A community effort has been successful in preserving an ancient woodland for public use.

The 14-acre Longspring Woods off Oak Lane in Sevenoaks has existed since at least the 1600s, but when the owners announced their intention to sell, there was concern over what might happen to it.

Sevenoaks Town Counci had already yaken action back in 2023 to have the woods registered as an Asset of Community Value. That gave the town the safety of a six-month grace period to raise the purchase price before the owner could sell to anyone else.

The council had £100,00 to contribute, but had to turn to the public for the balance of the £185,000 purchase price required.

Within 23 days, pledges of £102,000 where received enabling the purchase to go ahead.

The wood is within the Green Belt and in Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

There are eight separate Tree Preservation Orders on the land, with the majority of the woods also being registered as an area of Biodiversity Opportunity.

It adjoins two Public Rights of Way as well as a playing field which is used by local schools.

There is already a well-defined horse-riding network through the woodland.

The Mayor of Sevenoaks, Cllr Libby Ancrum, said: “The response from the community was unbelievable.

“Thanks to their generosity, the Town Council has been able to make a successful bid for the purchase of Longspring Woods in order to keep it within public ownership for the use of generations to come.”