The Forestry Commission is just the bicycle's bell in the eyes of the sustainable transport charity, Sustrans. For it has just won an award from Sustrans for its role in helping to develop the National Cycle Network.
The award was one of a series made by Sustrans to honour the people and organisations who made exceptional contributions to its first 10 years' work and completion of the first 10,000 miles of the National Cycle Network.
The Forestry Commission won an award in the 'People - Supportive Landowners' category for providing "many crucial links as well as whole networks of local cycling routes" over national forest land. These routes not only benefit locals but also provide tourists to an area suitable paths for cycling.
Sustrans made the award to the Commission at a ceremony in Cambridge, and Sustrans chief executive officer John Grimshaw said,
"Sustrans would like to thank the Forestry Commission for helping it to reach the first 10,000 miles (16,000 kilometres) of the National Cycle Network.
"Already nearly 50 per cent of the population lives within one mile of these safe, attractive walking and cycling routes.
"With the support of partners such as the Forestry Commission, we aim to offer people more choice to travel in ways that benefit their health and the environment by extending the network to even more people."
The Commission's Chairman, Lord David Clark, congratulated Sustrans on its achievement, adding,
"We're delighted to receive this award, and we've been delighted to help Sustrans' efforts in this very worthwhile project, and we will continue to do so.
"Britain's national forests are the people's forests, and the UK Government, the Scottish Executive and the Welsh Assembly Government are keen for us to maximise the benefits that they can provide to Britain's people.
"Cycle trails are one of the many benefits we provide in national forests. By doing so, not only do we provide opportunities for folk to enjoy an environmentally friendly means of transport, but going for a regular bike ride in the fresh air and peace and quiet of a woodland does wonders for our health and well-being.
"Indeed, it is most appropriate that this award has been made to us in the year that we launched our Active Woods campaign to get more people off the couch and into the forest to get fitter and feel better."
The Forestry Commission has more than 2600 kilometres (1625 miles) of cycle routes on its 1.04 million hectares (2.56 million acres) of national forest land in England, Scotland and Wales, as well as thousands of kilometres of walking trails, hundreds of kilometres of horse-riding trails, and a number of world-class mountain biking centres.
For more information:
