The"Luke" Skywalker Bridge

The team celebrates the completion of the new bridge

​We are pleased to announce that our Skywalker Bridge is now complete. The “Luke” Skywalker Bridge is named after Luke Cocksedge who worked on the farm in 2020. The bridge is also large and high and might well be visible from space! The bridge was designed by Luke, a cycling genius who recently left the farm to pursue other conservation endeavours. Luke is a natural mountain biker, which explains why the design is so precise. He found the perfect spot to place this breath-taking bridge, after carefully scouting the area. After the design, the rest of the team (Andre, Danie, Ndu and Tienie) worked on the bridge, until it was completed in March 2021. 

Testing the Skywalker Bridge

​The wooden bridge was designed to facilitate safe, two- directional traffic on the cross-country track and provide a fun feature for bikers to enjoy. The Skywalker Bridge reaches a maximum height of 2 meters, a width of 2,4 meters, and a length of 15 meters. We made the bridge wide so that all levels of rider ability can safely negotiate the bridge. The bridge was constructed entirely by Strawberry Hill Farm staff, from base to end. The wood was harvested directly from trees on the farm (pine/eucalyptus). The team spent a lot of time considering how best to design the bridge to sustain the required load.

​Mixed wattle and indigenous species have engulfed the bridge, making it suitable for nature enthusiasts. The thick canopy of the trees provides a calm atmosphere to survey the surroundings. Since it's a little higher up off the ground, you also get to see some spectacular views and it’s a good place to rest for a moment on our challenging cross-country track. 

The location of the Skywalker Bridge

The Skywalker Bridge can be found near the the end of the 5km cross-country track, which is available for all guests staying at Strawberry Hill Farm. At 3.4kms, riders descend a steep drop-off section from flowing single track, which then gives natural speed to ascend over the bridge. They then climb up towards the Shed before entering the last descent through pines and into the large berms that we are still crafting to maximize this fun downhill section. Riders encounter the bridge a km later as they pass back up under it on the final climb back to the Shed.

​Come and stay to enjoy this fun, challenging track and watch this space as we build exciting new features!

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