A 64-acre chunk of countryside has been put on the market for £475,000.

Agents say the chance to buy the site in Covert Wood at Bladbean, near Canterbury, is an “extremely rare” opportunity.

The land is set in an area of outstanding natural beauty in part of the larger Lyminge Forest, with the majority of it designated as ancient.

But staff from John Clegg and Co - which is advertising the site - say it offers a flattened parking area that could provide potential buyers with “development possibilities” - although the woodland itself can never be developed.

“It is extremely rare for a woodland such as this to come to the market,” company sales agent Hugh Williams said.

“It has a variety of native species, dominated by broadleaf species, oak, hornbeam, beech, some birch, sweet chestnut and some lapsed coppice in places.

“In the spring and summer, there is an abundance of flora such as bluebells, wood anemones and orchids, including bee orchids and early purple orchids, rare hellebores and celandines.”

There is also a covenant that allows the owner of Covert Wood House first refusal to acquire Covert Wood.

They will have seven days to respond once informed of an offer.

The marketing information says Covert Wood's greatest asset is its potential for biodiversity and woodland conservation.

"There is some potential for oak felling on a selective basis, however there is no woodland management plan or grant scheme in place," Mr Williams added.

"It offers great opportunity to the amenity market for purchasers who want a 'lifestyle choice' woodland."

To the south of the site is an access ramp from a country road leading to a wood shed and a portacabin.

There are two paddocks in the south, though neither have grazing agreements in place.