Headley Down Nature Reserve Trust has received Big Lottery funding for its Explore and Learn project.

Informal nature trails with interactive information points will be created, as well as a new section of hard-surfaced path so the whole length of the reserve, from Maple Way to Alder Road, in Bordon, is accessible for wheelchairs and prams.

Nature Reserve Trust chairman Angela Jackson said the trust had joined forces with East Hampshire District Council to complete the final few metres across the playing field to form the link.

Plans for the project also include a children’s area with den-building equipment, bug hotels and rubbing posts with wildlife designs.

Funds for a story-telling chair and mushroom seating have been raised thanks to the efforts of the Little Treasures Pre-school at the Woodlands Hall Community Centre.

The project has the support of Conservative district councillor Anthony Williams (Headley and Headley Down) and Conservative Hampshire county councillor Floss Mitchell (Headley, Grayshott, Bramshott and Liphook), who both took part in a recent wildflower seed sowing day organised by the trust.

Ms Mitchell said: “The hard working and dedicated volunteers have achieved so much already and have the drive and imagination to make this a really special place for the local community. It is so good to see this project bringing people together in this way.”

Encouraging people of all ages to visit the nature reserve is one of the key aims of the trustees who recently organised a workshop for children to ’paint a rock’ at Headley Down’s St Francis Community Church Hall.

At midday on Saturday (March 3), the group will visit the nature reserve to hide all the decorated and varnished stones.

Anyone who wishes to is welcome to take along their own artistic efforts and join in.

Finders can post a photo of any artworks they discover on the nature reserve Facebook page.

Other forthcoming activities include planting woodland glades with native bluebells and snowdrops, a new wildflower area and a heritage project about the history of the site.

Businesses are also supporting the charity’s work, among them the One Stop shops in Headley Down and Bordon which have collection boxes by the tills.

A new offer of support has also been made by Stonehill Automotives, in Headley Down, which will be making a donation to the trust for each car service it carried out.

And trustee Siobhan McLeod will be raising funds from sponsors by running the Reading Half Marathon on Sunday, March 18, dressed as bee, with a friend dressed as a flower.