Oakwell Hall MTB Trail

If you ride with your kids, here's a chance to have your say on how to improve your experience at Oakwell...

https://www.facebook.com/196358837025/posts/10158807961077026/

Families - pick up our new Explore Oakwell map for an Oakwell Adventure!

We'd love to hear about your visit and what you would like to see for families at Oakwell in future.

Our short survey can be completed by scanning the QR code printed on the back of the map or via: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/6CFDKXL

Thank you!

Please be aware there'll be 40+ horses at Oakwell this Sunday so if you come across them elsewhere in the park. 👍👍

We'll be there supporting the event. They're raising funds to develop the horse riding facilities at Oakwell. The side benefit for us is it removes any excuse for the handful of horseriders using the mtb trail.

We will be over at the trail this Saturday doing some strimmer and leaf blower work to keep the trail clear.
If we have the numbers we will also be sorting some more berms.
If you can spare some time to give us a hand that would be great..if your riding, stop and say hi 👍🏻

Meet at 10am in the car park opposite the cafe. We'll be out until about 12.30 however pop along for as long as you can.

Wishing the casualty a speedy recovery. 👍👍

Nice to know Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Team are looking out for us if we need them.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=701948474095256&id=100028403307201

⛑ Yesterday morning the team were called to assist Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust with a casualty that had fallen from a tree near Oakwell Hall down a banking by the stream. Just as the team were about to deploy the casualty started walking to the ambulance. We wish him a speedy recovery 🤕

Just a heads up, oakwell mtb trail will be closed on Sunday from 9am till 1pm due to an event.

Its the Jo Cox charity run so the place will be heaving with runners (raising money for a good cause 👏).

The Ride Kirklees team have a stand at the Dewsbury Summer Of Cycling event this Saturday. Feel free to meet up and chat about Oakwell Hall Trail...and other biking stuff.

Dewsbury Summer of Cycling is launching this Saturday! 🚴‍♀️

We'll be right in the heart of Dewsbury (outside the Town Hall) from 10am-3pm and it's all totally free!

Join us and meet a range of cycling organisations, get tips and advice to help you cycle safely in Dewsbury this summer. You'll have the opportunity to have a go on some of our new e-bikes (booking required!).

Find out more, including all of our Dewsbury Summer of Cycling event dates, here ➡️ www.epiks.org.uk/dewsbury-summer-of-cycling

This project is supported by Dewsbury councillors and partners CycleKirklees Cityconnect Streetbikes Cic

Our neighbours in Wakefield, Fitzwilliam Community Bike Track, are trying to get support for more bike facilities over there. Please sign the petition if you'd like to be able to ride more places like Oakwell.

Sign the Petition Help us bring new bike tracks to the Wakefield District

The problems with dog walkers on the mountain bike trail seem hard to solve. Today we chatted again to them to explain the danger they're putting themselves in. The bad news is there are now horses riding the trail. The only* way they could get to the trail was to ride through the narrow entrance, past the mtb trail/bikes only signs.

*there are other ways on but the big pile of horse dump at the start of the trail gave away they rode past the bike only signs.

Horses on the trail are a far worse risk than dog walkers. Their weight and metal shoes damages the trail however that's the least of the problems. It's a narrow track often with no space at the side. It's a dedicated mtb trail, the idea being it's one of the few places(only?) in Kirklees that you can legitimately leather it on a bike. Horses weigh half a ton with solid metal shoes(hence the RK posts about being considerate to horses on roads/bridleways ). If a horse gets spooked it could get really nasty for horse, rider and bike rider...no-one wants that to happen. If you come across them (or the dog walkers) could you advise them that the Council and Oakwell Hall management have designated it as a bike only trail, basically for the safety of everyone. There's a lot of other safe spaces in Oakwell Hall to ride the horses.👍

That last photo, we've asked for a big sign on the post - bikes only⬅️, walkers only➡️

If you enjoy riding Oakwell mtb trail how about joining in to help to maintain it.

You don’t need any particular skills as the Ride Kirklees volunteers will show you what to do, you just need some enthusiasm and a liking for Jaffa cakes and biscuits.

We need more people who ride it to get involved maintaining it as currently we’re struggling to get all the basic tasks done.

What needs doing depends on the season however it could be maintaining the surface of the track; blowing leaves; strimming vegetation or creating barriers to separate riders and walkers.

We also work on the footpaths to encourage the walkers to stay on those rather than walk on the bike track.

The session lasts for 2-3 hours, normally every quarter. If you’ve any questions then add a comment or drop us a line at [email protected].

We advertise the events through the ride kirlees page so you can sign up then. It’s all quite relaxed and an enjoyable couple of hours so please join us.

We also have a few bridleway sessions coming up, so check the events pages to get involved. The ones we are looking at are in South Kirklees (Meltham and Marsden).

If there are bridleways in your area that need some attention let us know and we can look at tackling them as well.

A great morning out sorting the with .davies.9 and

Managed to resurface a few berms and rollers on the final descent.

Heading back soon to start on the 1st descent which is looking in desperate need of attention.

The more we can get to the session, the more we can get done. It's a good craic, and you don't need any previous experience (jaffa cakes will be provided 😉) I'll be putting some dates up soon for monthly dig days at oakwell and on other bridleways

Also managed to get a few signs up to remind people to keep it clean

If your coming to Oakwell hall maintenance session tomorrow bring your bike for a lap or 2 after 🚵‍♂️👊🏻

Meeting at 10 in the car park opposite the cafe

If anyone knows of any group mtb rides around here (Oakwell/Scholes) or could introduce Aaron to routes, please get in touch through the post on the Ride Kirklees page. Ta.

Just a wee reminder that the Ride Kirklees AGM is this Thursday at 7.30pm at magic rock tap in Huddersfield..
Be good to see as many people as possible 👊🏻

A good morning over at with Mark. We have done a bit of strimming and a full leaf blow.
The trail is riding well, but is showing signs of wear. Looks like it needs a good few sessions to resurface it.
I'll be putting out some dates soon. Any help would be really appreciated.

Short notice, but I'm heading to oakwell for a bit of leaf blowing and sorting on Saturday about 9.30..if anyone is free and what's to give me a hand, it would be much appreciated..

Will also have some trail/bridleway maintenance sessions coming up as well as the ride Kirklees AGM..Dates to follow soon 👍🏻