Rogate Downhill closed last month following the start of major forestry operations at Rogate Woods, with Forestry England also confirming that the site’s future operation and management will be reviewed as part of the next phase of the venue.

In an update published by Forestry England, the organisation said the closure was required for “essential forest management work” forming part of “routine sustainable forest management plans” being carried out at the site for the first time in 15 years. This is not uncommon, i.e., the trees are grown as a crop, and the crop needs to be harvested.

Forestry England stated that the forest must be “fully closed” for the works to take place safely and confirmed that existing trails will likely be removed due to the machinery required for the forestry operations.

The update also provides important context around the long-term future of the venue. Forestry England said the timing of the works “coincides with the end of the current operational arrangement for the bike park” and confirmed the site will remain closed until both the forestry work and a later redevelopment phase are complete.

Information about the future operation and management of Rogate is expected later this year once a timeline for the next phase has been confirmed.

B1KE, which has operated the venue in recent years, previously described the closure as the “end of an era” for Rogate in its current form and stated that it intends to bid for the future management opportunity. This could drive a clean slate in a great setting so fingers crossed.

Over the years, Rogate became one of the best-known gravity riding venues in southern England, known for its mix of downhill tracks, jump lines and progression-focused riding on sandy terrain that remained rideable through much of the year.

What we don’t know

• How long will the closure last?
• What the redeveloped venue may look like.
• Who will manage the site in the future?
• When riding access could return.

You can read the full Forestry England update here:

https://www.forestryengland.uk/rogate-woods/bike-park-rogate-woods

You can also view the iBikeRide Rogate Downhill listing here:

https://ibikeride.com/england/rogate-downhill

If you rode Rogate over the years, what would you want to see return in any future redevelopment of the venue?