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Deputy First Minister opens mountain bike skills area at Coed Llandegla

(UPM Tilhill, North Wales, 18 June, 2010) - Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones joined UPM Tilhill Managing Director Steve Lavery to officially open a new area at Coed Llandegla that will further enhance the centre’s mountain biking facilities.

The Skills Trail, the first of its type in the UK, offers a safe place for mountain bikers of all ages and abilities to learn new techniques and build confidence before setting out on the trails at Coed Llandegla. The area, which covers 600 metres of trail and includes several jumps, will also be used for mountain bike training courses run by Oneplanet Adventure who operate the centre. Another new and exciting development is the ‘free-ride’ trail which is under construction and will be opened later in the summer.

Also at the opening, to demonstrate jumping techniques, was Jason Rennie who holds the world record for the longest mountain bike leap (133ft 6ins over a 106ft ramp gap) which he set at Coed Llandegla.

Ieuan Wyn Jones, who is also the Minister for Economy and Transport, said: “I was delighted to be officially open this amazing Skills Trail at Coed Llandegla. The centre already attracts thousands of mountain bikers, horse riders and walkers to North Wales and this new area provides a great facility for families and their children to develop and practise their skills.

“Coed Llandegla is leading the way for mountain biking centres and it’s fantastic to see that Oneplanet Adventure and UPM Tilhill are using innovative thinking and determination to create a successful and sustainable business.”

Steve Lavery, Managing Director for UPM Tilhill, added: “We were delighted that the Deputy First Minister was able to open the new facility at Coed Llandegla and we are very proud of what has been achieved with what was once a normal, productive forest.

“Our achievements, particularly the skills area and other recent trail developments, have been made possible thanks to funding and support from the Better Woodlands for Wales scheme from Forestry Commission Wales. We are continuing to improve facilities such as parking and make Coed Llandegla even better for visitors.”

Assembly Member Janer Ryder and Tourism Officer Ian Griffiths from Visit Wales joined the Deputy First Minister and staff from UPM Tilhill and Oneplanet Adventure for the celebration.

Visit Wales helps to support best practice in the sector by providing funding for the Welsh Trail Managers’ Forum. The forum is the first of its kind in the UK and is attended by private sector mountain bike activity providers including UPM Tilhill, Oneplanet and Coed Trallwm. It is also attended and supported by the Forestry Commission. The forum is widely credited with keeping Wales at the forefront of mountain bike provision in the UK.

Coed Llandegla Forest covers 650 hectares and was planted in 1972/73. It is owned and managed by UPM Tilhill - the UK market leader in forestry and timber harvesting. It provides services to owners of over 200,000 hectares of woodland, and manages 22,000 hectares in Wales alone.

Oneplanet Adventure is the company which runs the facilities at Coed Llandegla Forest. The company is owned and operated by locals Jim Gaffney and Ian Owen, both experienced and enthusiastic mountain bikers. Coed Llandegla Forest is the largest privately owned mountain biking centre in Wales.

For further information or photographs please contact: Mrs Suzi Christie, Blueberry Public Relations Tel: 01435 830031 suzi@blueberry-pr.co.uk |

Notes to editors:

UPM Tilhill is the UK’s largest timber harvesting and forest management company. It harvests and markets over 2.0 million tonnes out of a UK market in excess of 8 million tonnes per year. The company provides a full range of consultancy and contracting services to the forest owner and forestry investor. It also provides market leading services in utility arboriculture and commercial landscaping throughout the UK. Further information is available on the company’s website at www.upm-tilhill.com

UPM leads the integration of bio and forest industries into a new, sustainable and innovation-driven future. Our products are made of renewable raw materials and are recyclable. UPM consists of three Business Groups: Energy and pulp, Paper, and Engineered materials. The Group employs around 23,000 people and it has production facilities in 15 countries. In 2009, UPM's sales amounted to EUR 7.7 billion. UPM's shares are listed on the Helsinki stock exchange.

UPM – The Biofore Company – www.upmbiofore.com and www.upm-kymmene.com