Wildlife TV presenter Chris Packham is supporting campaigns to save a protected nature haven earmarked for a multi-billion pound theme park.

He posted a picture of himself on Twitter donning a rare jumping spider pin telling his 556,000 followers about the threat to its home in the marshes at Swanscombe Peninsula.

The environmental campaigner said: "It is small but very distinguished this little jumping spider, and its home is the threatened Swanscombe Marshes SSSI in Kent – we do not want a theme park – we want wildlife."

Dartford Green Party councillor Laura Edie shared the post adding: "Amazing to have the legend that is @ChrisGPackham back the campaign to save Swanscombe Peninsula."

The Save Swanscombe Peninsula campaign group also thanked Chris for his support.

The area has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and includes one of the rarest spiders in the country.

Natural England, the government's nature adviser, granted protected status to the 260-hectare marshland site between Dartford and Gravesend in March 2021 owing to its rare wildlife.

But parts of the peninsula are earmarked for a £2.5bn theme park, although proposals are currently shelved due to transport and environmental issues.

Developers behind the plans say the scheme will bring jobs, money and regeneration of a brownfield site, while also providing much-needed investment into the eco aspects of the area, leading to its protection rather than destruction.

But campaigners argue the plans are at odds with the "irreplaceable green space" and have lobbied the government's nature adviser and other interested organisations to protect it.