Mountain bike track rolled out Brierley Forest Park

A family fun day was also held at the park on Saturday 14th June to mark the occasion with a bike competition, fishing taster lessons, plant stalls and refreshments.

The new £31,000 mountain bike track was funded by Nottinghamshire County Council’s Local Improvement Scheme and has been designed by students from Nottingham Trent University’s engineering department following a request from Ashfield District Council (ADC) and the Brierley Forest Park Trust.

A district council spokesman said: “The students made models of their ideas for the park. The models were displayed in the visitor centre for visitors to vote on their favourite project.

“The mountain bike idea was the most popular and was taken forward. The track is well-situated on the local trails network and can be used by visitors and local residents alike.”

Around 200 people attended the event throughout the day, and despite a few drops of light rain it was mainly sunny.

Jo Wakefield, of ADC, said: “We had some great comments from visitors. One said that the pond dipping activity for children at the visitor centre was great fun and excellent for the kids.

“Another said what an excellent facility and the park was and that it was very well maintained. They also praised the quality of the homemade cakes available in the visitor centre cafe!

“We had quite a few people come along to try the mountain bike track and they were all very impressed by it.”

The former colliery site was relaunched as a 250-acre country park and wildlife haven in 1994, and now boasts over two miles of trails, nature conservation areas, a golf club and a football pitch, art and sculptures, a play trail and areas of local historical interest.