It is hoped a natural “oasis” in Sittingbourne will be enjoyed by more visitors after it received a funding boost of more than £25,000.

Cromer’s Wood is popular with dog walkers, families, businesses, nursery children and workers from the nearby Kent Science Park on their lunch break, however, limited accessibility and poor infrastructure has proved to be a barrier to wider use of the site, undermining its value as a public amenity.

Kent Wildlife Trust, which looks after the woodland, has been given £26,221 by Suez Communities Trust for its Down the Woodland Path project.

The money will go towards resurfacing tracks within the nature reserve to improve wheelchair and pushchair access, kissing gates to allow visitor entry while preventing anti-social use of vehicles, information boards and signposts to guide people along walking trails as well as benches and picnic tables.

The funding will also enable a viewing platform to be built by the pond. The raised surface will feature a boardwalk to provide a tranquil spot to sit and enjoy the wildlife as well as a space for a range of activities, such as woodworking, art and yoga.

Swale council set a target of building 776 homes per year until 2031 in its Local Plan and it is hoped the woodland will provide a refuge from an increasingly urbanised area.

Kent Wildlife Trust’s Martin Keelor Communities Trust, visitors to Cromer’s Wood will be able to discover more about the species that live here as well as making their visit more rewarding and refreshing.

“We are very grateful for this opportunity to bring people and wildlife together and enable us to make improvements to encourage a wider range of people to visit the site.”

Kent Wildlife Trust recently launched the Heritage Lottery-funded Wooden it be Crafty project at Cromer’s Wood which will deliver workshops from wildlife walks and talks, to bushcraft sessions.

The trust is also working with community partners including housing association Optivo, Riverside Care and Support, Swale Youth Hub and Skillnet to encourage new people to use the reserve., who is leading the project, said: “Amidst all the development that is taking place in this area is this oasis for wildlife and tranquillity.

“Now, with the help of Suez Communities Trust, visitors to Cromer’s Wood will be able to discover more about the species that live here as well as making their visit more rewarding and refreshing.

“Amidst all the development that is taking place in this area is this oasis for wildlife and tranquillity." - Martin Keelor

“We are very grateful for this opportunity to bring people and wildlife together and enable us to make improvements to encourage a wider range of people to visit the site.”

Kent Wildlife Trust recently launched the Heritage Lottery-funded Wooden it be Crafty project at Cromer’s Wood which will deliver workshops from wildlife walks and talks, to bushcraft sessions.

The trust is also working with community partners including housing association Optivo, Riverside Care and Support, Swale Youth Hub and Skillnet to encourage new people to use the reserve.