Formal opening & election of officers
At Peak District MTB’s 2025 AGM, held in January at the Adventure Hub in Bamford, members conducted the formal election of officers to the Committee for the coming year: Greville Kelly (Chair), Dave Finch (Secretary), and James Irwin (Treasurer). This set the foundation for the session’s reports, constitutional update, and a look ahead to 2026. To view the 2025 AGM slide deck click here.
The committee welcomed new committee members Rick Minshill, Richard Moore and Ned Vardey bring additional capacity and coverage across the Peak District for the committee (see map below highlighting committee membership coverage for 2026).
Agenda at a glance
The AGM covered: welcome and elections; financial report; amendment to the constitution; Chair’s review of 2025; and an “Onwards into 2026” section featuring: Peak Enduro (Kev Smith), a Dig Days update, and new trail access work. The evening wrapped up with a photo competition, raffle and Q&A.
Treasurer’s report
Reporting period: 17/12/2024 – 29/01/2026
- Income (+£281.15) from: AGM cash sales (£136.00); PayPal donations payout (£59.15); T‑shirts & mudguard sales via Bike Garage (£86.00).
- Outgoings (–£300.96) including: 2023–24 AGM costs & drinks licence (£96.87); annual email service (2 years, £62.50); website hosting (£126.00); domain renewals (£15.59).
- Closing balance: £2,510.44.
The Treasurer noted a prudent cost base across comms and web services, and modest but healthy community‑led income from sales and donations.
Secretary’s report
Volunteer effort: 281 volunteer hours delivered across 12 days in 2025, including 169 hours on representation/meetings, 100 hours at The Roaches, and 12 hours around the Hope Valley. The year’s “essence” was “try and try again”, reflecting persistence with partners including National Trust, Severn Trent Water, Forestry England, and Government. Online reach passed 1,000,000 views across channels; committee meetings ran steadily; and Project 22% remained a running theme.
Amendment to the constitution
Members approved a governance change to increase the maximum size of the Committee from 12 to 15 members, retaining the requirement for core officers (Chair, Treasurer, Secretary) and the ability to co‑opt members as needed.
Chair’s review of 2025
Committee highlights
The Committee met eight times (mix of online and in‑person), expanded numbers and broadened geographical representation, strengthening coverage across the Peak.
Access & trail advocacy – key areas of work
- Old Hall Farm engagement and support.
- Active lobbying for completion of the Upper Don Trail at Langsett.
- DMMOs (Definitive Map Modification Orders): A Freedom of Information request secured access to the full dataset, improving PDMTB’s ability to prioritise and evidence access cases.
- Ramsden Road (Holmfirth): Noted the removal of concrete blocks restricting access.
- Derwent / Ladybower focus: Lockerbrook, Moscar, and Alport Castles corridors remained a priority; Mam Nick MTB Descent progressed with National Trust in the lead.
Above: Peak District MTB Volunteers investing time in trail maintenance work for the benefit of all trail users (walkers, cyclists and horse riders)
Maintenance & Dig Days
- Four Roaches Dig Days (Feb / Mar / May / Jul): drystone wall repairs, drainage restoration, and wider bridleway enhancements.
- Dig Day Leader sign‑offs for Nick and Rick and planning into 2026.
- Trash Free Trails – The Bike Garage in Bamford becoming a community hub joining the Global Network to support the mission of the Trash Free Trails community.
Above: Trash Free Trail Team from The Bike Garage at the end of a Litter Picking Event
Representation & influence
- National‑level advocacy via the APPG (All‑Party Parliamentary Group) Call for Evidence, where PDMTB’s asks included:
- A legal right to ride on suitable, already‑used footpaths;
- A national target of opening at least 22% of rights of way to cyclists;
- A duty on major landowners to publish Rights of Way Improvement Plans;
- Recognition of MTB’s benefits and support for volunteer trail maintenance.
- The APPG response themes acknowledged calls to: expand statutory access, develop an Access to Nature Investment Strategy, improve public transport links, set a long‑term national plan, and overhaul the Countryside Code to better promote responsible access.
- Ongoing relationships with National Trust (Kinder & High Peak Committee), Severn Trent, Forestry England, and government stakeholders.
Onwards – looking into 2026
Strategic themes
Peak cluster – impact & opportunity: preparing for the activity and visitor patterns around clustered Peak District hotspots.
75th Anniversary of the Peak District National Park: a chance to celebrate, advocate and tell the MTB story more widely.
“Outdoors for All” – what next? ensuring MTB is embedded in inclusive access policy.
Delivery streams for 2026
- Dig Days update – led by Jim, Nick and Rick: Plans are in development to deliver new volunteering opportunities for members and followers of PD MTB, these will focus on the Roaches and the Edale valley and surrounds. Watch out for further updates on our website and socials.
- New trail access:
- Project 22%
- DMMOs and landowner designations
- Partner engagement
- NT Strategic Access Plan (Kinder & High Peak)
- Representation on relevant groups including the Peak District LAF and Sheffield LAF
Greville Kelly finished by thanking the committee for all their hard work, commitment and enthusiasm in 2025.
Guest spotlight – Kev Smith (Focus Rides) on the Peaks Enduro MTB Series
Kev shared progress towards a five‑round Peaks Enduro MTB Series. The format is intentionally inclusive and fun, using a mash‑up enduro style with multiple timed downhill stages and untimed transitions, with categories spanning youth to 50+ and EMTB options. The events will provide 500 spaces for entries, with 1000 spaces available at the Nationals event. Published event listings for the 2026 calendar are:
- Round 1 – Barlow: 29 March 2026
- Round 2 – Barlow: 25 April (Ladies & Kids / U15 Boys), 26 April (Mens race)
- Round 3 – Barlow: 23–24 May 2026
- Round 4 – Hope Valley (BNES Round): 20–21 June 2026
- Round 5 – Horseleygate (est.): 19 July 2026
Event info confirms the mash‑up, 5‑stage approach and inclusive category set across MTB and EMTB, matching Kev’s emphasis on opening racing to more riders and building community momentum.
Community & culture
The AGM finished with a photo competition, a raffle, and Q&A, highlighting the creativity and generosity of the PDMTB community—and offering one more reminder that our trails, access and events are built by riders, for riders. Winner of photo competition was Miles Boyd, with excellent runner up entries from Seb James and Rob Paul.
The 2026 Committee present at the AGM (Left to Right: Greville, Ned, Nick, Chris, Jeff (kneeling) Rick, Dave, James and Richard.
Thanks & how to get involved
A huge thank‑you to every volunteer, donor, partner, committee member and rider who contributed in 2025. If you’d like to help with Dig Days, contribute to Project 22%, or support event partnerships in 2026, please keep an eye on our channels and step forward, every hour helps.
Thank you to the great team at Adventure Hub, Bamford for providing the space for this year’s AGM. Adventure Hub, nestled in the heart of the Peak District, is home to a small, friendly, and truly unique bouldering wall with a welcoming community atmosphere. They offer affordable annual memberships as well as public access during set times.
To learn more visit: https://adventure-hub.com/