Bikers Invited To Dish The Dirt

Local mountain bike fans are being urged to pitch-in and dig for victory! The Forestry Commission is about to start work on a £300,000 project to create a National Centre of Excellence for Off-roading in 3,000-acre Sherwood Pines Forest Park, near Clipstone. Exciting new routes are planned for keen bikers and family cyclists, together with improved facilities, all aimed at reinforcing the forest park's ranking as the East Midland's pre-eminent off-road venue, currently attracting 250,000 bikers annually. First off the drawing board is the construction of a 13 kilometre cross country route and to speed progress bikers are being asked to join a series of trail building "dig days", starting on 17 and 18 November. The new route, which will be opened in March, has been dubbed the "Kitchener Trail" after the first world war general who famously appeared on recruitment posters proclaiming "Your Country Needs You". Before it was planted with trees, the forest park was one of the nation’s biggest training areas for soldiers destined for the western front. Many practice trenches still remain and are now protected as historic monuments. Ranger Becky Mayo added: "We always envisaged that volunteer trail builders would play a big part in the creation of the new facilities at Sherwood. It helps give bikers sense of ownership and a chance to be part of a really exciting project." Other new routes will include a six mile adventure trail, a three mile surfaced family cycle route and a skills loop near the visitor centre. A bike park will also offer tough jumps and turns for accomplished off-roaders. Work has been backed by £147,500 from the Alliance SSP programme and the entire project will be completed by 2009. Other trail building workshops will be held on 26 and 27 January and 10, 23 and 24 February. For further information contact Rebecca Mayo on 01623 822447 www.forestry.gov.uk