Concerned Caterham residents have launched a campaign to prevent a local beauty spot falling into the wrong hands now that it is up for sale.

The woods, which are situated close to View Point at the top of Gravelly Hill in Caterham, are close to the Pilgrims Way. The woods are divided into two plots either side of Gravelly Hill. The larger Old Park Wood and Ten Acre Shaw on the north side of Gravelly Hill is 103.68 acres in size (Lot 1) and the smaller Gravelly Wood on the south side of Gravelly Hill is much smaller, at 14.15 acres (Lot 2). Caterham School has already expressed an interest in purchaing Lot 1 only, stating informally that they would permit public access if they owned the wood. However the site is being marketed by Chartered Surveyors and Forestry Agents, John Clegg & Co, as a site that contains 'immediate timber foresting opportunities.'

The War Coppice Residents Group was set up 20 years ago when the woods were under threat of being turned into a golf course, a scheme that was refused on appeal.

Tom Bennington, Chairman of the War Coppice Residents Group, said of this latest threat to the woods: "The concern from residents is that the woods will be thinned out by a timber company. The whole character of the area will be irreversibly changed, destroying a fragile ecosystem of flora and fauna that has been around since the days of King Henry VIII. Also, any opportunity to open the woods for full public access would be lost."

The local residents group (led by the War Coppice Group) are also concerned that if ownership went to an aggressive developer it would be a disaster for local residents and anyone who values the countryside. Consequently, the residents groups are looking at securing the woods for public use in perpetuity and to open the tracks to make it fully accessible for horse-riding, mountain biking, walking and picnicking. To do this they have launched a campaign to raise money to secure the woods under the banner 'Old Park Woods for Caterham' and there is a Facebook site dedicated to the effort at www.facebook.com/groups/145883055603652/.

The campaign organisers are looking for donations of £1 upwards.

Tom said: "This is a unique opportunity for the people of Caterham to claim back a truly fabulous local asset and to secure a beautiful area for themselves, their children and their children's children. I really hope people get behind this appeal for funds so we can assess how far the effort can go. We do not need any money up front, just their pledge to register an interest."

Research shows that public purchase of land by local groups is a very common and successful way of shaping the environment in line with the community's needs and there are many bodies including the National Trust and Surrey Wildlife Trust who would offer support to groups taking on such projects.

Tom said: "The people of Caterham need to know the backdrop to their View Point is up for sale. Together we can secure the woods for ever more."

Pledges of financial support (name, address, telephone number and amount) should be e-mailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

To view the plans go to http://bit.ly/18tpaKS.