We could be about to witness one of the largest losses of ancient woodland in England in recent years if plans for a quarry extension go ahead.

Kent County Council (KCC) has included Oaken Wood, near Maidstone, in the proposed Kent Mineral Sites Plan. If that allocation is confirmed, about 41 hectares of ancient woodland could be lost for the quarrying of Kentish ragstone and aggregates.

CPRE Kent say the allocation of ancient woodland in the Plan is shocking and unacceptable. We do not believe KCC has properly justified the loss of this irreplaceable habitat or demonstrated the “wholly exceptional reasons” required by national planning policy.

We can’t simply plant saplings and move some soil to mitigate against the loss of ancient woodland!

CPRE Kent have taken legal advice and served KCC with a Pre-Action Protocol letter, seeking to have the decision on submission returned to Full Council.

We believe that the Oaken Wood allocation should be deleted from the proposed Plan, the hard-rock strategy and Sustainability Appraisal should be amended, that material changes to the Plan should be consulted upon and the decision on whether to submit the resulting Plan should return to Full Council.

But taking legal action is expensive.

We need your help to meet the legal costs of pressing KCC to reconsider this decision and, if necessary, taking further action to protect Oaken Wood.

Please help us make sure Kent’s elected councillors are given the opportunity to look again.

Help protect Oaken Wood. Help ensure this decision gets the scrutiny it deserves. Help Oaken Wood outlive the quarry.