A wildlife enthusiast has been left "absolutely devastated" after several critically endangered orchids were "strimmed away to dust" on site of a protected nature haven threatened by a major theme park.

Campaigner Donna Zimmer made the discovery while walking in the Swanscombe Peninsula this morning.

During her visit to the site she says she came across several instances where strips of areas alongside pathways had been destroyed.

Donna is part of the Save Swanscombe Peninsula group which is rallying against currently shelved proposals on-site for a multi-billion pound theme park, the London Resort.

Recently, Donna said she had "observed and recorded over 40 Man Orchids" in the Peninsula following a survey completed for the Botanical Society last month and so was shocked to discover today that they had been "strimmed away to dust".

Speaking to KentOnline, she said: ""Over half the Man Orchids were gone, plus other orchids including Pyramidal, Common Spotted and Bee Orchids.

"Why? There is absolutely no need for it."

Donna has reported the incident to Natural England.

The wildlife enthusiast will be leading a wildlife walk this Saturday with the Save Swanscombe Peninsula Group to celebrate the site and record wildlife observations.

Swanscombe Peninsula has recently been confirmed as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and includes one of the rarest spiders in the country.

Natural England, the government's nature adviser granted protected status to the 260-hectare marshland site between Dartford and Gravesend last year owing its rare wildlife.

But parts of the peninsula are currently earmarked for a new £2.5bn theme park.

Developers behind those proposals claim the scheme will bring jobs, money and regeneration of a brownfield site, while also providing much-needed investment into the eco aspects of the site, leading to its protection rather than destruction.

But campaigners argue the plans are at odds with the "irreplaceable green space" and have lobbied the government's nature adviser and other interested organisations to protect it.

A Natural England spokesperson said: “We are working closely with the landowners of the newly designated Swanscombe Peninsular Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) to make sure they understand their responsibility.

"We will continue to provide advice and support so that this unique habitat is protected and to ensure future management is in line with best practice guidelines.”