PRESS RELEASE: His Majesty the King sends congratulations for saving ancient woodlands for the Sevenoaks Community

The successful campaign to save Longspring Woods for Sevenoaks has received a surprise message of congratulations – from His Majesty King Charles III.

The Royal greeting received on headed paper from Buckingham Palace read:

“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 to celebrate in the ancient woodlands they raised money to save for future generations.

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.

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. 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.

Longspring Woods is comprised of 14 acres of ancient woodland at the top of Sevenoaks, in Oak Lane. Ancient woodland is defined by The Woodland Trust as an area of woodland which has persisted since 1600 in England.

According to The Woodland Trust, the UK’s ancient woodlands, once vast, now cover just 2.5 per cent of the UK, at 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.

Mayor of Sevenoaks, Councillor Libby 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.”

She added: “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.”

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.