Hoad’s Wood, a much-loved ancient woodland in Kent, has been cleared of 39,500 tonnes of illegally dumped commercial waste.
The Environment Agency said waste had been piled up to 15 feet high at the Site of Special Scientific Interest, which is home to rare plants and wildlife. More than 50 specialist workers took part in the clean-up, led by the agency and carried out by Acumen Waste Services.
Nature can now begin to recover
Access to the site will be restricted while the land starts to heal. The Environment Agency is working with the Joint Unit for Waste Crime and Kent Police to identify those responsible, with three men already arrested in connection with the investigation.
The clearance is part of a wider effort to tackle organised waste crime. The Environment Agency says 33 arrests have been made across its work since April, while planned measures include greater use of drones, closer cooperation with police and mayors, and higher fines for illegal dumping.
Why it matters for Britain
Clearing the waste protects a nationally important woodland and gives local wildlife room to recover. It also returns a valued Kent landscape to the community, while the investigation aims to hold those behind the dumping accountable.
