Local villagers are hoping to buy an ancient woodland so it can be saved from private sale and continue to be a sanctuary for generations to come.

Landowners Margaret and David Lloyd have allowed the public to enjoy their 17-acre Ruscombe Wood near Stroud for the last 20 years but have now decided to sell up.

Keen for it to go into the hands of local residents, the couple have given Ruscombe Woodlands Committee one year to raise £164,000 to cover purchase, legal and survey costs.

Martin Humphreys from the committee said: “I like the idea that if we own the woods, nature will become part of the community and we can have that instead of a community hall.”

Made up of local residents, the committee have now launched a fundraising campaign to raise the funds for the purchase and said it hopes to protect wildlife and habitat, along with guaranteeing permissive footpaths at the site continue to stay open for everyone.

It also hopes to offer free workshops, including on woodland care, natural skills and creative crafts.

Margaret, 79, said they had decided it was time to sell their “pretty special piece of ancient woodland” after realising it had become “too much work” for them.

“We want the community to buy it because they all love it and we want it loved like we’ve loved it all this time,” she said.

“Really, we’d like it sold now and we could put it back on the market, but it wouldn’t be the same, so the only snag for us is that it wont get done until November 2027,” she added.

Margaret said the group also have plans to use the space as a forest school.

Martin said it was “very nice” that the couple had given them time to raise the money needed for the purchase.

He said while the group has to get through a lot of legalities, he likes the idea that the woodland could eventually be owned by everybody.

“It has no public rights of way, it’s not been spoilt or overworked, it’s wild and has lots of creatures that have made their homes there.

“It has a wonderful silent quality,” Humphreys added.

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