Danny Hart's Descend Bike Park in Hamsterley Forest, County Durham, is at risk of closure after its owners were told the Forestry Commission does not intend to renew the site's lease when it expires. Part of the forest is planned to be felled, which could ultimately bring an end to the bike park.

The North East's leading dedicated downhill and 4X park, Descend, has run in Hamsterley Forest for over 20 years, offering a variety of downhill tracks with multiple line options for riders from beginner to expert level, alongside an uplift service on weekends.

What has been said

Bishop Auckland MP Sam Rushworth set out the concerns in a Facebook post, after the park's owners raised the issue at one of his constituency surgeries. Rushworth says he has written to the Forestry Commission on the matter and is continuing to engage with them, with the owners' permission to speak publicly about the situation.

Rushworth visited the park recently to see young riders taking part in races and hand out prizes, describing the atmosphere as fantastic and highlighting the role the park plays in giving people of all ages a positive, active pursuit and a sense of community. He also pointed to the wider local benefit, noting that the park brings visitors into the area who go on to support businesses in Bishop Auckland town centre, including Inspiral Cycles.

No response from the Forestry Commission or Forestry England has been published at the time of writing.

Bike parks on Forestry England land typically operate under fixed-term concession leases on working, timber-producing forest, meaning felling cycles, tree disease management and lease expiry dates can all collide with a bike park's future in a way they would not on privately owned land.

What happens next

Rushworth says he wants to see the park continue and has called for ways to keep opportunities like Descend open rather than lose them. iBikeRide will continue to follow the story and update this article as more information becomes available from the Forestry Commission or Forestry England.

Having ridden Descend a number of times over the years, iBikeRide is firmly behind the campaign to keep the park open and will keep readers updated as the situation develops.

If you ride at Descend or have a view on its future, comment below, spread the word and check out Danny Hart's Descend Bike Park listing on iBikeRide where you can also add your review, comments, photos or videos.