A luck break between showers enabled Bryn Cornwell, the chairman of the Valley Conservation Society, to give local residents a tour of Maidstone's newest nature reserve today.

The 40-acre Hayle Park lays adjacent to woodland and historic millponds already owned by the society in the Loose Valley Conservation Area. There is no vehicular access, but walkers can reach it from a choice of footpaths leading off Cave Hill, and Hayle Mill Road.

The society is one of three trustees that own the new park - the others are Maidstone Borough Council and Tovil Parish Council, but the park is being managed by the society's volunteer work-parties.

At the end of the tour, the visitors were treated to tea and cakes at The Manor House, Hayle Park.

Anyone interested in joining the weekly work parties, which are on Tuesdays, can phone Mr Cornwell on 01622 746514, or just turn up at the conservation cabin in Cave Hill, Tovil, at 11am.