A sum of £30,000 has been secured to improve vegetation and woodland along the Alban Way for the benefit of wildlife, pedestrians, cyclists and other users.

The money will be used to implement a programme of work agreed by St Albans City and District Council following consultation with the public earlier this year. It forms part of a wider management plan that is being developed for the route.

The funding is a share of a £130,000 grant received by Hertfordshire County Council from the Department for Transport’s Local Sustainable Transport Fund. The grant money will also fund other schemes in St Albans, Watford and Hemel Hempstead that encourage local economic growth, improve sustainable transport options and reduce carbon emissions.

The County Council’s Countryside Management Service (CMS) will now implement work on the Alban Way to develop a more diverse woodland structure and wildlife habitat.

The vegetation will be managed to open the route and to let light into the path, making it a more attractive route to use. This work will take place over the winter to be completed by the end of March 2015.

It follows re-surfacing work carried out last year as part of the Council’s strategy to promote active travel in the District by improving facilities for cycling and walking. The Alban Way forms part of the Green Ring being developed to help cyclists and pedestrians to get around the City with minimal use of roads.