The government is to pay the full cost of clearing waste dumped in an ancient Kent woodland after emergency funding was secured.

KentOnline revealed in January how rubbish is being piled 12ft high across four acres in an illegal makeshift tip at Hoad’s Wood near Great Chart, Ashford.

An investigation into the fly-tipping on the woodland, which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), is currently being led by the Environment Agency (EA).

Now, after months of campaigning, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Steve Barclay, has ordered the EA to clean the 27,000 tonnes of waste, and the clean-up is expected to start next month.

The Rescue Hoad’s Wood Campaign group says contractors have quoted the operation will cost £10m and are “thrilled” emergency funds had been secured to allow the work to take place.

A spokesman for the group said: "This marks a significant step forward in our efforts to restore the natural beauty of this ancient bluebell woodland.

“We eagerly anticipate the swift completion of the cleanup operation so the recovery process can commence.

“Additionally, we also look forward to a comprehensive investigation into local and national authorities’ inaction, which allowed this environmental catastrophe to occur, despite our community’s diligent reporting.

“We hope this will prevent similar incidents in the future, safeguarding treasured sites like Hoad’s Wood.”

The spokesman went on to thank the conservation groups CLA, CPRE Kent, Kent Wildlife Trust, RSPB, South East Rivers Trust and The Woodland Trust for their support through the campaign.

This week, a ministerial direction was published on the government’s website ordering a clean-up of the woodland.

The order states the cost of the operation would fall on the EA, against the suggestion of campaign groups that the funds should be released from the treasury.

The woodland is designated a SSSI due to its vast array of birds, insects and trees.

The groups were unhappy with how long it was taking to clear the woodland and wanted “action now” to sort out the mountains of waste.

Last month, our reporter visited Hoad’s Wood and described the stench of decay and neglect as “overwhelming”.

We spoke to a member of the Rescue Hoad’s Wood campaign group who added: “I understand from some residents that there is the smell of rotten eggs in their bedrooms at night.”

The campaign has now received more than 10,000 signatures and has even received support from nature expert Chris Packham, who has called for the immediate clean-up of Hoad’s Wood.

Nature groups including RSPB, Kent Wildlife Trust and Woodland Trust wrote a letter in April to the environment secretary, Steve Barclay, for a government grant to fund the clean-up operation.

An extract from the letter reads: “It was painfully clear that the EA prioritised ‘gathering evidence’ over and above the protection of a designated SSSI, using Hoad’s Wood, the wildlife therein and the local community as acceptable collateral damage.

“The illegal felling of the trees in preparation for the site in 2020 and the presence of a single digger preparing the site in July 2023, all of which were reported, should have been ample evidence a criminal act had been perpetrated against an SSSI.

“This should have resulted in an enforcement order that came almost four years too late.”

Ian Rickards, area manager for Kent Wildlife Trust, one of the charities supporting the campaign, said: “This is positive news, and we hope it is followed up by immediate and effective action.

“I won’t go as far as to say this is a win for nature, as what has happened in this woodland is devastating, but it is the first step towards seeing the recovery of Hoad’s Wood.”

In January, a lorry with no number plates was caught on camera approaching the woodland.

According to those at TalkTV, who filmed the driver, the vehicle turned around after camera crews were spotted.

A variety of birds breed in the area, including nightingales, woodcocks, nuthatches, great spotted woodpeckers and several kinds of tits and warblers.