THE dreams of horse-and-carriage enthusiasts to create a multi-purpose Forest trail for riders, carriage drivers, cyclists and walkers is coming closer to reality, they say.

Some time ago and with a burning passion for their sport the horse-loving group, led by Jenny Carling, felt that such a right of way would be beneficial to the area not only for local riders and carriage drivers but also for the burgeoning equestrian tourism industry.

It led to the Forest of Dean Riders and Carriage Drivers Association being formed – a voluntary organisation which then set about to make their dream real by working to improve the fragmented higher rights of way network throughout the Forest of Dean.

After several years work identifying and selecting suitable routes the Association, with Jenny and Erica Rye at the helm, obtained funding from Forest of Dean Local Action, part of the RDPE programme for England, to enable a feasibility study in 2010/11.

This study determined a workable system of multi user tracks and having now gained additional funds from Forest of Dean Local Action, the group is now in a position to proceed in implementing the project, says a spokesman.

Part of the funding will be used to employ a project manager who will be responsible for the day to day management of the work involved and will bring the dream to a reality over the next 18 months.

Jenny Carling said she felt the association had come a long way.

"We are overjoyed that after such a long time, and after such hard work with planning and consultation we can now see the end in sight. We estimate that this project will take on average one day a week over a maximum of 18 months to complete and we are now looking for the perfect self-employed person/organisation who can work flexibly within this time frame."

A detailed specification of the work can be found on http://www.deanforestriders.co.uk">www.deanforestriders.co.uk by following the link to the "Greenways Project" . Applications, in the first instance should be made to [email protected]">[email protected] and the closing date is Saturday (March 3).