Week 3 ....

Hi everyone!

Here we are in week 3!!!

Just look at the progress so far: -








The track is almost complete. As you can see from the pictures, the Berms are now in place, and the track has been roughly formed. All the dirt has been used and we just about had enough of the soil.

The jumps have all been formed into blocks and Steve Jenks will be starting the shaping of the track this week, all being well with the weather. Once the track has been shaped, the track will then be rolled with a heavy roller to make the track nice and flat.

This morning we have 20 tons of stone dust coming, which has been provided by Peter Barkwill of Moonshill Quarry, Stoke St Michael and I would like to say a BIG thank you to Peter for supporting our project. The stone dust will be the finishing touch and it will be spread over the track and then compacted to a good smooth finish.

So, by next week, we hope the track will be complete and ready for the half term break.

The Badger Fence is up!

We are really pleased to announce that the BMX track is well and truly on the way and Adrian Coward (the Badger man) came on Tuesday morning to supervise the construction of the fence.



Everything went well, and the fence is now up and looks great. We will plant a hawthorn or blackthorn hedge next as this was all part of an agreement we had to having a BMX track.




As you can see from the pics, the track is coming on really well.
At the moment we have two of Steve Jenks men working on the track. They are currently compacting the soil to make a good firm surface for the track and gradually building it up to the right levels ready to start the jumps. They have already made a large start hill that will be compacted to a good height.




We have been really lucky with the weather and so far had only one half day of bad rain. So, so far so good!!!!

There is a really good atmosphere at the skate park and all the community are positive. With the Skate park now looking so good everyone is excited about all the new and improving facilities.

Thanks to Adrian for assisting us with this project. Protecting the wildlife is paramount and thankfully with the correct advice this project was able to proceed.

A big THANK YOU to Will Dunscombe for literally living on site helping to manage the process and taking all the photos

More photos to come as the track develops ....

Building the Track has begun ...

What an exciting day. Steve Jenks was on site today starting to build our new dirt track. Thanks to Will here is a photo of the first cut of the turf.



Its all really happening and there's lots going on. The Badger conservation man coming tomorrow (Tues) to supervise the new fence going up to protect the Badgers from the new track siting. There has also been lots of interest from locals. The local young people are getting very excited as its on its way.

Watch this space for updates ....

BMX track on its way ..... Atlast!

WE HAVE NOW GOT THE SOIL that we needed for the BMX dirt track project and as the weather is so good at the moment we are going to proceed NOW. The soil has started to arrive (Tuesday) and Steve Jenks (Track designer and builder) will start the building work on Monday 5th October.






More updates to follow .... watch this space!

Art project a great success!

The art project on Sunday was a great success and it has really transformed the Skate Park. Plenty of young people joined in and Lee worked his magic it was fantastic.

To see more photos look here

Thanks to Lee Kirby for a fantastic work shop and to Stu Capon for yet again more brilliant photos. Thanks guys.

Art Project role Call for 27th Sept

Any young people aged 11 - 19 fancy joining us at the Skate Park on Sunday 27th September at 10am (weather permitting). Lee Kirby (professional street/Mural artist) is coming to do a graffiti art workshop with us. We will be spraying up the back boards on the skate ramps.

Youth worker Simon Howell and Area Youth Worker Andrea White will be there too and this is a chance to decorate the skate park in a constructive way. However before that we are looking for young people to help get the back boards ready and so on the evenings of Thursday 17th and 25th Youth workers Simon and Karen will need help to prepare the boards so all help gratefully received. Please call Simon on 07821253537 for further details.

Wow! The Shepton Mallet's Skate Jam has been and gone and was hosted by our young people's steering group with support from Youth Workers Simon Howell and Karen Reeve. The event went ahead on the postponed date of Sunday 6th September after being cancelled due to bad weather the week before. This was the second year the event was held and there are plans for another event next year. 200 spectators gathered to see the event and the weather remained fair enough for the whole event to take place.

A BBQ with refreshments was also available with all proceeds going towards the young people's steering group fund which will subsequently go towards Shepton Mallet Skate Park and associated projects.

It turned out to be an international affair when Latvian competitor Martins scooped the best trick trophy after wowing the crowds with his complete rotation in mid air.



The overall competition winner was James Baker, aged 17, from Shepton Mallet who won the top prize of £50 and a trophy and Elliot Murray, last years winner, was runner up.



The Blades 11 - 13 year old category was won by Liam Golledge who also picked up first prize in the 11 - 13 year old BMX category.



The Blades 14 - 16 year old category was won by Kellan Hayes and the BMX 14 - 16 year old category was won by Keiran Perrin.

The young people's steering group would like to take the opportunity to thank their sponsors Great Ostrey Picture Framing, Cycle City, Salt Rock and Fraser & Co who without their support the event would not have been possible. If anyone would like to sponsor any future events or would like any further information on the young people's steering group please contact Simon Howell (Youth Worker) on 01749 344344 or 07821253537

Thanks also to Stu Capon - local, amateur photographer who gave us kind permission to view/use his fantastic photos of the event from here