Forestry Commission - News - foresters need help on sign theft

Foresters in Dalbeattie are asking the public to be their eyes and ears as waymarkers on the popular 7stanes mountain bike route keep on being stolen.

Ever since the Hardrock Trail was officially opened eighteen months ago, waymarkers have been systematically removed sometimes causing problems for visitors to the forest.

Foresters first thought that the waymarkers were being taken as souvenirs by mountain bikers, but now their suspicions lie elsewhere.

Robin Fuller of Forestry Commission Scotland said:

"The local community and Forestry Commission Scotland have worked hard to establish the forests of Dalbeattie as a big attraction to draw in more tourists. The 7stanes biking trail has been a big success and we want to build on its reputation for great fun riding. We don't want this reputation tarnished by someone who is continually removing waymarkers.

"It always seems to be the same waymarkers that are removed - along popular forest roads. We think that someone is removing the 7stanes waymarkers and either discarding them elsewhere in the forest or potentially taking them away.

"Whoever is doing this doesn't realise the bigger picture. Having no directions to help visitors around the forest can really spoil a day out and might put them off from coming back. This could have a negative impact on establishing Dalbeattie as a top visitor attraction and of course that will affect local business.

"But more importantly, we need to think about the safety of families coming to the forest. On one occasion the Police were called out to locate a young family who couldn't find their way back as the waymarking had been removed.

"We'd be grateful if everyone could keep their eyes and ears open and contact us about any damage to the waymarking system. If we work together we can continue to keep Dalbeattie's forests as a great place to go."

For more information about Dalbeattie forest and its recreation facilities log on to http://www.forestry.gov.uk/recreation and search for Dalbeattie. For mountain biking log on to the www.7stanes.gov.uk website. Robin can be contacted at on 01387 247 745 or robin.fuller@forestry.gsi.gov.uk.

Media enquiries to Robin Fuller, Ae Forest District, 0791 90 44 382 or Steve Williams, Forestry Commission Scotland press office 0131 314 6508.