Downhill legend Steve Peat thrills local children in Sheffield

Although Steve Peat is a big name, the event was kept low-key to make sure that locals were the only ones who would enjoy the day.

The two-kilometre track has been years in the making and was officially opened a year ago. Jon Dallow, of Sheffield City Council Woodlands Team, has co-ordinated the six-year long project with the help of Cycling UK Education Officer Dan Cook. Together they have brought prime singletrack trails to the city centre.

Through their hard work, they have managed to unlock the £250,000 of European funding required for the wider project through Sport England and South Yorkshire Forest.

It hasn’t been at all easy, but I have had a lot of help from many people along the way.

Jon Dallow,
Sheffield City Council Woodlands Team

There has been a huge amount of community engagement and support throughout the project from The Friends of Parkwood Springs, who have been very positive.

The result is that the track at Parkwood has even enabled GCSE Mountain Biking to take place at the local secondary school, Parkwood Academy. And Sheffield now has its own secret singletrack!