Local residents pledged more than £100,000 in 23 days to save Longspring Woods for future generations
The successful campaign to save Longspring Woods for Sevenoaks has received a surprise message of congratulations – from His Majesty King Charles III.
Sevenoaks Town Council received the following message from His Majesty the King ahead of the weekend’s celebration of the purchase of the ancient woodlands.
The King, who is known for his support of environmental issues, sent the Royal greeting on headed paper from Buckingham Palace. It said:
“His Majesty was deeply touched to hear of the community effort involved in preserving this ancient woodland for public use and hopes that you will be so kind as to convey The King’s warmest thanks and good wishes to everyone who was part of this important initiative.
His Majesty, trusts that you, the Town Councillors, and residents of Sevenoaks, will enjoy a most memorable celebration.”
Those who had donated to the pledge campaign came together at the weekend [Sat 28 Sept] to celebrate in the ancient woodlands they campaigned and raised money to save for future generations. They enjoyed music and commemorative Acorn biscuits to mark the occasion.
The appeal for funds, launched in January this year, had a magnificent response from the Sevenoaks community, with pledges coming in from £5 upwards, many at £100, £1000, and larger pledges of £5,000, £10,000 and £50,000.
Local residents pledged more than £100,000 in 23 days – in fact, more than £77,000 was raised in the last week alone as the deadline loomed.
The Town Council matched this with £100,000 from its funds from a previous sale of land, which needed to be spent on Capital Projects including acquisition of land.
Supporters ranging from school children to pensioners and local businesses made pledges to help Sevenoaks Town Council secure the 400-year-old Longspring Woods before it went on the open market.
Those who were unable to donate pledged help in kind including litter picking, gardening and manual labour. Even the conveyancing work for the purchase was given free by local firm Warners Solicitors.
Mayor of Sevenoaks, Councillor Libby Ancrum signed the purchase papers in the summer.
Mayor Ancrum said: “The purchase of Longspring Woods is an important contribution to the greening of Sevenoaks town and the pathway to Net Zero carbon reduction plan. It is great to see the community benefit from this council initiative in its 50th anniversary year.
“As an enthusiastic dogwalker and nature lover, I am personally delighted to see this ancient woodland preserved for future generations. And it’s wonderful to know that so many people in Sevenoaks share this view to the extent of contributing to our successful appeal.”
Longspring Woods is comprised of 14 acres of ancient woodland at the top of Sevenoaks, in Oak Lane. It overlooks the town with views over to the North Downs. Ancient woodland is defined by The Woodland Trust as an area of woodland which has persisted since 1600 in England.
The woodland has old oak and beech trees and traditional chestnut coppice sheltering wild animals, birds, and insects and it has been a woodland for at least 400 years.
Old footpaths and ancient trackways connect it to Sevenoaks Common, leading from the town out into the open countryside beyond Sevenoaks By-pass.
According to The Woodland Trust, the UK’s ancient woodlands, once vast, now cover just 2.5 per cent of the UK. That’s just 609,990 hectares. And around 1,225 ancient woods are currently under threat.
Up to 70 per cent of ancient woods have been lost or damaged due to conifer plantations, overgrazing and the spread of invasive species like rhododendron.
Yet the ancient and long-established woodlands store an estimated 77 million tonnes of carbon, roughly equivalent to the carbon emissions from a whole year’s electricity use in every home in the UK.
Sevenoaks Town Council registered the Longspring Woods as an Asset of Community Value in 2023, on the grounds that it furthered the social wellbeing and recreational interests of the community.
When the woods then came up for sale it gave just a six-month window to purchase the woodland before it went on the open market.
Now the Town Council is preparing a Management Plan for the ongoing sustainability of the woodland, and a community engagement plan. Sevenoaks Town Council already enables educational visits and ‘Forest Schools’ to take place on Sevenoaks Common.
The long-term goal is to improve links between Longspring Woods and Sevenoaks Common and to extend walking and cycling routes and trails around the town. The land could be used to increase biodiversity and protect the landscape in this area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Sevenoaks Town Council undertook a Feasibility Study which included details about conservation, access, educational use, and coppicing.
Longspring Woods borders two Public Rights of Way and there is a well-defined horse-riding network through the woodland. It is closed to cars, creating a safe and scenic route for walkers, cyclists, and riders.
The purchase supports a commitment by the Town Council, in its Green Community Investment Plan, to obtain additional land if it could be used for community benefit. It also contributes to the government’s goal of towards Net Zero and responding to climate change, which serves the local community’s health and well-being.
Local residents making pledges to the campaign expressed happiness at saving the Sevenoaks woodlands for the future. One commented: “Times are changing and the future doesn’t seem so assured anymore – but for the town to have managed to purchase this woodland is a long term commitment to keeping Sevenoaks a lovely place to live for future generations.”
Another donor commented: “We are so pleased that the Council took this opportunity up so boldly – and that local people rose to the challenge of giving the money needed… My hope is that this story will encourage others in the community to help where they can, to preserve our beautiful wild areas.”
And one added: “We are enormously grateful to know that current and future generations will continue to enjoy and have access to the area.”