A popular woodland car park which has been closed for almost 18 months following a spate of anti-social behaviour is set to finally reopen today.

Dering Wood, which stretches between Smarden and Pluckley near Ashford, is often visited by ghost-hunters and wildcampers looking for a brush with the supernatural.

But those visiting have been leaving behind rubbish, camping equipment and starting fires, leading to the closure of the site in July last year.

It meant residents who used the woods for recreation were forced to park on the verges along Smarden Bell Road which many described as dangerous.

Smarden Parish Council set up an on-site meeting with police and trust representatives to discuss ways to curb the anti-social behaviour while keeping the asset open for residents to enjoy.

And the car park is now set to open for the winter today.

Resident Lisa Steward, who has been vocal in the campaign to get it reopened, said: "People had stopped going completely due to the dangerous parking as well as those that were risking it and unhappy.

"Myself, everyone else who emailed the trust and the rest of the local community, are very happy to be able to access a place they love safely again, it was a real group effort."

Kat Hoyle, clerk of Smarden Parish Council who organised the visit, said: "It is awful what’s going on, people are so outrageous.

"The trust was keen to get it open for the residents because people locally want to use it and while the car park is closed they’re using the verge and it's dangerous for people with dogs and children because you’re going on a really fast road.

"Hopefully they can open it up, put some cameras in and have more volunteers and police patrolling the area.

"It's just about deterring the people who are disrespecting it."

A spokesman from the trust said: “The Woodland Trust recently met with Kent Police and Smarden Parish Council to discuss the ongoing antisocial behaviour issues at Dering Wood.

"We will reopen the car park in November, and review again before the end of March 2022.

"From experience there is usually less anti-social behaviour during the winter months, and during this time, the Woodland Trust will work with Kent Police, Kent Highways and Ashford Borough Council to consider the feasibility of different options to deter night-time antisocial behaviour.”

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