A slice of woodland near the centre of High Wycombe has gone up for sale after a well-known Wycombe furniture maker decided to sell up having taken it on several years ago.

The 6.2-acre Lucas Wood, off Lucas Road, is being marketed at a guide price of £50,000, with Stewart Linford “reluctantly” giving up the area due to moving out of the area after helping protect it during his ownership.

UPDATE - Campaign launched to 'save' Lucas Wood

As one of the last remaining High Wycombe furniture makers, Mr Linford gained a worldwide reputation for his chairs and fulfilled a lifelong wish by buying the wood, which experts say is at least 400 years old.

He said: “This is a beautiful mixed woodland with a variety of wonderful broadleaves of all ages. I dreamt of owning a wood and achieved it with Lucas Wood.

"My hands-on involvement in the management meant I came to know the wood intimately and particularly enjoyed the contrasts between the seasons of the year.

“It is with sadness that I sell and I hope we shall find a purchaser who will enjoy the wood as much as I have.”

The woods were also the scene for a high-profile shooting in 2014, when three people suffered gunshot wounds and two others were injured.

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”.

Bucks Free Press:

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.

Call John Clegg on 01844 291384 or visit www.johnclegg.co.uk