A move is afoot to have Weavering Heath officially declared as a Village Green.

The classification would help give the green space greater protection against the possibility of any future development.

The Friends of Weavering Heath and Woodlands group has initiated an on-line petition asking Maidstone council who is the owner of the land to apply to Kent County Council for the Village Green rating.

The group, which has around 100 members who look after the heath with litter-picks and the like are concerned that when the planning consultants DHA were searching for possible sites for two new academy schools, which are now destined for nearby Pope's Field, they considered Weavering Heath as one the possible sites for the schools.

More recently, exploratory work by contractors working for the developer of the new schools, made a mess of the heath, churning it up with their diggers, while they tested to see if a sewage pipe could be laid across it. The firm has since apologised.

Keith Clark, chairman of the friends group, said: "A few years ago this would not have seemed necessary, but since Pope's Field, which was a designated Nature Reserve, is now subject to a planning application for two schools it has become clear that nothing is sacred.

"We hope as many people as possible will sign the petition to help us protect Weavering Heath for the residents and the wildlife."

The ePetition runs until May 6.

To sign it, you must first register with the Maidstone council website but this is a simple procedure.

To date, the petition has over 100 signatures.

Sign it here.