New Stow Pump Track officially opens
With support from the EDF Renewables Longpark Wind Farm Community Fund, Stow Community Trust has opened its new pump track, marking a significant moment for sport in the area.
In the autumn of last year, we reported that the community of Stow was celebrating the go-ahead for a new pump track build in Stow Park, with the purpose of generating a range of social, health, wellbeing and economic benefits in the area, particularly for children and young people.
A pump track is a purpose-built track for cycling, with a circuit of rollers, banked turns and other features. They are suitable for small-wheeled children’s bikes, scooters, BMX and mountain bikes and can be enjoyed by both children and adults.
Plans for the track have been in the pipeline since 2019, driven by the Stow Community Trust, a community based, not for profit organisation, made up of local people keen to see the development of assets in the village and surrounding area for the common good.
The build itself started in September last year, and Stow Pump Track was officially opened on Friday 16 May, celebrating the hard work of Stow Community Trust and volunteers who worked for five years to deliver a community sports facility for the area. The Leader of Scottish Borders Council, Euan Jardine cut the ribbon to mark the official opening.
Project Support
Many of Stow Community Trust’s projects to date have received grants from EDF Renewables Longpark Wind Farm Community Fund, which is administered by Foundation Scotland.
The pump track project received £40,000 capital project funding from EDF Longpark Community Fund, having previously received £8k for feasibility work in 2020.
Other funders have included SSE Toddleburn wind farm fund, Sport Scotland and Scottish Borders Council's Place Based Investment Fund.
Impact
As a rural community, Stow has had comparatively limited opportunities for social activities for young people and the pump track, alongside other community activity developments, offers sporting opportunities that local children can access, with the potential to attract visitors and associated visitor spend into Stow.
Since its completion, the track has attracted people of all ages honing their cycling skills, or bringing their families to try out the new facility. The track has already had a huge impact on cycling activity in Stow, with many children cycling to school so they can use the track before and after classes.
The track has also been praised by parents for the confidence and independence it has given their children. Niome Lucjan, who lives in the area, was in attendance with her children, Hazel and Chloe. Niome said:
The pump track has given my daughters the confidence and independence to try new tricks and explore their capabilities in a way I never expected. Most importantly, I've watched them overcome fears, pick themselves up after falls, and celebrate their progress together. It's become much more than just a place to ride bikes—it's where they're learning life skills.
Her daughters agreed:
I like the Pump Track because I can improve my skills and whenever I learn a new trick I feel like I have achieved something big which feels great. (Hazel)
I love the Pump Track because it is fun and I am learning so many new bike skills, it's fun riding with lots of other people of different ages and its good exercise. (Chloe)
EDF Renewables community liaison officer Kerry MacPhee competed at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in mountain biking. She attended the opening event:
"I regularly see all of the community benefits that come from EDF Renewable developments, but this is particularly special for me. I'm told that since the pump track opened the children are never off it. Pump tracks are great fun - and that fun can lead to them taking cycling more seriously as they get older."
Scottish mountain bike rising star, and XC British Champion Ben Allan, also enjoyed a spin around the track. Ben provided coaching tips and tricks to youngsters (and a few adults) to ride the track safely.
Both he and Kerry are confident the increased facilities are helping drive forward the sport - in the Borders and across Scotland. You can read more in a BBC article here: New tracks help fuel next cycling generation in the Borders - BBC News
Malcolm Jack, Community Funds Manager with Foundation Scotland said:
"This Pump Track is a testament to the dedication of committed volunteers in the Parish of Stow, who had to navigate some bumps and twists to achieve these bumps and twists! It's great to see community benefit funding from onshore wind fuelling such impressive community-led projects, and I'm delighted that Foundation Scotland was able to play a small part in offering advice, support and flexibility culminating in this success."
The completion of the pump track marks a significant moment for sport in the area, with the volunteers and Stow Community Trust having demonstrated a real commitment to ensuring that more people in the area will have an opportunity to become physically active and connected. Thanks to funding from EDF Longpark, spaces like this continue to bring communities together, building confidence, resilience, and community bonds that will last for generations.
You can read more about the EDF Renewables Longpark Wind Farm Community Fund here