101 Maps not to run on before you die

[PKJ]

In a similar vein, I think some of the 'steep green' Welsh areas aren't nearly as bad as their reputation. Though, I started orienteering in that sort of area, and I've never been to Llyn Elsi.

But - windswept, bog-ridden, tussock-infested Pennine moorlands .......

[Roger]

In defence of Northants orienteering ...

Given some skilful planning, I thought that Silverstone (South) was perfectly OK when I controlled there in 2001.

And although it's contrary to most of my experience, brambles can vanish. A year ago I was walking round Ashridge with the planner, commenting "the 'walk bramble' over there has vanished completely and the area should be mapped as white". Muntjac, he said.

Maybe a muntjac bridge over the M1 just south of Northampton could be one of those innovative-funding projects?

[IanD]

Green forests can be an enjoyable challenge. The Blue course at this event http://www.ebor.routegadget.co.uk/cgi-bin/reitti.cgi?act=map&id=46 was physically the toughest I have done this year. Steep, green (although not brambly), but not unpleasant once through the heavy brashings of the first half of the first leg (ironically mapped as white). I was the fastest adult on the Blue course with 14.5 minute/k's - one of my best results of the year despite being by far my slowest speed. Certainly an area I would cheerfully "run" on again.

Sadly, running Blue, I didn't get the excellent long leg shared by the three longer courses.

[seabird]

Maybe a muntjac bridge over the M1 just south of Northampton could be one of those innovative-funding projects?

Yes, I have several areas that I am desperate for the Muntjac to invade. They're now in my local wood - so I'm hoping they can find their way across town to the worst bramble patches.

And while we are it, what do we need to introduce to our woods to erase the increasingly invasive holly?

[JayBee]

Well said ian!
i love a good light green, hard work type forrest!

[Freefall]

I cannot recommend casualty evacuation from such areas. I Controlled a White Rose at Barns Cliff (Cliff Barns was in Dallas) and 18 stone Dave Raymond broke his ankle. We couldn't get a rescue helicopter or 4x4 into the area so it was a very long and heavy carry. I remember Jeff's courses (with a bit of gentle encouragement) were quite good and well appreciated.

[Red Adder]

A modicum of holly in otherwise bland forest can be a good thing. It certainly beats tripods as point features - though when you get up to about 273 thickets in an urban park it can get a bit excessive.

I've always thought about pigs and bramble. They are descended from woodland creatures and wondered if the FC could introduce them to the more overgrown plantations - double use of land, pigs happily roaming a more natural environment (tasty pork !) and more runnable forests for us long term. Bound to be some impact on other wildlife (though the FC planantions always seem pretty bereft to me) but is iut worth a try.

[King Penguin]

Wild Boar are breaking up the ground (including tracks) in parts of the Forest of Dean. Not sure what sffect, if any, they hare having on the brambles. If beneficial, they don't seem to have made it into Flaxley yet.

[Mrs H]

Brambles were the least of the problem in Flaxley

[Big Jon]

Trees for Life ( http://www.treesforlife.org.uk/ ) use wild pigs in parts of Glen Affric and Dundreggan to help break up bracken. they have been researching what the best pig density is for optimal bracken destruction and minimal other vegetation damage.

[seabird]

A modicum of holly in otherwise bland forest can be a good thing.

Ah, if only a modicum! I'm thinking of one area where in 20 years we've lost probably 15-20% of the terrain to holly expansion, including good terrain features and previously prominent footpaths.

Recently updated another map, which also has a wealth of terrain detail, where it was never previously necessary to map holly as they were dispersed small individual trees. There are now swathes of holly that are either slow run or fight. Not a problem yet on this map - but I can see by the time of the next major update it will be.

[Copepod]

A modicum of holly in otherwise bland forest can be a good thing. It certainly beats tripods as point features - though when you get up to about 273 thickets in an urban park it can get a bit excessive.

I've always thought about pigs and bramble. They are descended from woodland creatures and wondered if the FC could introduce them to the more overgrown plantations - double use of land, pigs happily roaming a more natural environment (tasty pork !) and more runnable forests for us long term. Bound to be some impact on other wildlife (though the FC planantions always seem pretty bereft to me) but is iut worth a try.

Even animals that like eating brambles, only usually eat leaves and berries. A while back, I spent a snowy day with a woman and heavy horse removing cut tree logs from a steep patch of woodland being returned to open moor, somewhere near St Albans, Hertfordshire. Bruno, the huge Suffolk horse, delicately nibbled bramble leaves, but left the prickly stems.

[Gross]

Bruno, the huge Suffolk horse, delicately nibbled bramble leaves, but left the prickly stems.

Bruno seems sensible... can I nominate him for BOF?

[Copepod]

Sadly, Bruno died about a year ago, but his handler has a new working horse, who I haven't met / seen in action yet, so don't know if he eats brambles, too.

[Scott]

I have very mixed feelings about Maulden Woods - I didn't enjoy the vegetation very much, but a colour-coded event there a few years ago remains the only time I have ever won a Brown (or Black) course.