Mural created to encourage more walkers and cyclists to use lesser-known pathway to Londonthorpe Woods as part of Reconnecting Grantham project

A mural has been created by an artist and teacher to draw attention to a little-known woodland entrance.

In Alma Park Industrial Estate, on the very edge of Grantham, there is a lesser known entrance to Londonthorpe Wood.

A grey walkway of brick and concrete leads from Alma Park Road, alongside FP McCann and into the green spaces of the wood, with a 200 metre-long wall running alongside.

In partnership with the National Trust, the Woodland Trust have nurtured and protected Londonthorpe Woods as a landscape of mixed habitat including woodland, meadow and open fields.

Both trusts felt it was important to encourage walkers and cyclist to make use of this unusual route into the woods, and therefore asked artist and teacher, Helen Graham to paint an eight metre impressionistic map of Londonthorpe Woods onto the wall.

Having created murals for Alder Hey Children’s Hospital and Liverpool One, she was keen to bring her expertise.

Helen said: “Exploring the Alma Park Road site, I understood the need for a welcoming mural to spark an interest and create a desire to explore further.

“The concrete panels, although bland and cold, very much blended into the industrialisation of the environment.

“They were without doubt a fantastic canvas for some inspirational art.

“The mural is selling an escape from the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, to embrace the health benefits and start an appreciation of the hidden beauty around.”

Heather Cook from the Woodland Trust explained why the entrance is important.

“We wanted to give people options for accessing the site, other than by car,” said Heather.

“We felt this entrance gave residents the opportunity to walk to the woods as well as opening up cycle route options. Giving people choices and greener options for travel was important to us.”

To visit the mural, follow the Woodland Way trail from Londonthorpe car park or access the route from the Alma Park Industrial Estate to the left of the FP McCann site.

The Woodland Trust has asked people to photograph themselves with their favourite part of the mural and email them to ReconnectingGrantham@woodlandtrust.org.uk or post them on the Reconnecting Grantham Facebook group.