Ashdown Forest

duncdan

The Ashdown Cyling Campaign ACC has a web site

http://www.ashdowncc.org/

send us your ideas, thoughts and help legalise cycling on Ashdown Forest!

Duncan

bikegoo

Great stuff! We're one of the closest bike companies to Ashdown Forest and it would be superb if the powers that be came to their senses and allowed cyclists access.

We're all for it.

If there is anything we can do to help out drop us a note at support at bikegoo dot co dot uk.

Dave

duncdan

Thanks Dave, Never knew you were there!

mudslinger

Received the following email from the Facebook group "Legalise Cycling & mountain Biking On Ashdown Forest"

Stu Morrison sent a message to the members of Legalise Cycling & mountain Biking On Ashdown Forest.

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Subject: Meeting with conservators

Duncan, Paul & myself attended the Forest centre this morning for a meeting with Hew, Michael Cooper ( Chair RPA Committee ) and Chris ( Head conservation officer ).

As usual they were giving nothing away but it was an informative and useful meeting for all parties. Duncan gave a good presentation and we were all congratulated on our representation of local cyclists.

Following the presentation Michael Cooper assured us they are keeping an open mind and looking at the issue objectively. The subject will be on the agenda for the next RPA committee meeting on the 23rd Feb and we have been invited to attend. A feasibility study was mentioned and they seemed keen for it to go ahead.

HOWEVER ! Once again cyclists have been using the forest and giving abuse to walkers. It is essential that we hold back from cycling whilst we are making headway. If you HAVE to cycle there ( No one really has to) and encounter any animosity please turn the other cheek and just ride off. Conflict remains one of their major concerns and this only fuels their opposition.

Please spread the word about this to anyone you know who is cycling on the Forest and urge them to hold off for a while.

Thanks for your continued support!

duncdan

Thanks Stu. It can not be said enought that the experiences of forest staff with mountain bikers has been so bad that we now have our work cut out in order to show them that we are not abusive people.

Well done to all of you that have possibly screwed this up for us by being rude to other forest users or managers.

If you are approached by someone then be polite regardless of how they treat you it is not rocket science!

theprophetmaca

Hi all,
Please can we all refrain from riding on the forest for the time being, a group of us in the south (Ashdown Cycling Campaign - www.ashdowncc.org) have been working very hard, along with IMBA and the CTC to reach an amicable agreement with the forest. I have been involved for years, but the campaign has really taken off in the last year or so, and we seem to be making some good progress, but some riders are making it harder for us to explain to the powers that run the forest that most cyclists ride responsibly and dont flout the rules, they stick to paths etc. There are many options on the table at the moment and it is early days, so please bear with us and show your support, we want future generations to enjoy the forest so a small amount of suffering in the short term will hopefully benefit all in the long run. Examples of similar areas are all over the country now and more are opening up all the time, and most who are reluctant but do allow some form of biking, then start to embrace it and expand! Please look at our facebook page as well and e-mail any one of the team with comments, cheers.

flip_flop

Yep. Spreading the word where I can. Well done.

Ben03

We'll put something up on jab again when there's a slot Good work.

mudslinger

I was under the impression the campaign had been unsuccessful however looking on your Facebook page there seems to be some positive news.

Any details on the route you are proposing?

Traildrew

Do you not think you are banging your head against a brick wall I think you require much bigger guns this is a very insular community running the forest for a small community of residents and horse riders with mythical visitor figures which actually refer to how many people pass down the A22 not those that actually use the forest the charter which the conservators run it under is Fuedal If the residents of East Sussex and Wealdon new the amount of money that was given to these people to have there own private playground excluding many other folk with there ancient bylaws they say 1974 but most date from at least 1885 and further back than that .
This area is 14000 acres almost the largest forest and Heathland in England but they aparently dont want any extra visitors full stop they even discourage visitors from the AA Milne (Poo Bear) site there have been a number of articles in the nationals about the TOO well kept secrets of Ashdown .
This area should be taken over by the Forestry Commission and made available for the public write to your MPs and local councillors NOW :evil:

mudslinger

I think I read somewhere that they get £120K per year from East Sussex county council.

Traildrew

Thats correct plus other funding from Wealdon and local council grants and they have also I believe had a dip in the lottery pool but the largest annually has to be East Sussex if this facility is not for all Sussex and surrounding ratepayers then the subsidy should cease

mudslinger

I thought they are on dodgy ground if they are accepting funding from the ratepayers & then being so exclusive about how the forest is being used. I'm in West Sussex so at least I'm not lining their pockets. I don't know the forest but sometimes take my daughter to Weir Wood & I always think there must be some good cycling to be found in there.

Traildrew

In total its 14000 acres of mixed Forest and heathland nearly one of the largest in the country a few improved bridleways for family biking and a nice single track tucked out the way of all the Nimbies there is certainly more than enough room if virtualy every other forest and beauty spot in the UK encourages mountain biking you have to be very suspicious as to why Ashdown do not :evil:

mudslinger

You're right- it absolutely stinks & I can't believe how they get away with it. Apparently they argue that there are plenty of places in the area for cycling e.g. Forest Row, Deers Leap, South Downs etc. The walkers apparently like the quietness of the place & don't fear for their safety because there are no reckless bikers. But with 14000 acres they is plenty of space to keeps everyone happy. It's just excuses...

NylesLyndley

I lived in Crowborough 'Warren' from school age up until my thirties and regularly enjoyed bike rides across Ashdown forest with my parents and later with friends. After a lengthy period overseas I returned to find the blanket 'No Cycling' policy being vigorously enforced. Other rural areas such as The New Forest and Windsor Forest successfully manage to cater for a range of leisure pastimes to be enjoyed by a broad cross-section 'the people'.

My wife can churn-up the pathways on a horse weighing a tonne and a half, her group can gallop past our toddler at 30 odd mph, drop huge mounds of horse dung on the pathways and my dog can pee at will. But I, it seems can no longer ride a 10kg bicycle with two rubber tyres across the commons. Pc gone mad? Goodness I pay enough council tax, income tax etc. After all Forest funding is predominantly from East Sussex County Council and Wealden District Council. I am even happy to pay extra for a permit.

As for anti-social individuals they too can be encountered perched upon horseback or exercising an unwieldy pack of dogs. Most folk, in all groups are thankfully considerate of others and should be able to mutually enjoy the largest public access space in south-east England.

duncdan

I could not agree more. This issue will be resurrected soon so please send your thoughts to the conservators via post or email. A steady trickle of letters really helps to keep the subject alive. If you want to meet up with the crowborough mountain bikers check out www.daysofspeed.com.