National Trust rangers and volunteers at work on the White Cliffs. Picture: National Trust / Sylvaine Poitau

Work has started on looking after the latest section of the White Cliffs of Dover to be bought by the National Trust.

It followed a fundraising campaign – with the KM Group as media partner – to secure the land between Langdon Cliffs and the South Foreland lighthouse.

Fencing is now being installed as part of a plan of returning the land to chalk grassland, which is an ideal habitat for hundreds of rare species of animals and plants. It can be home to up to 50 species per square metre.

The fencing will allow the area to be grazed by Exmoor ponies, clearing it of the large plants that have been allowed to grow and shade out the smaller, rarer ones.

As well as improving the area for wildlife, the £1.2million appeal, was crucial to safeguard public access along the cliffs in the face of ongoing natural erosion processes.

National Trust property manager for the White Cliffs Ginny Portman said: "We were overwhelmed by people's generosity. They showed how much they care about and love this amazing place by donating in their thousands and helping us raise the money earlier than expected.

"Now we feel privileged to be able to start looking after the new land and improve it for all those people who donated and all those who will visit and enjoy it in the future."