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BUGGIES MAKE TRAILS OPEN TO ALL-COMERS

Forest of Dean lanes are now accessible to everyone after the launch of the ForestMobility charity. The organisation will provide people with mobility difficulties buggies that can tackle the lanes and trails of the Forest.

It is the brainchild of wheelchair user Clifford Hudson, who teamed up with fellow Forest resident Peter Wood to turn his idea into reality a couple of years ago. Clifford himself piloted and proved the use of the stable, rugged, long distance electric mobility buggies along the trails and footpaths in the Forest.

He also worked on the design of the buggies, which are made in the UK.

They will be hired out from the Mallards Pike site.

The pair raised more than £30,000 from about 20 groups, including the Forest of Dean District Council.

Cath Stenson, community regeneration manager at the council, presented a cheque at the launch on Friday. She said: "We were delighted to be able to give ForestMobility a £1,000 community grant towards the running costs. We are particularly pleased that this initiative allows people with mobility problems to experience first-hand what is special about the Forest of Dean."

Mark Harper, MP for the Forest, officially launched the charity and had a test drive on one of the buggies, along with Clifford.

He said: "We had a ride together and it was very good. It is a brilliant initiative and will be really good for people in the Forest of Dean. Work commissioned by Defra showed that many disabled people feel unable to explore the countryside. Certainly this buggy has been shown to cope well with the Forest's country lanes and should make it accessible for all."

The buggies will be hired for £3 for a trip round the lake and £15 for four or five hours to go on the family cycle trail.

Working with partners Go Ape! and the Forestry Commission, ForestMobility will operate and deliver a range of services during the best eight or nine months of the year, plus special events.

To contact ForestMobility and book a buggy, or to offer time as a volunteer, call Clifford on 01594 562 400, or Peter on 01594 560 219.