POLITICIANS are lining up to back a campaign aimed at saving 900 acres of ancient Gwent woodland.

Wentwood Forest is Wales' largest ancient woodland, and as reported in the Argus, nearly a third is up for sale.

The Woodland Trust, the UK's leading woodland charity, is spearheading a bid to buy the land.

Its wants to save it from the possibility of intensive felling and the loss of the ancient woodland habitat. It is appealing to the public, and those in power, to help.

The trust hopes to raise a total of £1.5 million, and says it needs £100,000 in cash pledges from the public to help unlock government and lottery grants.

It's hoped the £1.5 million will cover the cost of the land and fund some of its regeneration from non-native coniferous species to the broadleaf varieties of the original woodland.

It already has £500,000 set aside for the purchase. Now South-East Wales AM Mike German and Newport East AM John Griffiths have pledged support, and say they will lobby Rural Affairs and Environment Minister Carwyn Jones for cash.

And Monmouth's MP and AM David Davies told the Argus he would do all he could to back the campaign.

Mr German said the National Assembly should stump up cash to help buy the woods.

As environment minister he purchased Caerphilly Woodlands, which was handed over to the community.

Mr German said: "There is nothing to stop the Assembly buying or assisting in the purchase of Wentwood now to secure and protect the land for the environment and the community for many generations to come."

Although the wood is currently commercially managed, Mr German said he feared its close proximity to the M4 would attract commercial operators "seeking a profitable and fast return".

He said: "Forestry land investment is free of capital gains tax, and there is a substantial tax-free timber income to be made from the re-sale of the site after timber has been felled.

"My fear is that any operator could buy the area and clear-fell it, making a quick return.

"This would leave not just a huge scar on the landscape, but further, irreversibly damage the habitat of remaining pockets of ancient woodland."