Kites Croft Local Nature Reserve (LNR) is a valuable ‘Urban Fringe’ conservation area that provides a safer and more pleasant alternative to walking along the busy roads. Although not currently designated as a Right of Way, the routes are utilised by a variety of user groups, including dog walkers and school children. Prior to the project the site suffered from waterlogging with muddy paths and failing boardwalks.
The project included the replacement of several bridges, boardwalks to cross muddy patches, a boardwalk around the pond to enable pond dipping activities, boundary fencing and 750m of path improvements.
The project was carried out in several stages in order to keep the maximum amount of the site open for the public. Trees and vegetation were removed in early spring prior to bird nesting to enable full access later to complete the works.
The paths were installed with sub-base where required and the top layer compacted and cambered. Drainage was included where necessary to enable water to flow under the path.
The boardwalks were installed using recycled HDPE which provides a long-term solution for damp sites.
Bridges were replaced using a mixture of timber or timber and steel depending on the size with ramps to access them rather than steps to enable greater accessibility to the site.
The project was highly successful and the local nature reserve is now more inviting and user-friendly throughout the year.
