A FUNDRAISER has been launched to save a dirt jump trail in Stourport and transform it into a professionally-built bike park for people of all ages to enjoy.

The woodland opposite Burlish Top Nature Reserve has attracted cyclists from across the country for over 20 years and generations of teenagers have been maintaining the dirt jumps, however they are now at risk of being lost forever.

Kidderminster Shuttle: The existing dirt jumps at Burlish woodlandThe existing dirt jumps at Burlish woodland

The former land owner has donated the site to a local charity in the hope of saving the site, but £10,000 is needed in donations to bring refurbish the jumps - otherwise they will have to be bulldozed.

Hannah Escott, CEO of Kidderminster charity Open Trail, said: "The woodland has been informally used a dirt jump mountain bike area for 30 years. Teenagers over generations have built these jumps - they're basically lumps of sand and they're just lots of fun.

"Ever since the late 90s, people from all over the country have been visiting Stourport to use the jumps, even several world champions.

Kidderminster Shuttle: Hannah Escott, CEO of Kidderminster charity Open TrailHannah Escott, CEO of Kidderminster charity Open Trail

"The previous land owner didn't want to have to bulldoze the site, he knew it's a community facility that people enjoy and wanted to donate the land because it does need that investment to bring it up to where it needs to be and turn it into something brilliant!"

Open Trail put in an application to the British Cycling Places to Ride fund, but needs to raise £10,000 which will then be match-funded to make the bring the ambitious plans forward.

The project would see the trail transformed into Burlish Bike Park, a new family cycling facility accessible to all ages and all abilities.

Kidderminster Shuttle: The existing dirt jumps at Burlish woodlandThe existing dirt jumps at Burlish woodland

Hannah said: "This is our biggest project to date. There’s over 20 jumps at the park at the moment. It’s very much a standard for experienced and advanced riders and we still want to have jumps for that level, but make sure the facility is suitable for all ages and abilities. The current riders want that too.

"The jumps at the moment go from tiny to great big ones and there isn’t much in the middle. We want to introduce that so everybody can progress their skills.

"The surface there is really good at the moment and drains really well but for the increased footfall we’re expecting, we need to put a stone and dust material on top to cope with the footfall and the maintenance."

Kidderminster Shuttle: The new Burlish Bike Park would be accessible to all ages and abilitiesThe new Burlish Bike Park would be accessible to all ages and abilities

Hannah added: "We want it to be community led, we want there to be a club and volunteer programme and a committee of local people.

"We’re looking to have a mixture of jumps – tables and doubles, gap jumps and none gap jumps, then a fairly-sized loop around the outside, it will be a green loop which means it will be family friendly and also suitable for disability adapted bikes.

"We’ll have kids on balance bikes up to adults on bikes and more advanced features.

"We’ll have a skills area for three-year-olds plus, little rollers, little crawlers, some drops – small, medium to large – and a brilliant coaching programme too with specialist coaching for disabled groups or people with educational needs and disaffected youths, with lessons on how to ride a bike, and bike hires.

Kidderminster Shuttle: The existing dirt jumps at Burlish woodlandThe existing dirt jumps at Burlish woodland

"As a charity, we will keep the fees as low as possible. We are planning on just one small annual membership to pay, between £10 to £20, to help us maintain park facilities and ensure it can run sustainably."

To make a donation towards the project, visit crowdfunder.co.uk/burlishbikepark.

Open Trail works with over 20 schools in the Wyre Forest, Dudley and Bromsgrove area, helping youngsters including those with learning difficulties and from disadvantaged backgrounds to learn to ride and develop mountain bike skills.