Camp Conkers 2011 Proposal

Camp Conkers would be a gathering for Sustrans Rangers, something like a mini Festivol, based in the National Forest at Conkers, which is an attractive visitor centre having alongside a Youth Hostel and a Caravan/Camping Site. Alongside is Route 63 of the National Cycle Network and a couple of miles away is a newly built Cycle Centre, Hick’s Lodge, which has a host of facilities for cyclists.

Conkers is situated on the boundaries of Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire, and there are many attractive places to visit within easy reach by bike. The nearest train station is at Burton-upon-Trent, some 7 miles distant and the nearest village is Moira only one mile away. The site is a few miles from Swadlincote and Ashby-de-la-Zouch.

The surrounding countryside was once scarred with industry, being part of the North West Leicestershire coal fields, but all that has been swept away, to be replaced by comprehensive landscaping and the planting of thousands of trees, which will in years to come, make this an area to rival the New Forest.

The Forestry Commission have already installed lots of off-road trails through the National Forest and so it is an ideal place for cycling.

The local Sustrans Rangers are proposing to run Camp Conkers from Tuesday 6th September through to Tuesday 13th.

During that period, there would be a series of rides to local events and places of interest in the area. Most of these would be “free rides”, that is to say that we would provide leaflets and maps of where to go and what to see, in addition to some led rides in the evenings and over the weekend, and gatherings at local hostelries.

There would be no formal booking system. Participants would book themselves into the YHA, Campsite or local B&Bs, and this should be done well in advance. We will supply details of all these.

There will be a caravan on site throughout the week which will act as Sustrans HQ.

All Rangers and families are invited to come along for any length of time during the week and local Rangers, who live nearby, to come for odd days. The main period would of course be the weekend 10th/11th September.

We would like Sustrans to publicise the event, and for some of the HQ staff to join us.

During the Summer, local Rangers will prepare a series of leaflets detailing cycle rides from the site and these will be available for visitors. Copies of these can later be passed on to the YHA, Campsite and Forestry Commission for use by the public in the future.

We will also liaise with the Forestry Commission who have offices nearby as they will be keen to encourage such an event, having put a lot of time, money and effort into developing the area, in so many ways, to encourage cycling.
We are indebted to Dave Stevens for a suitable motto -
"Go bonkers for Conkers". Most apt!

Comments, and further suggestions please to:
Les Sims
Sustrans Liaison Ranger - Derby & South Derbyshire
Email: sustransranger@yahoo.co.uk
Tel: 01332 514903