Emotion was palpable among the fifty or so young mountain bikers who came to ride one last time in the Bois du Corbeau (Limelette) on October 3rd, before the site is restored at the request of the City and SA « Jardins de la Balbrière », the owners. The riders expressed their regret over the closure of this place, which they consider to have had a positive impact on young people, especially during the covid period, and highlighted their constructive collaboration in cleaning the woods.
The alderman for the Environment, Cedric du Monceau, present at the site, congratulated the young people for their maturity while explaining the reasons for this decision. The site, a former landfill of 300,000m³ covered with clay, presents an urban planning infraction for the Walloon DNF, which protects nature and human health. The modification of the terrain to create jumps and ramps necessitated an intervention to lift this infraction before the City could regain possession of the woods.
The mountain bikers, who were able to practice their sport in this location for over 10 years, acknowledged their good fortune in being able to negotiate this transition. They mobilized to help restore the site. The representative of the mountain bikers, Jonas Demuylder, shared his sadness but also his hope for a new project to emerge in Brabant Wallon.
This closure is part of a broader trend, with the closure of several MTB sites in the region, such as the Bois du Berlaymont in Waterloo or « Sterbike Trails » in Sterrebeek. Mountain bikers are questioning where they can legally practice their sport. The trails at Bois du Corbeau covered 5000m², but an alternative of 1000m² could potentially be developed.
Jonas Demuylder described the evolution of the MTB community in Limelette, growing from about ten participants to a hundred, including beginners and experts, emphasizing the calm and social nature of this motor-free activity. He highlighted the need for a terrain with a gentle slope for drainage and a modifiable relief.
The alderman explored potential solutions, including with the mayor of Mont-Saint-Guibert, but a sand quarry does not meet the mountain bikers' needs. The representative of SA « Jardins de la Balbrière », Michaël Daco, is considering another potential site. The mountain biking community is considering forming an association (ASBL) to aid their search.
Mathieu Telteu, who has been mountain biking since childhood in Limelette, testified to the warm welcome and mutual support within the community, as well as their respect for nature on the site.
Cedric du Monceau and Michaël Daco recalled the history of the site: a quarry exploited from 1969 to 1981, followed by an illegal then authorized landfill. SA « Jardins de la Balbrière » purchased the land in 2016 for a residential development project, but the adjacent woods were not remediated.
The mountain bikers took advantage of the October 3rd sunshine for a final ride before dismantling the infrastructure and removing waste, with assistance from the City and Jardins de la Balbrière. Restoration work, including flattening jumps with an excavator, continued until the morning of October 5th. A few piles of stones will be left for local wildlife.
The City is now working to quickly obtain the DNF's approval for the lifting of the infraction, which will allow for the resumption of the woods.
