Blackswarth Road Wood to be auctioned off today

Today is D-Day for campaigners and environmental groups, and the thousands of people who have donated to support a campaign to save Blackswarth Road Wood in Bristol.

The ancient woodland has been put up for sale, and the environmental group, Project Earth, have been on a mission to save the land, as it's been advertised to have 'residential development possibilities' - something the campaigners aim to stop from happening.

Project Earth hopes the money raised through their crowdfunder will help them have enough to secure the land, and help it to reach its potential for both, biodiversity and carbon sequestration.

The five-acre patch of land is currently littered with rubbish - but it's also part of a Site of Nature Conservation Interest.

Campaigners hope they'll be able to save the land and restore it for the benefit of locals, as well as for the many creatures who use it - including deer, badgers, buzzards, red kite, nuthatch, tawny owls, sparrow hawks, swifts, cuckoo, and a plethora of bats, including pipistrelle and possibly myotis.

It's one of the largest pieces of remaining woodland in central Bristol, and we're told many people consider it to quite literally represent the 'lungs' of the city - reducing particulates in the air, and absorbing carbon emitted across the region.

The site also has a rich history.

The eastern part was a formal terraced garden leading up to a now-Grade II listed grotto-like bathhouse (which is not part of the sale), whilst some of the retaining walls still exist from when the garden was laid out, back in the mid-18th century.

It was also used by Bristol Fireclay Company and their fireclay mines extended under Avon View Cemetery on the northern boundary of the wood.

Then in the twentieth century, the terraces were used as allotments.

From Protect Earth, Phil Sturgeon, who lives in Bristol, said: "This woodland is in Bristol. People have referred to it in the past as 'the lungs' of the city.

"It's also a really important refuge for wildlife. For example, this is somewhere they can get away from dogs and foot traffic, and if that's gone, then the other places in the city also lose a lot of their wildlife as well.

"Lots of people are trying to build a house on this! I have had several emails from people trying to 'save the woodland' by only building one or two houses on it - but that's not how it works.

"If they can't do that, then letting it stay in its neglected state for a couple more decades would be a real shame, because doing that wouldn't be any good for wildlife."

Their campaign has received support from local councillors, and even MP Kerry McCarthy, who called it 'a really beautiful bit of woodland' which is 'incredibly valuable in ecological terms'.

The group behind the fundraiser say they're doing it to make sure the land that's been 'used as a rubbish dump' can be restored and returned back to nature.

Phil added: "Originally the goal to raise money was £40,000 - it's amazing that it's now reached more than double that!

"To double that was amazing. But when land goes to auction, you really don't know how much it will eventually go for. We've seen plots of land go for three, four, and even five times the original guide price, so the more donations we can get - the stronger our bid.

"If we're successful with the auction, and we're left with money to spare, that will go to the Herculean effort of restoring the woodland and clearing all of the fly-tipped rubbish which has sadly accumulated."

The group's long-term goals for the site include:

• Community involvement, leading to improved connection with nature and mental wellbeing
• Sustainable woodland management
• Enhanced biodiversity, including tree species reintroduction
• More inclusive participation in this secluded location through open days
• Improved carbon sequestration
• Local reduction in runoff, reducing flooding, improved soil health and improved air and water quality
• Heritage preservation

You can find out more about the auction, and the fundraiser, on the group's Crowdfunder page.

Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app.