Investment has been secured in an attempt to make a secluded nature reserve more accessible to the public. 

Pimp Hall Nature Reserve is situated behind a household waste recycling centre, off Kings Road in Chingford. 

The space is renowned for its beauty, including the 17th century timber-framed dovecote that has five tiers of nesting holes. 

But its location is almost hidden from public view with limited access.  

Now, the council has received £22,300 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to attract more visitors to the park. 

The reserve sits on the former land of 16th century manor Pimps Hall.

The land was used as a working farm up until 1934, when it was divided by Chingford council into allotmants, a park and nursery. 

All that remains of the estate is the dovecote, with the hall and barn marked out on the ground in gravel.

A gate, situated at the bottom of Pimp Hall Park in Simmons Lane, Chingford, will be opened to allow an alternative entrance point and access between the two sites. 

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Entrance to Pimp Hall Park in Simmons Lane, Chingford 

Funds will also be spent on training volunteers on how to manage the site, including pond clearing to coppicing. 

The Dovecote will be leased for community use to attract schools and social groups, and a new wildflower meadow and notice board will be installed.

Elsewhere in the borough, events are being held in green spaces in an attempt get people to be more active. 

Ridgeway Park in Chingford Mount Road is offering free Tai Chi and Kung Fu sessions for all the family on Saturdays from May 2 to July 4, between 2pm and 3pm. 

Lloyd Park in Forest Road, Walthamstow, is offering Floating Lotus Tai Chi sessions on Friday mornings between April and June for women and girls who have been victims of domestic violence.

To find out more about the sessions, contact info@daolu.co.uk or call 020 3670 3005.