THE Eltham Society Group for Conservation has warned residents could lose the Green Chain Walk if they don't use it. The group is concerned at the lack of volunteer groups attached to the project which is set to lose its project officer when European funding expires next year.

Eltham's Green Chain is a series of natural areas including footpaths, parks and woodlands which are all home to an assortment of wildlife. It dates from 1973 when abundant open spaces were protected from development and misuse by the boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich and Lewisham.

In 1977 an action plan resulted in planning issues and policies for more than 300 open spaces. A few years later, they adopted the idea of linking them all together in a 40-mile walk. But now finance for the scheme is spread thinly, more interest needs to be shown by people living in the area who can report damage or misuse of any of the facilities. The group hopes to encourage usage by reviewing route pamphlets and making laminated easy reference sheets about the walk. Therefore the message is clear - you have a major recreational facility at your disposal within easy reach of 15 railway stations and innumerable bus stops - use it or lose it.

Les Murrell, spokesman for the Eltham Society, said: "It's an important part of Eltham an indeed the rest of south east London. People need to get involved to ensure the walk can be maintained and preserved particularly as the post of project officer is very poorly funded and even that funding is about to stop."

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