A “BEAUTIFUL” area of woodland in Accrington will be improved after funding worth £110,000 was secured.

Work to install a network of surfaced footpaths will now get underway at the woodland, which links Bullough Park and Woodnook Vale and goes up the hillside to Rothwell Heights.

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Other plans include woodland thinning, habitat enhancements, new signage, waymarking, and leaflets to be given out to visitors.

The money, from the Forestry Commission, was announced just days after Clayton Forest Park was also awarded a £150,000 grant.

Council leader Miles Parkinson said: “This beautiful landscape is well used by local people already and we know there’s a lot more potential there.

“The improvements will help everyone, including families with pushchairs and people with reduced mobility, to enjoy these spaces.”

The woodland is one of the largest areas in the borough, and offers views across the valley towards the Coppice and Hameldon Hill.

Residents have been invited to a drop-in session between 4pm and 8pm, Tuesday, February 24, at the Globe Bowling Club in Bullough Park, off Willows Lane in Accrington.

Councillor Parkinson said: “Everyone is welcome to the drop-in session and there’s also a programme of interesting activities for families and local volunteers to get involved, learn more about the area and have some fun.”

“So please come along and see for yourself what it’s all about.”

Additional projects will be developed in the hope of attracting even more investment to the area, the council said. Possibilities include an environmental education space at Rothwell Heights, a heritage project at the site of Woodnook Farm, near Rose Place, and more paved links to key locations.

Horses and trailers are already logging some of the trees in the 28-acre Clayton Forest Park, surrounding Wilson’s Playing Fields in Clayton-le-Moors.

It will see 2.5km of new footpaths, waymarking and new interpretation boards to help visitors understand the valuable wildlife habitat.

Borough leisure boss Ken Moss said “This new funding boost is great news and will be used to carry out lots of improvements including making the area more accessible, by improving footpaths which was the biggest issue people talked about during public consultations in 2013 and 2014.”

Hyndburn’s Green party general election candidate Kerry Gormley said: “I am delighted at this work.

“It is exactly what the council should be doing, encouraging environmental improvements to valuable habitats.”