Published: Monday 24th October 2022 | 4.19pm
Nearly three months on from the Commonwealth Games mountain biking event at Cannock Chase Forest, local organisations are calling on mountain bikers to respect this well-loved landscape as more cyclists head to its forest and heaths to take a ride.
Forestry England, working with Cannock Chase Council and Birmingham 2022, hosted the event back in August at Cannock Chase Forest. There has been an increase in cyclists riding on the Chase since the intermediate level Perry’s trail was launched in May that formed part of the Games’ trail.
Perry’s trail has joined the forest’s long-established Follow the Dog and Monkey trail and other cycle trails on the Chase.
Unfortunately, though, not all visitors bringing their mountain bike to the area or choosing to hire one, are behaving responsibly.
Forestry England, Cannock Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), the Special Area of Conservation (SAC) Partnership; along with Cannock Chase Council and Staffordshire County Council, who both manage land in the area, are now asking for `Responsible Cycling` when visiting.
The organisations report:
• Illegal trails built on Cannock Chase for use by mountain bikes, off-road motorbikes and quad bikes damaging the roots of ancient oak trees, which in turn threaten the habitats of rare bats, birds, beetles, and fungi.
• Unauthorised bike riding off track creating new unauthorised trails across sensitive land including precious dry heathlands, thereby degrading the ground and threatening species such as important invertebrates and rare plant species.
• Off trail bike riders disturbing rare nesting birds, such as the fragile nightjar population particularly during the breeding season.
• An increase in night-time bike riding using powerful lamps, which may disrupt wildlife and only compounds the challenges the local organisations are dealing with.
The cost of repairing and restoring damaged habitats means that scarce resources are being diverted away from other essential work on Cannock Chase.
Local bodies are therefore calling on all mountain bikers to follow its top 10 `asks` to ensure `Responsible Cycling` on Cannock Chase. They ask:
• Don’t ride off the trails – it disturbs the fauna and flora and damages sensitive habitats – and is for your own safety.
• Choose the right trail for your ability and follow the maps and cycling information. This will reduce the risk of an accident and you will have a more enjoyable ride. If in doubt pick a grade lower than you think you are capable of completing.
• Do not obstruct a trail – if you need to stop for any reason, do it in a place where you exit the trail and ensure other riders are able to see you and they are still able to pass safely.
• Be aware that a lot of trail routes are one way, so ensure you are going the right way.
• Respect other trail users, who may be nervous and new to the trails, and be prepared to slow down for walkers, runners, and horse riders you may encounter on shared trails.
• Have a bell on your bike to warn other trail users of your presence.
• Wear bright clothing so it is easy to be spotted.
• In case of an accident, there are emergency panels along the trails. Call the emergency services and inform them of your location from the emergency panels.
• Leave no trace – all rubbish should go home with you or in a bin provided at the Forest’s café. Try to stay out of wet areas and avoid skidding to help prevent erosion.
• And follow the Cannock Chase Code to keep yourself and others safe and protect Cannock Chase.
Andy Coggins, Recreation Manager for Central England at Forestry England said: “Cannock Chase is a very precious place but like anything that is valued, it does need to be protected. This is why, following the profile the Commonwealth Games has given, we are asking all mountain bikers to ride responsibly when they come to this wonderful area and get on their bikes.
“We generally encourage mountain bikers to use the dedicated built trails within the man-made pine forests, and not ride off the trails, particularly in the sensitive heathland, which is such a fragile habitat.
“By following the 10 `asks` we have outlined, mountain bikers will be able to enjoy international class trails in a sustainable way and at the same time, show they too love Cannock Chase and want to protect it for others to enjoy, for many generations to come.”
Councillor Adrienne Fitzgerald, Portfolio Leader for Housing, Heritage and Leisure at Cannock Chase Council said: “The Commonwealth Games showed how special the area is for mountain biking. The Games’ course won plaudits from competitors and from the international media covering the men’s and women’s event. We want this special place serving millions of people to be enjoyed responsibly, and the very fauna, flora and wildlife that makes it so appealing in the first place not to be needlessly harmed.”
The Forestry England website has dedicated information about cycling and mountain biking at Cannock Chase Forest and the authorised trails to use, along with details of its new entry level Pedal and Play trail for children.
Photograph:
Riding one of the authorised trails at Cannock Chase Forest