THE first turf was cut at Alice Holt Forest in Farnham this week as work began on development of the new cafe due to open this winter.

Visitors will benefit from extra seating and additional facilities. Other changes include a new wood pellet boiler that will provide clean and sustainable energy to the visitor centre and cafe, reduced staff traffic on site and additional planting areas.

Adam Godwin, the district recreation project manager who will be supervising the development, said: “The new building will be of the highest design and quality standards that our visitors expect and constructed of sustainable timber.

“The new cafe will be next to the current visitor centre and will see seating capacity more than double to over 100 seats inside and 120 outside.”

Bruce Rothnie, deputy surveyor for the South Forest District was on hand to start the official turf-cutting ceremony, accompanied by other Forestry Commission staff and onsite partners Go Ape and Leisure Cycle Centre, as well as representatives from the building contractors HA & DB Kitchin.

The Forestry Commission will be investing more than £2.3million to improve Alice Holt Forest’s amenities over the next 12 months – this investment will help secure Alice Holt Forest for future generations to enjoy.