New walking trails currently being laid as part of a project costing over £300,000 at Darkley Forest have been damaged by quad bikes and horses.
Work began on site earlier this year and should be finished by April.
But the damage made by quad bikes and horses has caused issues for the contractors.
Lord Mayor Gareth Wilson expressed his dismay and asked horse and quad bike owners to leave the facilities as they are.
“It is extremely disappointing to see the damage that has been caused to these walking trails before they are even completed,” he said.
“So I would like to take this opportunity to urge those who have been using their quads or bringing their horses along the trails to please stop.
“These trails will be for walkers and runners only – as requested by the community when we undertook extensive consultation – and they will be a real asset to the people within the area.
“This is such a beautiful place and we hope that we can ensure that these trails are used properly for the enjoyment of the local community.”
Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council is leading the project.
In partnership with Outdoor Recreation NI, it secured funding through the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) and Sport NI to build a 4.6km walking trail within the forest.
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