At 3,000 acres the historic forest on the edges of Newport is the largest ancient woodland in Wales and the ninth largest in the UK.

Now conservation charity The Woodland Trust says it needs to raise £100,000 from the local community to add to the £500,000 it has already pledged itself to try to save a 900-acre section from being sold to a commercial operation.

The section of forest being sold is currently owned by a part-investment, part-family trust, and the agents behind the sale say they are convinced the woodland is not "under threat".

The Woodland Trust, however, is appealing to local people to help raise the money to show they are really serious about saving the woodland for public use.

With that money in the bag, doors to other sources of funding, such as the lottery would be unlocked, to help raise the estimated £1.3m value of the land.

A public meeting is to be held tomorrow night to discuss the campaign.

The main fear is that the woodland will be sold to a commercial forestry operation, which the trust fears could do untold damage to the fragile habitat which they describe as "our equivalent of the rain forest".

Chief executive of the trust Sue Holden said: "This is not the place for commercial forestry - if this happens we would lose the woodland for good. This is our last chance to do something."

Ms Holden said forestry operations had already destroyed large parts of the forest's ancient habitat through felling of the traditional broadleaf trees and replanting of non-native conifers.

The conifers, the trust claims, severely affect the natural balance, as they block out the light, preventing plants from growing and destroying the habitat needed by mammals and insects.

Ms Holden added: "Wentwood is an ancient woodland and a precious wildlife habitat."

The charity says their fears are heightened because the conifers already existing on the land are reaching "economic maturity, and the most profitable way for any commercial company to make money would be to fell them".

The forest is not only home to rare species, but is an important part of history and a popular spot for visitors.

The firm handling the sale, John Clegg and Company, of Thame, Oxfordshire, admitted a number of commercial foresters would be interested in the land.

Agent Colin Gee said he did not believe the woodland was under threat. He said: "It will undoubtedly remain as woodland - a commercial operation would continue to manage it and would have to adhere to Forestry Commission guidelines."

Mr Gee said under the guidelines any company taking over the 900 acres would be encouraged to plant a combination of different trees and to look after the habitat.

"There is no reason why commercial interests cannot go hand in hand with conservationists," he added.

But Ms Holden said the Woodland Trust is so concerned that it is launching a bid to buy the land and "safeguard it for future generations".

She said: "The trust is offering the only hope of survival for this precious habitat. The ancient woodland is clinging on, but we need to act now."

If successful the trust, which owns 1,000 forests across the UK, would begin a massive replanting programme to restore natural trees and wildlife. The rest of the wood is owned by the Forestry Commission.

The Woodland Trust was set up in 1972 with the aim of offering free access, conserving, restoring and re-establishing woodland in the UK. Most of its funding comes from pledges and donations.

To find out how you can help support the charity's fundraising bid to buy 900 acres of Wentwood Forest see tomorrow's posting.

WILDLIFE IS SO PRECIOUS

THE Woodland Trust says the UK's ancient woodland is "our equivalent of the rainforest".

Wentwood Forest is the remnant of a vast woodland that once stretched from the River Usk to the Wye Valley.

The forest, the largest ancient woodland in Wales, was once a royal hunting-ground and is mentioned in records dating back to the Dark Ages.

It is one of the few forests mentioned by name in both The Book of Llandaff and the Welsh Laws.

The forest is home to thousands of wildlife species, including: Over 20 species of native butterfly, as well as the endangered silver-washed fritillary.

75 species of bird, including the song thrush, bullfinch and lesser-spotted woodpecker.

The dormouse.

Ancient plants such as wild daffodil, wood sorrel and yellow pimpernel.