The Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum is visited by thousands of aircraft enthusiasts each year.

Eastern Daily Press: A campaign has been launched to repair the boardwalk at the Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation museum. Picture: Nick ButcherA campaign has been launched to repair the boardwalk at the Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation museum. Picture: Nick Butcher (Image: Archant © 2017)

However, it is not just its flying machines that attract visitors to the Flixton museum, but also its picturesque landscape and naturally beautiful grounds which lie beyond its hangars.

Recently, however, part of this has become temporarily inaccessible - the Adair boardwalk - which had previously provided ramblers with a peaceful walkway, winding around the River Waveney.

The boardwalk has been closed to the public, with a section of its boards and handrails succumbing to the elements - rendering it unsafe to use.

Eastern Daily Press: A campaign has been launched to repair the boardwalk at the Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation museum. Picture: Nick ButcherA campaign has been launched to repair the boardwalk at the Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation museum. Picture: Nick Butcher (Image: Archant © 2017)

Now, a campaign led by a regular visitor to the museum is hoping to revive the asset and bring it back into action.

Melanie Hannant, a literature consultant for Aviva, has entered the museum into the company's Community Fund initiative, which sees projects nationwide compete to secure £10,000 grants from the insurance giants.

Just 20 awards will be given out countrywide in the campaign's category, with the projects that receive the most votes in a public poll being put to a judging panel to decide who receives the funding.

Eastern Daily Press: A campaign has been launched to repair the boardwalk at the Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation museum. Museum chairman Steve Bell inspects the old boardwalk. Picture: Nick ButcherA campaign has been launched to repair the boardwalk at the Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation museum. Museum chairman Steve Bell inspects the old boardwalk. Picture: Nick Butcher (Image: Archant © 2017)

Mrs Hannant said: 'I genuinely believe this project will benefit the community, the museum is a fantastic place and so well run, but like a lot of charities they are really short of cash.

'The closure is a sad loss as the walk was a popular attraction and provided a natural space for visitors to enjoy. Unless funding can be secured, it will remain closed.'

Stephen Bell, chairman of the museum said: 'As a registered charity we have very limited budget so Aviva's funding would be an incredible boost.

Eastern Daily Press: A campaign has been launched to repair the boardwalk at the Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation museum. Steve Bell, Nicky Brighton, Pam Veale, Mel Hannant, Josh Brighton Arthur Hannant and George Hannant on the old boardwalk that need replacing. Picture: Nick ButcherA campaign has been launched to repair the boardwalk at the Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation museum. Steve Bell, Nicky Brighton, Pam Veale, Mel Hannant, Josh Brighton Arthur Hannant and George Hannant on the old boardwalk that need replacing. Picture: Nick Butcher (Image: Archant © 2017)

'It would enable us to return a spectacular nature walk back to the community to enjoy, so we really do need public support and for everyone to vote - together we can do this.'

The boardwalk provides a 320 metre wood track through a willow plantation overlooking the riverbank, opening out onto a staging area.

It was closed to the public at the end of the summer season.

To vote for the project - which has been named 'Back to Boardwalk' visit https://community-fund.aviva.co.uk/voting/project/view/17-3777