A campaign has begun to ‘save’ an area of woodland near High Wycombe town centre after it emerged it would go up for sale.

The BFP reported yesterday that Lucas Wood, off Lucas Road, is being marketed for around £50,000 after owner and well-known Wycombe furniture maker Stewart Linford decided to let it go after helping protect it for several years.

And now concerned resident Lynne Smith from Hazlemere has started a ‘Save Lucas Wood’ campaign, with the ultimate aim of raising enough to buy the 6.2-acre woods for the community.

The cleaner from Gorse Walk said: “We are losing a lot of our green spaces and eventually we lose all our trees then we won’t be able to breathe.

“Stewart has really tried to preserve it, but I’m just concerned about the amount of houses being built at the moment, though I don’t think those woods will be built on in my lifetime.

“I just think the community should buy it and hold it in trust so it can never be sold. If everyone in town put a pound in we could easily save it for future generations.”

Agents for the sale John Clegg & Co said the area is protected by a tree preservation order, and insisted the possibility of the site being used to build houses was “highly unlikely”.

Mr Linford enlisted the help of John Morris at The Chilterns Woodland Project to draw up a long term management plan to help bring back active management to the wood.

Along with volunteers, he has worked to upgrade the wood from and promote it as a wildlife/conservation site.

The woods are designated as Ancient and Semi-natural woodland, indicating the land has been covered in trees since at least 1600.

The join the campaign visit www.facebook.com/groups/667312890087583/