We reported on the £300,000 “National Centre of Excellence for Off-Roading” at Sherwood Pines in September. The Pines already attracts 250,000 riders a year, and the new project aims to build on that with new routes and improved facilities.

The first part of the project is a new 13km XC route. In recognition of the part that Sherwood Pines played in troop training during the First World War – the area is littered with practice trenches, now protected as historic monuments – the new trail will be called the Kitchener Trail, after the famous face of the “Your Country Needs You” recruitment posters, and not to be confused with John Kitchiner, editor of MBR.

It’s a case of “Your Trails Need You” now, though, as the Forestry Commission is asking volunteers to join a series of trail-building “dig days” to speed progress on the new trail. The first two will be on 17 and 18 November.

Sherwood Pines Ranger Becky Mayo said:

“We always envisaged that volunteer trail builders would play a big part in the creation of the new facilities at Sherwood. It helps give bikers sense of ownership and a chance to be part of a really exciting project.”

This is certainly true – there’s a corner at Afan Forest Park that always gives us a little frisson when we ride it because we helped to build it. Doesn’t stop us getting the line wrong nine times out of ten, mind, but still.

Other new routes at Sherwood Pines will include a six mile adventure trail, a three mile surfaced family cycle route and a skills loop near the visitor centre. A bike park will also offer tough jumps and turns for accomplished off-roaders. Work has been backed by £147,500 from the Alliance SSP programme and the entire project will be completed by 2009. The Kitchener Trail is scheduled for completion by March 2008.

Further trail building workshops will be held on 26 and 27 January and 10, 23 and 24 February. For further information contact Rebecca Mayo on 01623 822447, or email [email protected].