If you have any questions that are not answered here then please e-mail us and we’ll try to respond ASAP.

• What is the Black Canon Collective?

A mountain bike club that is affiliated with the British Cycling federation.

• Who owns the land?

The Longleat estate owns the land operated by the BCC, the BCC licence the land from the Longleat estate.

• Why did the trails get closed down?

The trails were closed down by the Longleat estate because they had become far too popular for the estate to turn a blind eye and ignore their legal responsibilities as the land owner. The estate had also found many images and videos on the Internet of people riding the trails - some with detailed maps explaining how to get there.

• Why did the Black Canon Collective get involved?

The BCC was formed by the riders who built the Longleat trails specifically to try and save them.

• Can I ride there without being a member of the BCC?

No, unfortunately our insurance and licence won’t allow this, the land is for BCC members only.

• I don’t really mind if I’m not insured / I have my own insurance, so can I ride anyway?

No, our insurance does not actually include personal injury cover nor personal third party indemnity anyway, and so this is not the issue. The BCC must ensure the adequate management of the area (this is a stipulation of the land licence) and so must guarantee that everyone who uses the area abide by the terms of the licence, and the BCC site management plan: Club membership with exclusive site usage is the only way of achieving this. The BCC must also indemnify the Longleat estate, this is done by the British Cycling Third Party Insurance for Clubs & Teams but is only effective if the site is operated by the club, so if non-members are involved this becomes void.

In addition to this it is vital to understand that the costs involved in licensing the land and managing it are real and need to be funded some how. It seems only fair that the people who benefit from the site pay for it, and so we must charge a small membership fee (that everyone must pay) to cover costs. Remember that even full membership works out at less than £3 a month!

So membership is a mandatory requirement and is non negotiable.

• So can I come riding with you and visit the site before becoming a member?

Yes, but you must be accompanied by a BCC member and so must be invited; just send us an e-mail and we’ll arrange this.

• Why are you called the Black Canon Collective?

We’re named after the Black Canons (monks) who first settled on the site of the Longleat House.

• Does the BCC make a profit?

No, the BCC is a non profit making organisation.

• Is the BCC a charity?

No, but we are applying for CASC status.

• How do I make a donation to the BCC?

We are looking into setting up a PayPal donation facility, however in the mean time please contact us via e-mail.

• Is the BCC a DH only club?

No, we plan to cater for all disciplines and abilities.

• Are there any car parking facilities at the site?

Not currently, but we are working with the Longleat estate to offer a locked car park for BCC members very soon. Until this is resolved people must only park in the existing carparks.

• Can anyone join the BCC?

Yes, in principle. So long as you abide by the Club Rules and Club Constitution, have completed the membership application form and payed your fee. We will be limiting the numbers of members for the first year (TBC) so that we can successfully manage the site. This is critical if we are to stand a chance of being allowed to take up a long term lease.

• Once I’m a member can I build my my own courses or alter existing ones?

All courses will be built and maintained by the BCC during organised ‘dig days’, with each design being first approved by the committee and a general vote within the club. This is to ensure that the courses meet the relevant standards necessary to be within our insurance criteria. It also means that no one person can dictate the type of trails being created nor undo the work of others. We are a collective and so the focus will be on ensuring that there is something for everyone. So if you have a course design in mind please let us know and we’ll see what we can do to get it built.

• Once I’m a member can I ride at the allotment whenever I like?

• Will there be litter bins on site?

No the BCC follow the ‘leave no trace’ ethos and so insist that people take any litter home with them.