West Wood in Lyminge Forest, Kent, is 440 acres of mixed woodland with diverse wildlife, including badgers, foxes, deer and several rare species of birds. Mentioned in the Domesday book, it is rich in Iron and Bronze Age remains. There are over a a dozen burial mounds, six of which are scheduled ancient monuments. It is a magical place.

The wood is currently owned by the Forestry Commission, and is open and free for anyone to visit. For several years, local people have campaigned against Oasis Villages Ltd, a subsidiary of the giant Rank Corporation, who intend to construct a 'holiday village' for 4,000 tourists, with luxury villas, a boating lake, golf course, restaurants, a pub and a shopping centre. Early this year locals invited us into the wood, as a last resort to prevent this development. Rank have admitted that were it not for our presence, felling would already have started. Possession orders have been served, and evictions could begin at any time. If we fail to halt the development, this environmentally sensitive habitat will be decimated.