Distinctive signs inspired by classic Tube posters are being installed at 20 entrances to Epping Forest.

Using an image from the early 1900s by local artist Walter E. Spradbery, the 20 Epping Forest Gateways will welcome visitors as they enter the ancient woodland.

The markers, installed by the City of London Corporation, will stand at the roadside and are intended to “provide a sense of arrival and assist with navigation around the most popular Epping Forest locations”.

Philip Woodhouse, chairman of the corporation’s forest committe, said: “Epping Forest is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Area of Conservation, and it is home to a number of rare and vulnerable species of wildlife.

“This artwork will provide a sense of arrival into the site, let drivers know when they are entering the forest and raise overall awareness of the importance of the ancient woodland.

“I hope everyone gets great pleasure from these iconic artworks.”

Spradbery, who was born in 1889 and died in 1969, studied at Walthamstow Art School.

He designed posters for the Underground Group and London Transport between 1912 and 1944, many of them promoting Epping Forest.

The image selected for the signs was part of the early 20th century Beyond the City campaign used by the Underground Electric Railways Company Ltd, the predecessor to Transport for London, to promote leisure travel to Greater London and beyond.

The gateways will be located at points around the forest, with large signs marking entrances from major roads such as the M25 at Honey Lane in Waltham Abbey, Centre Road in Wanstead, Goldings Hill in Loughton and Rangers Road in Chingford.

Smaller signs will be placed by less significant roads and also at Connaught Water, High Beach, Chingford Plain, The View, Barn Hoppitt and Jubilee Pond.

The signs were paid for as part of the Heritage Lottery funded Branching Out project.