Third Leverhulme Summer Cycle attracts record crowds

More than 500 walkers and cyclists enjoyed this year’s Leverhulme Summer Cycle on Sunday, raising £1500 for Claire House children’s hospice.

It was a rare chance to explore the tree-lined tracks of Brimstage Hall and Courtyard and also brought together a number of local independent businesses and organisations to provide refreshments, entertainment, and even to tune up bikes, trikes and tandems.

Food and drinks were provided by Ginger Cat Coffee, Ebby’s Espresso, Pen-Y-Lan Pork, The Chocolate Cellar, and Hyacinth Vintage Ice-Cream; bike maintenance by Just Riding Along and Energise Cycles while PopVox Choir, Read Now, Write Now and Little Lambs Tales kept the crowds entertained.

Local couple Chris and Clare brought their sons Bruce, 4, and Arnie, 7, along with their bikes for the first time. “We’ve done quite a bit of cycling but we’ve never been along these paths”, they said.

The Leverhulme Estate teamed up with two local Community Interest Companies to organise the event; Rethink Now and Wirral Unplugged. They in turn reached out to other groups to contribute in creative ways.

“Wirral Met students and Make it Happen members created signs to direct visitors around the site, Irby Brownies painted pollinator bug rocks for children to find, University of Liverpool volunteer Andrine designed an anime Summer Cycle Biking Bee sticker, and Wirral Grammar students and local community members, from 5 to 75, helped throughout the day contributing to the family-feel of the event,” said Diana Powell of Wirral Unplugged.

Ed Lamb of Rethink Now, who campaign for stronger, healthier communities through environmental sustainability, said, “The event started in 2018 to give more exposure to Brimstage Hall and Courtyard and develop more of a cycling culture on the Wirral”.

Tom O’Leary, Leverhulme’s Estate Manager, said, “It was terrific to see so many people of all ages, whether cycling or walking, enjoy exploring the Leverhulme tracks.”