creative and recereational. I have personally seen on numerous occassions dog walkers allowing their dog to soil and then drop litter themselves in Mousehold. I'll bet that this area, although without permission, is probably one of the cleaner ares of Mousehold. I do not condone the illegal use of land, but this does appear to have been blown out of context. Regards, Whiley.

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Whiley Boy

Tuesday, August 7, 2012
We had somewhere to ride, Ringland hills - guess what, the council came and took that away. So the riders moved to Mousehold. You're never going to stop people riding over there with all your sign's and warnings. If you want to solve the problem give the riders somewhere official to ride. Woodland is not for dog walkers, and you're absolutely wrong about the riders not caring about the environment - the majority of the time it's us who go around and pick up the litter, and bury the dog sh*t you guys leave behind. So, get down from your ivory tower.

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Lee Powell

Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Nobody wants to see acient monuments of European significan recklessly destroyed in the name of leisure, but it helps if the signage is there at all, and if the monument in question isn't buried, or 'believed to be buried' under scrubland! Whilst the heath is challenging enough for mountainbikers without DIY landscaping jobs, you gotta draw the line at punishing people for desecrating invisible stuff entirely unawares...

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Rogers of Norwich

Tuesday, August 7, 2012
There's a business case here for someone to develop a site with designated trails. People have shown there's a demand so some entrepreneur (it won't be public sector, will it!?) is bound to come along to make bikers and historians happy, and make money out of it. Well done that person. If I had any money I'd do it myself.

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Elizabeth Adkins

Tuesday, August 7, 2012
There isn't a lot of mountain bike specific places that mountain bikers can ride in the county. The nearest place I can think of is Thetford Forest so I can understand why this has happened as they want something on their doorstep. However, I do think that there needs to be a respect for areas of public interest. Whoever done this should have asked for permission as this land is owned property. Tony Sutton, This probably was dug. I say this because there is a lot of brambles amongst the undergrowth which will puncture tyres. It's not worth the amount of punctures that would be sustained when it would be easier and quicker to dig the trail (as someone who likes mountain biking myself I would not take my bike through brambles to make a trail, I would clear it away first) . Also, walkers certainly wouldn't walk through them, unless they were very keen! This was a deliberate act probably, as the article suggests, to join up the routes.

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CovCanary

Tuesday, August 7, 2012
If this is like Bacton it is not kids coming off local estates riding bikes it is adult males with proper mountain bikes and all the gear turning up in their motors for a ride.Absolutely not saying that there should not be somewhere where people can ride mountain bikes but that it is not necessarily poor hard done by kids and that whoever it is should be asking permission and doing it in the right place. On the site of monuments, near interesting stuff like the lime kilns, in sensitive habitats and where they might be a danger to other people are not the right places. On the whole people participating in most sports have to find and pay for the right places to do it.

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Daisy Roots

Tuesday, August 7, 2012
wasnt it in the paper recently, they where going to put a cycle path through mousehold to gurney road, how much damage will that do, not to mention the cost ,kids have been using mousehold for years why bring this up now,

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morello

Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Oh dear, another case of Cromeritis, kids having fun? whatever next. Why not dedicate areas for these sports then? and educate people about ancient monuments below the unkempt heath. I'm more concerned about rubbish dumped and unruly dog walkers leaving their pets contributions hanging from bushes, rather than binning it. This arrangement should be reversed, we can do without extra plastic in the countryside.

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ingo wagenknecht

Tuesday, August 7, 2012
It's not a big deal really if you ask me. Kids want to ride their bikes in the woods - what a shocker. Again the older generation claiming everything for themselves, leaving the youth with nowt.

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christoph

Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Good comments again Daisy Roots, I wonder what the wardens (not singular warden) if paid were up too not to let it get in this state?

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Paul Platten

Tuesday, August 7, 2012
To be honest, I don't think anyone has dug it up... constant use of biking, walking and maybe dirt bikes can easily create that trails without having to dig up anything. They are just trying to find someone to blame.

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Tony Sutton

Tuesday, August 7, 2012
It should not need signs to tell people not to dig up something which does not belong to them. It is astonishing how many people have no clear idea that everything in the countryside belongs to someone or has rules governing its use even if it is termed common land and that nowhere is a free for all do what you like. Or they just don't care as long as they are not caught. Mountain biking is fun, but some of the devotees get a bit above themselves and are careless of the environment and the safety of others. Bacton Woods is another example of where mountain bikers have created paths and hazards at random throughout the wood and have to be watched out for crashing across paths used by walkers. The Mousehold track does not look as if it was created by kids but by determined adults who should know to check for permission.

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Daisy Roots

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Anger at illegal biking trail at Norwich’s Mousehold Heath

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