England’s forest riders gain trail and woodland support

demoduck.co.uk editorial team 2026-08-14 19:37 2 min read

A female mountain biker rides her bike quickly along a sunlit dirt forest trail.

Mountain bike trails at Moors Valley Country Park and Forest will receive community-led maintenance under a three-year partnership between Muc-Off and Forestry England. The programme will also fund the planting of approximately 3,600 native broadleaf trees across England’s forests.

Forestry England confirmed the partnership on 14 August 2026. It forms part of Muc-Off’s Project Green sustainability initiative and combines trail stewardship with woodland restoration.

Trail work centres on Moors Valley

Community volunteering days will focus on maintaining mountain bike trails at Moors Valley. Dates and details of how riders can participate have not yet been published; forthcoming opportunities will be shared through Muc-Off and Forestry England’s social channels.

The arrangement builds on Muc-Off’s existing support for cycling destinations at Whinlatter Forest and the Forest of Dean, where the company has direct sponsorship agreements, as well as Watchmoor Bike Park. The announcement does not place those sites within the confirmed Moors Valley volunteering programme.

Muc-Off employees will also take part in annual conservation sessions. Planned work includes tree planting during winter and woodland management activities in summer.

England’s forest riders gain trail and woodland support

Native woodland restoration begins at Vernditch

The first planting phase is scheduled for winter 2026/27 at Vernditch, an ancient woodland in North Dorset that was previously replanted with non-native conifers. Oak, hazel and hornbeam will be among the native species used to improve habitat diversity.

Further planting is planned for 2027/28 and 2028/29, although Muc-Off and Forestry England have not yet selected those locations. Professional aftercare is included to help the new trees establish.

Forestry England corporate partnerships manager Leif Mann said the collaboration would give the cycling and mountain biking community an opportunity to support the forests they use. The next confirmed public step is the release of volunteering dates through the partners’ social channels.

Source: Forestry England News

Context & actions About this article

Source check Source trail

The locations, planting total and delivery timetable were checked against Forestry England’s partnership announcement.

Checks

Confirmed that planned community trail-maintenance days are centred on Moors Valley Countr...
Confirmed the target of approximately 3,600 native broadleaf trees over three years.
Separated the first confirmed planting site at Vernditch from later locations that remain...
Checked that public volunteering dates have not yet been released.

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