A GROUP of volunteers, conservationists and residents in Blackburn is planning a fundraising campaign to improve the River Darwen Parkway area, set to become a dedicated nature reserve.

The Friends of River Darwen Parkway and Higher Croft Woods have agreed to step up their crusade to raise money to improve paths, get a new bridge and increase security.

The area is in the process of applying for Local Nature Reserve status from English Nature and Blackburn with Darwen Council, which is expected to take about three months. The status aims to protect wildlife, encourage community involvement and improve facilities for environmental education.

The group has organised a guided walk around the parkway on June 1 to encourage more people to get to know the area and use it and has agreed to accept an offer from the territorial army to help out with a weekend's work to begin restoring pathways.

Members plan to apply for funding from a variety of national bodies and local businesses and organise events to pay for the improvements needed and have appealed for more residents to get involved.

Secretary Kelly McGregor said: "We need to get more people using the area and find out what they want from it, so we will be giving out leaflets for the guided walk and survey forms. We are hoping more people will want to join the friends group."

Lancashire Wildlife Trust Community projects officer Daveen Wallis said: "There's a lot of work to do but this site has a lot to offer."

The guided walk will start from the Aqueduct entrance, behind the Aqueduct pub, at 2pm.

The next Friends group meeting will be on June 9 at 7pm in the Manxman pub, Manxman Road.

For more information call 01254 682525.