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February 2008:
A new base for ForestMobility
Following discussion with Forestry Commission, ForestMobility has been granted authorization to erect a log cabin at Mallards Pike. Great news as we will be able to operate from our own base and improve the service we offer our buggy-drivers.
Fundraising for this project has started. If you wish to donate to this project, please send donations to ForestMobility, Tanglewood, Woodland Place, Yorkley Slade, Gloucestershire, GL15 4SA.
Mark Harper learning to drive. |
May 2007:
The Launch
Mark Harper, MP for the Forest of Dean launched ForestMobility on May 12th 2007. Representatives from local councils, Forestry Commission England, Go Ape, potential buggy riders and volunteers attended the launch. Following a few words, Mark was given a quick driving lesson prior to setting off for a “walk” around Mallards Pike Lake with founder and Chairman Clifford Hudson. Following his “Walk on Wheels” Mark said “Our ride together was good. It is a brilliant initiative. This buggy has been shown to cope well with the Forest’s country lanes and should make it accessible for all.”
Mark Harper, MP for the Forest of Dean & Clifford
The Go Ape! ape
Mark Harper with Founders & Volunteers
Mark Harper launched the service
The Forester August 9 2007 -
I had a great day scooting about
I recently volunteered to help out and tried the service yesterday in the company of its founder Clifford Hudson and Di, another volunteer. The buggies are based at Go Ape, Mallards Pike and are very easy to use, similar to the usual shopmobility buggies but purpose built for the Forest cycle tracks. We took a packed lunch and were out on a beautiful day in the Forest of Dean for nearly five hours following the way-marked family cycle tracks. Even after this time and approximately 11 miles travelled the all-terrain buggies had plenty left in the batteries. Based on my own personal experience I can thoroughly recommend the ForestMobility service and would ask you to publicise it to enable others to benefit.
Frank Baynham, Secretary, Forest of Dean Health Forum
The Forester May 24 2007 -
Born to be wild in a bespoke buggy
The forest is leading the way when it comes to helping the elderly or disabled to enjoy the woodland trails aboard one of its off-road buggies. Reporter and motoring writer Peter Hayward put one to the test.
With the launch of ForestMobility, anyone who has difficulty walking can now get real access to the glories of our woodland trails. The charity has worked towards this goal for three years, overcoming major problems because standard disabled buggies were not up to it.
The man who came up with the idea was Clifford Hudson from Yorkley. He has been disabled for more than 60 years after contracting polio and has trouble walking even a short distance. As a design engineer he soon realised that a new off-road buggy was needed to ensure people could get around the Forest’s cycle ways….
“Existing buggies aren’t powerful enough to get up the steep hills and over some of the obstacles they might encounter” said Clifford. “I got together with friends who are also engineers and we designed one specifically for the job” The design, produced by Horizon Ltd in Cornwall, is three times more powerful than normal buggies.
Off-road test report
It’s easy to operate, just like the normal street buggies that many people already use, with a simple lever to go forward or back. The difference is it has enough power to pull easily over rough terrain and up long steep hills without running out of steam. Instead of the normal 24V it runs on 36 and this, together with the more powerful motor, gives it the climbing ability and an excellent range of about 25 miles.
Just like road-going buggies, these are limited to a safe walking pace of 4mph. I was impressed with its comfort. Even over rough grass, the suspension is good enough to soak up the worst of the bumps and lumps. On the gravel tracks where it will be mainly used, it is remarkably smooth.
www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/mobility
The Citizen - Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Buggies make trails open to all-comers
Charity will let disabled join lovers of the country
by Sally Munro sally.munro@glosmedia.co.uk
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 has 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 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 that £30,000 from around 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 are delighted to be able to give ForestMobility a £1,000 community grant towards 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 imitative 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.”
Mr Wood, director and company secretary, said: “It was an excellent launch. We have four buggies to start with but when we recruit more volunteers we hope to expand.”
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