Staffordshire Bike Trail On Track To Be The Best In West Midlands

A Staffordshire forest mountain bike centre is set to become the biggest and best in the West Midlands after a £200,000 funding boost. The Forestry Commission’s Cannock Forest near Rugeley is to undergo a dramatic makeover in 2008 to establish itself as the region’s premier mountain biking facility. Outdoors enthusiasts, families and groups can look forward to a range of exciting new single-track mountain bike trails and facilities, plus some new look features added to existing routes. Cross-country, downhill and leisure trails will all benefit from the revamp. The new trails, which are now expected to be completed by the end of 2008, will be designed and built to help more people of all ages and abilities get active and develop a healthier lifestyle. There will be an easy green route for families and beginners through to blue and red courses for enthusiasts and even small sections of black trail for expert cyclists. Chase Trails volunteers and partners have raised over £60,000 for the project, £28,000 of which came from the Staffordshire Aggregates Levy Grant Scheme. Sport England’s West Midlands Regional Sports Board (RSB) recently awarded the initiative £130,800 from the National Lottery funded Community Investment Fund. Jason Maclean, Environment Manager for the Forestry Commission at Cannock Chase, said: “There are no facilities of this type, scale or quality within an hour’s drive of the centre, so the new trails will help establish Cannock Chase as a regional centre for cycling. “The generous support from Sport England will allow the development of a wide range of purpose built trails set in beautiful surroundings that will encourage everyone from families and beginners to enthusiasts and experts to get more physically active.” The forest environment will also help to make exercise fun, sociable and improve the general well-being of those using the facilities. The Project is being steered into action with the help of the Chase Trails volunteer group, Swinnerton Cycles Forest Centre, Staffordshire Aggregates Levy Grant Scheme, Staffordshire County Council, the Sport England Community Investment Fund and the Forestry Commission. Chase Trails is a volunteer group of local mountain bikers who have given up countless weekends to help enhance the cycling facilities at Cannock Chase. Martin Bave from Chase Trails, says: “This essential work will make a lasting difference to the quality of people’s riding experience at Cannock Chase and provide hours of enjoyment for thousands of cycling and outdoors enthusiasts. “We’re grateful to all our volunteers and partners, who have helped us reach this stage in the project and who we’re relying on to see the project completed later this year.” Anyone interested in supporting the project or joining the Chase Trails volunteer group should contact the Birches Valley Visitor Centre at Cannock Chase on 01889 586593 or visit www.chasetrails.co.uk. Birches Valley Forest Centre at Cannock Chase is already the starting point for the popular ‘Follow the Dog’ technical route. The seven-mile, single-track trail, which was created by Chase Trails as the West Midlands’ first dedicated Cross Country MTB trail, will also be upgraded as part of the changes. Thousands of cyclists from across the country have completed the thrilling course since it was opened by the legendary mountain biker Gary Fisher in March 2005. Cycling has seen huge growth over the last 15 years on Forestry Commission land in England. The sustained enhancements to bike trails and cycling facilities have made the activity more accessible for a wide range of people, including families, women and those who are retired. Rauf Mirza, Chair, West Midlands Regional Sports Board, said: “By offering new facilities for both recreational and competitive cycling, this project will assist Sport England’s aims of getting more people taking part in sport and providing opportunities for talented athletes to develop and reach their full potential. “With BMX now an Olympic sport, projects like this one can allow talented riders to train and reach their ultimate goal! I congratulate everyone involved and wish them well for the future.” Cycling maps for Cannock Chase are on sale from Birches Valley Forest Cafe, the office reception and at Swinnerton Cycles Forest Centre - all at Birches Valley Forest Centre. For more information on cycle hire at Cannock Forest, contact Swinnerton Cycles Forest Centre on 01889 575170 or visit www.bikechase.co.uk. For more information about mountain biking and other activities at Cannock Chase Forest, log on to www.forestry.gov.uk/cannockforest.