Last updated at 14:03, Wednesday, 24 September 2008

With recent successes in the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics it would seem that cycling has never been so popular.

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And now the UK’s first cycle route for disabled and disadvantaged riders through a nature reserve is being planned near Carlisle.

Watchtree Wheelers is a project being organised for Watchtree Nature Reserve, located on the site of the former Great Orton airfield, and some of the bicycles that the centre will provide for disabled people and local groups will be demonstrated in a free taster session today.

The project will create the largest purpose built centre for people of all abilities to use special bikes and it is hoped it will be fully up and running by May next year.

Bill Knowles, director and treasurer of Watchtree Nature Reserve, is behind the idea and has been working with Wheels for All, which works to provide cycling opportunities for everyone.

He said: “I have worked with Chrysalis Day Centre in Wigton and they said to me that it would be nice to be able to get outside more and do activities such as cycling. It was clear that there is a need for people with special needs to be able to find recreational activities that cater for them.”

But in order for the project to get off the ground money is needed first to lay a track for a new circular cycle route around the nature reserve and then to buy the special bikes and a storage area for them.

A £50,000 bid for the first part of the costs for the track has been made to the National Lottery’s People’s Millions, which gives good causes in the local community the chance to win public support and funding.

Watchtree will still need to find money to buy the specialist bikes, which can cost more than £2,000, and a storage shed.

Watchtree will find out next month whether they have made it to the final eight schemes to appear on ITV Border’s Lookaround and go to the public vote.

“As it is a nature reserve we don’t want to have a concrete track so we are looking at alternatives,” said Bill. “It would be a great boost to get the financial support from the People’s Millions.”

The bikes available will be those specially designed for a wide range of disabilities.

They include side by side bikes which can be used by a blind and partially sighted rider with someone steering; tricycles and quadcycles to give more stability; handcycles; tandems; recumbent cycles, which have a laid-back cycling position, and company cycles, where someone can sit in a chair at the front of the bike.

The Velo Plus bike has a wheelchair platform for people who want or need to sit in their own wheelchair, which is secured onto a platform on the front of the bike so the person doesn’t need to be hoisted into another wheelchair.

Watchtree Nature Reserve already has two disabled access bird hides to view wildlife on the ponds, woodland trails and a man-made lake and wetlands.

Bill hope the cycling facility will be used by groups and individuals from across Cumbria and South West Scotland, as well as disabled visitors to the area.

The proposed opening date for the centre is May 2009 but the taster session is an opportunity to see how individuals and organisations can take advantage of what will be on offer at the nature reserve.

Bill said: “It is about inclusion and making people aware that there are opportunities available. Why shouldn’t people with a disability or who are disadvantaged be able to enjoy nature, the fresh air and cycling?

“The taster sessions are so that we can get feedback from people. It is a two way process and we need to find out people’s needs and suggestions about how we can make the project work.”

The free taster session is running today from 10am until 4pm.

For more information about Watchtree Nature Reserve, visit www.watchtree.co.uk

EMorley@cngroup.co.uk

First published at 11:48, Wednesday, 24 September 2008
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk