This summer, the National Trust in Yorkshire will be opening its doors to thousands of visitors, but there’ll be an extra welcome for anyone arriving by bike.
The National Trust stand at this year’s Great Yorkshire Show, in Harrogate, has today (9 July 2013) launched a new initiative demonstrating its commitment to cyclist.
For every cyclist now arriving to a National Trust place, not only will they receive a warm welcome, but a free cup of tea, refills of their water bottle, and if they need it, a puncture repair kit or spare bike lock.
These are just some of a number of other initiatives, including extra bike racks, aimed at encouraging more people to come and visit by bike.
Joanna Royle, head of marketing and supporter development at the National Trust in Yorkshire, explains:
The buzz around cycling right now is very clear to see. With the Tour de France Grand Depart less than a year away, we’re seeing more and more people are being inspired to come and visit our places by bike.
A lot of the things we are offering are pretty standard but we want to know that people can stop off en route or plan their visit to us en route easily and comfortably. And that’s the same for whether people are out cycling as part of a club, with their family or on their own.
As part of the Great Yorkshire Show, the National Trust stand will have information on downloadable cycling routes, details about bike taster day and cycling events as well as a bike challenge.
Joanna added:
The bike challenge is for show goers to come and ride a static bike that is connected to a video screen with a countryside route to follow. The challenge element is to encourage people to ride along a typical countryside route, with the odd incline, twist and turn. It’s just a fun challenge where people can be reminded of what it’s like to be out on a bike in the countryside and hopefully be inspired to find out more about getting the most from cycling to our places.
As well as the bike challenge, the whole National Trust stand will also be focussing on other areas for people to get outdoors to discover the countryside. The stand is split into zones ‘gardens and parkland’ ‘dales and moors’ and ‘coast’, with different activities to try in each.
The Trust’s countryside rangers will be helping to man the stand this year and bringing a range of activities with them. The coastal rangers will be inviting people to search for fossils and to examine a dinosaur’s footprint up close. The gardening team will be helping to share tips about organic gardening and the dales and moors rangers will be manning the cycle activity but also sharing information on walking and family activities. There’ll also be planners for families to tackle 50 Things to do before you’re 11 and ¾ as well as a memory tree for people to pin their favourite memories of being in the outdoors.
For more information about cycling at National Trust places visit nationaltrust.org.uk/yorkshireoutdoors
