A NEW app for smartphones will give visitors to the Forest a glimpse of life nearly a century ago.

The Hidden Heritage app has been developed by a group of locals who have a passion for Forest history

Developed with the help of the Foresters’ Forest project, it will display ‘now and then’ images as visitors follow the Forestry Com-

mission’s nine-mile circular family cycle trail.

Sue Middleton, of Foresters’ Forest said: “As you move along the path your location is tracked on a 1920s vintage OS map using GPS so that it triggers, for example, a ‘You have discovered Dilke Bridge’ message when you are near a point of interest.

“At each of these sites the app will show you fading ‘then and now’ images that brings the history of the Forest to life.”

Volunteer Bob Smith said: “I felt that we weren’t making enough of our fantastic, very unique history and we needed a way to tell residents, visitors and our next generation of Foresters about some of the places where our history and heritage was forged.”

The app, which was launched at Pedalbikeway at Cannop, can be downloaded from the Apple Store for free. It will be available on Android later this year.