The Forestry Commission forests in the Tweed Valley are becoming ever more popular. This is a good thing in nearly every way, but is starting to leave the permanent bike rangers in the Valley looking a little short-handed.
To help to redress the balance and get more people out on the trail who can help and advise bike-borne visitors, the rangers have borrowed an idea from US-based MTB advocacy organisation IMBA and set up the Tweed Valley Volunteer Bike Patrol.
The idea is pretty simple. Mountain bikers volunteer for the patrol and then spend some time shadowing the permanent rangers, learning the necessary skills. A small number of volunteers has been doing this since August, and now the Forestry Commission is looking for more with a view to having a bigger bike patrol team on hand.
Will Huckerby, Forestry Commission Scotland recreation manager said:
"To join the patrol all you need is a mountain bike, some spare time and a lot of enthusiasm. Our biking rangers will help teach all the skills needed to become a member of the Tweed Valley Volunteer Bike Patrol. We won't expect riders to become experts overnight and there will be plenty of support and encouragement to build up skills and knowledge.
"Being a bike patroller can be a great way to keep fit and meet new people. For keen mountain bikers, it's a great excuse to get more hours in the saddle too! The Tweed Valley has a really friendly and sociable feel to it and our patrols will give an added touch of service for all visitors."
To find out more about the patrols and to shadow the mountain bike
rangers, Andy Wardman and Iain Withers, please email
tweedvalley.bikepatrol@yahoo.co.uk or meet at the Glentress Forest
osprey car park on the first Sunday of every month at 11am.
CJ
