The government has failed to offer proper protection for ancient woodland, including the threatened 81 acres of Oaken Wood.

That is the opinion of the Woodland Trust, which says the National Planning Policy Framework published last month offers an easy pathway for developing such sites.

But the trust remains determined to fight Gallagher Group’s plan to quarry in Oaken Wood between Barming and East Malling, and is now fund-raising for the public inquiry scheduled later this year.

Woodland Trust chief executive Sue Holden said the new framework “gives with one hand and takes away with the other.”

The document says“planning permission should be refused for development resulting in the loss or deterioration of irreplaceable habitats, including ancient woodland” before adding “unless the need for, and benefits of, the development in that location clearly outweigh the loss.”

The Woodland Trust says this gives a loophole for developers.

But Nick Yandle, of Gallagher Group, said: “Special interest and lobby groups will inevitably not be so pragmatic for obvious reasons. However most decisions in life require a judgement weighing up a range of considerations.”