More than 20 tonnes of rubbish has been removed from woodland during a four-month clean-up.

The Temple Hill Trust is a charity that owns the Enchanted Woodland, 3.5 acres of land on the Temple Hill estate in Dartford.

It was once the Joyce Green Hospital cemetery.

With the help of Pinnacle Plus, which helps unemployed people, Enchanted Woodland rangers and the Community Payback Team, the huge mounds of rubbish were finally removed last month.

The site has been heavily fly-tipped since 2005 and work began back in January to clear it.

Dirty nappies, mouldy mattresses and household rubbish were among the items left to rot for months in Marsh Street, Temple Hill.

Chief executive of the Trust Debbie Fryer said: “Why would you want to go out for a pleasurable walk in our woods if you have to tread through rubbish first?

“I don’t remember the owner taking much notice of this land and I have worked in the area for nine years so I thought it was a great idea when I heard that Pinnacle Plus could lend a hand.

“Ian McBryde and his crew have been great. They have worked on clearing the space of scrub and small trees which gave them the room to gather all the rubbish into two main areas.

“It was such a huge task they have been working on this since January. Speaking with Hyde Housing we worked out that we could remove two fence panels and bring out the rubbish through there into Wodehouse Road.

“I don’t think anyone can deny that the area looks spick and span. It was a mammoth task.

“I would like to say very large thank you to all involved – 20 tonnes is no mean feat.”