BikePark Wales has signed a new 33-year lease with Natural Resources Wales (NRW) which will see massive expansion to the home of some of the UK’s best mountain bike trails. BikePark Wales says they have already started work on some of the new trails, as well as an extension to the existing car park, with exciting on-site accommodation in the form of glamping pods and chalets to follow.
The new lease included planning permission for new trails which according to BPW will feature nine climbing, 27 downhill, seven linking lines, and two new skills areas. The new trails will join the park’s existing 46 mountain bike-specific trails, visitor centre, woodland café, bike hire and bike shop.
It was just last week that Natural Resources Wales announced the planned closure of three visitor centers that included Coed y Brenin – the UK's first purpose-built MTB venue and major job losses, which was seen as a blow to the UK MTB scene and the Welsh economy in general. Today's announcement will be seen as a shot in the arm for the area and although nothing announced, hopefully, a few jobs will come from the new project too.
Natural Resources Wales, which manages the Welsh Government Woodland Estate, has worked closely with BikePark Wales since 2013, and call's the new 33 year lease "an unprecedented step forward for both parties."
BikePark Wales says that the revenue from mountain bikers using the site will allow for major investment in what it calls a 'Future Forest Vision'. This aims to return the majority of BPWs mountain to its natural state, and the rewilding plan will aim to improve the resilience of the forest and encourage the return of more natural woodland.
Martin Astley for BikePark Wales said: “Our mountain is without a doubt a stunning area, and we already have a diverse range of broadleaf trees here on our mountain. But there is also a lot of monoculture pine forest in South Wales, the result of decades of commercial forestry. The new lease changes the entire site of BPW, and aside from the mountain bike trails through the forest, we will be encouraging and assisting the forest to return to a more natural state with our colleagues at NRW. Because of the trails, this isn’t classic ‘rewilding’ but it’s as close as we can get, and the trails will allow riders to go deep into our wilderness. What is exciting is that no one has seen what the more natural state of these hills really looks like for a couple of centuries. And now we’ll get to find out.”
Elsie Grace, Head of Sustainable Commercial Development for NRW, said: “We are delighted that our successful relationship with BikePark Wales is set to continue. This partnership demonstrates how the NRW-managed estate can successfully combine commercial activity which benefits the Welsh economy and is sympathetic to the environment. This plan will develop innovative forest management techniques to support the longevity of the mature forest cover, which benefits the biking experience in the forest.”
