Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has started work to remove unofficial mountain bike trails from the Warren in Caerphilly.
NRW said the trails were built without permission in the woodland managed by the Welsh Government body. People can ride freely on forests roads, trails, bridleways, and the natural land through the trees, but are not allowed to cut down trees to make jumps and bridges, and use soil to build features.
Once the trails have been removed by diggers, signs will be put up to inform people that they have been closed.
Gareth Roberts, local land manager for NRW, said: “Mountain biking is a great way to enjoy the outdoors, and get healthy in nature’s gym.
“As a landowner we are responsible for managing our sites and the safety of people who use them. We need to respect nature and other forest users, which is why we encourage people to use only designated trails for mountain biking.
“This site near Caerphilly is one of over 50 similar unofficial trails which have appeared on our land in south Wales without permission. They don’t consider safety, wildlife, habitat destruction and don’t follow general good mountain bike trail practice.
“There are numerous official, well designed routes nearby for mountain bike riders to enjoy, such as in Cwmcarn, Bike Park Wales in Merthyr Tydfil, and also Parc y Van jump spot in Caerphilly, run by Van Road trails club.”