BFCC & TRAILS

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About BFCC and Bedgebury Trails

There have long been trails in Bedgebury Forest, used and enjoyed by local riders lucky enough to know about them. But, in the early 2000s, the Forestry Commission successfully applied for National Lottery Funding to develop mountain bike trails at Bedgebury. One of the problems was that, to gain the funding, trails had to be in place in a relatively short time and so the red route was opened but never quite what was originally envisioned.

As more cyclists came to the site the word spread and, to encourage more people to enjoy the sport and support the development of the trails, a bike club was suggested. As Malky Stoddart (Membership 001) recalls “Me and a mate were stopped at the top of the Jurassic Park climb grabbing our breath back when, out of the forest came David Hiscock, FC site manager, and his collie Murphy. He asked if we might be interested in setting up a bike club and it sort of went from there. It was good to think that we could be part of the future of Bedgebury.” So, after a couple of get-togethers, Bedgebury Forest Cycle Club (BFCC) came into being in 2006 and now, nearly 20 years later, many of those original members are still an active part of all the club does.

The club grew and gained the British Cycling accredited ‘Clubmark’; that meant BFCC were able to offer coaching, racing and events. Contact and conversations with the FC highlighted the shortcomings that arose from the speed in which the trails had been put in and it was agreed that the club, with the support of the FC, would look to identify places for new trail sections. There were many ‘links’ between sections that were often impassable in Winter or after poor weather (who remembers that, before Wanda’s arrived, you turned right into what could, at times, only be described as Somme-like conditions?) and it was agreed that new sections of trail could allow a more contiguous ride whilst avoiding these troublesome spots. The initial boardwalk section of Bikea and Wanda’s Trail were the first two sections that the club created, with the support of the FC, through a lot of hard work and manual labour.

Over the years the club has updated existing trails by enhancing features, such as creating berms for better cornering, as well as reprofiling some climbs and partial re-routing for better flow. But there were also a good number of new trails added as well, including ‘Holby’, ‘Deerstalker’, ‘Prevaricator’s Path’, ‘Not So Pointless’, ‘Thirsty Turkey’ and ‘Cake Run’. There was also input into the new ‘Gloomy Wood’ which was necessary after felling occurred which meant the section was no longer gloomy, woody or, indeed, there! Whilst unfortunate, it did help the FC understand the importance of communication and, ultimately, meant that BFCC input was requested on the rock garden that was put in to replace the original ‘Bikea’, which had reached the end of its useful life.

Add to that the training area and the naturally surfaced racetrack that the club uses for its coaching and its highly successful race series, and it can be seen the difference that has been made over the years by the efforts of BFCC and its volunteers.

But, as it was for most of the world, the closedowns of 2020 and 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative effect on the club and its ability to maintain momentum. It has been a difficult task since then to regain membership numbers but race series’ are being run again, very successfully, and the Junior Clubs continue to introduce new youngsters into the world of mountain biking. And that inclusion is being promoted to adults too, to come and enjoy what the trails have to offer.

The end of 2025 sees a very important occasion for the club- the return of trailbuilding! With a new relationship fostered with what is now Forestry England (FE) the club is looking to enhance the existing trails and, in doing so, encourage volunteers to be part of what has been, over the years, the very successful and fruitful endeavours in enhancing the riding experience at Bedgebury.

We hope you can be part of shaping those next stages…

Oh, and despite what Strava might tell you, there is an official list of names for the sections- a page will follow that will provide not only these names, but a potted history of how they came about… watch this space!