A POPULAR wooded area will be made even more accessible to the public thanks to a new project.

Staff from Torfaen council's neighbourhood services department have been working closely with the local Blaen Bran community woodland group to provide a new formal entrance and small parking area for visitors to the area.

The woodland is already popular with local people for recreation and relaxation, and this work has made it easier for visitors to access the outdoors safely, whether on foot, by car or on horseback.

The work has been funded through the Valleys Regional Park (VRP) initiative, and includes upgrading of existing access paths and putting in additional boundary fencing will help to prevent motorbikes accessing the woodland.

New waymarkers now create links to the proposed Pilgrim's route and Greenmeadow Farm, another VRP funded project, so visitors can easily learn more about the heritage of this area.

The project has attracted £50,856 from the Valleys Regional Park project via the Welsh Government and European Regional Development Fund with match funding from Cwmbran Operational Group and Countryside Council for Wales.

Executive member for neighbourhood services, Cllr Cunningham, said: "Blaen Bran is a wonderful area and an important gateway to the upland landscape of Cwmbran.

"I'm very pleased that this project, which has been developed in close consultation with the support of the local community, has been able to provide facilities to allow visitors to access the countryside"

For further info on the Blaen Bran Community Woodland group visit blaenbran.org.uk