A LOCAL community’s dreams may soon become a reality as it approaches its funding target required to secure a popular trail.

Over the past few months, the community of Marhamchurch, backed by the parish council, have been seeking to raise the huge sum of £25,000 in an effort to secure the purchase the Hele Valley Trail and bring it into public ownership after the site was listed for sale.

The Hele Valley Trail winds its way through 16 acres of beautiful riverside native heritage woodland and well-established broadleaved woodland on the outskirts of the village of Marhamchurch near the North Cornwall coast.

The trail is accessible from a small car park and currently offers unrestricted public access to nature which is loved by locals and visitors alike.

A well-established open space area, it has enjoyed unrestricted permissive access year round for the last 20 years.

However, despite this, there is now concern locally that, should the land be sold, there is no guarantee a new landowner would maintain public access — with the council claiming there has been a history of loss of local paths in similar circumstances in the area.

As such, in the hope of keeping the much-loved route accessible to everyone, the council is calling for local support to help purchase the site.

Now, thanks to donations, the project is nearly a reality, having raised 88 per cent of its target (£22,000), with around six weeks to reach their target sum.

Marhamchurch parish councillor Tom O’Sullivan has led much of the push for funding, recently commenting: “Having invested so much time, energy and commitment in this over the last 18 months, incredibly in the face of considerable hostility, I am extremely proud of what's been achieved so far.

“The dream will soon be a reality.”

To donate, visit: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/qr/dnz4w4ml