Ex-Postie Delivers At Kielder
Source: Forestry Commission England
Posted: 10 Nov 2008
Rain and sub-zero temperatures won't deter postman Ian Jones, 44, from putting his own stamp on a project to turn Kielder Water & Forest Park into one of Europe's top mountain biking destinations.
Ian, who is currently enjoying a career break after 24 years with the Royal Mail, has been appointed as one of two supervisors to oversee the construction of 33 kilometres of new trails in the stunning Northumberland countryside.
When opened next spring, the routes will give Kielder one of England's biggest singletrack networks, part of a massive 850,000GBP investment in off-road facilities unveiled by the Kielder Partnership in July. Half a dozen contractors, including local firms such as DG Walton, from Newcastle, and others from as far afield as Yorkshire and Fife, are now forging ahead with the project. Ian Jones, who lives in Rothbury, Northumberland, explained:
"My job is to help turn the vision into a reality, looking after the longer of two new routes, an 18.7 kilometre "red" trail which will be the first ever purpose-built cross Border track. We've built just over a third of it so far, with teams often working after nightfall using powerful spotlights to get the job done."
Ian became passionate about mountain biking in the 1990s. Since then he's been involved with the World Cup in Fort William and taken part in scores of competitions, including the World Master's Championships this summer in France, whilst also being an active member of the Cheviot Hill Riders club. He added:
"We are doing okay despite all the rainfall, which adds to the difficulty of working in such a remote spot. Although we have the design carefully mapped out, we can tweak it on the ground to include features like berms and turns that work well. The key is to use an expert eye to get the most out of the terrain. We want to get the job done before the worst of the winter weather. But being an ex-postman, I'm pretty rain resistant and I work in shorts so my legs dry quicker"
The red route will give accomplished bikers a strenuous outing, but a less challenging 14 kilometre "blue" trail - the longest of its kind in England - is also being built. Both will provide unique access to one of Britain's greatest wilderness areas - once dubbed a `sleeping giant' by bikers. Over 30,000 tonnes of locally quarried stone will be used to surface the tracks, ensuring they are well drained and available for use all year round. A ten metre long bridge is also being built to span Plashetts Burn, along with a one kilometre elevated wooden "boardwalk" section to speed riders over a valuable wetland area.
Alex MacLennan, Recreation, Communities and Tourism Manager with the Forestry Commission, commented:
"We've used state of the art mapping systems to plot routes that steer clear of sensitive conservation sites. It's impossible to overestimate the challenges of pushing through such a big project in England's remotest corner. But we are making solid progress. Thanks to the sheer scale of Kielder, the peace is rarely disturbed by the work. But hidden away contractors are beavering away, adding another exciting and sustainable attraction to the area."
Funding for the new mountain bike trails has come from the Northumberland Strategic Partnership via Single Programme funds from One NorthEast, European Regional Development Fund, Forestry Commission, Tynedale Council and the Kielder Partnership.
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The project is part of `The Big Picture' - a vision to make Kielder Water & Forest Park one of Europe's pre-eminent visitor destinations - which includes development of the Lakeside Way. When the new multi user trail is opened in time for next summer, it will encircle Kielder Water, stretching for 27 miles. This new attraction stays close to the shoreline, meaning that for the first time visitors will have access to many of the most scenic parts of the lake shore. It also provides an opportunity to encounter the abundant local wildlife.
The Big Picture developments mean there will be even more fun things to do in the Park as well as providing extra employment and business development in the area.
The Kielder Partnership is a public, voluntary and private sector collaboration working to develop Kielder Water & Forest Park as an inspirational place for leisure, exploration and fun. Partners are the Calvert Trust, Environment Agency, Forestry Commission, Northumberland County Council, Northumbrian Water, Tynedale Council, plus representation from community groups. For further details of mountain biking at Kielder Water & Forest Park log on to www.forestry.gov.uk/northeastengland
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