It’s all happening on the mountain biking/off-road side of things. Here are three local projects of interest, two local to the Malvern Hills with really practical and immediate aims, one a little further afield with a much longer term and ambitious vision .
Malvern Hills Trail Association
Starting with the latest to get a Facebook page, with the address ‘Trails4everyone’. This “is a rider led mountain bike co-operative focused on engaging with the local community of Malvern to promote mountain biking in a positive light and strive towards a sustainable and established trail network, for all”. This includes doing volunteer work such as getting overgrown bridleways back into good shape.
They see Ride Sheffield as a prime example of a project leading the way, achieved lots from fixing local bridleways to building two specific mountain bike trails in the Peak District National Park.
The High Wood Project
Originally appearing on Facebook as Malvern 3 Counties Mountain Bike Park, at almost the same time as the Cycle Malvern group page was set up. It’s “a community group for residents, riders and recreationalists to share and discuss a dedicated and ecologically-led mountain bike trail riding, skills and education centre”, based at the southern tip of the Malvern Hills. There’s also a connected Nature and Recreation Society (registered as a community interest company?) with wider ambitions. This Facebook post gives more info on the projects.
Worcester, Bromyard, Leominster Greenway Project
On to that longer term, ambitious project! No Facebook page yet, but there is a website, with the odd glitch but it largely works. They want “to create a walking, cycling and horse-riding track along, or near as possible to, the course of the original Worcester Bromyard Leominster railway”.
This disused railway line starts from the Worcester/Malvern line near Bransford and skirts Leigh, Suckley and Knightwick on its way to Bromyard. Cycle Malvern found their Strategy page to be the most interesting, along with the Current Condition of the route, which has a selection of photos. They have an online survey open, but perhaps look at the website first so you know what you would be are supporting.