THE Woodland Trust has called for a policy to restore thousands of acres of ancient English woodland to be extended to Wales.

The charity says a new initiative launched by the Forestry Commission yesterday could help it in its bid to restore an ancient Gwent woodland.

The trust hopes to buy almost 900 acres of Wentwood Forest, near Caerwent, which is up for sale by its private owners, and restore it for public use.

A new policy in England will help restore thousands of acres of ancient woodland to its former glory, removing conifer plantations and re-planting native species over 20 years, with the help of funding grants from the Forestry Commission.

The trust say this is the same restoration work it will carry out at Wentwood if its bid is successful but the policy will not apply in Wales as the country has its own devolved Forestry Commission funded by the Assembly.

Rory Francis, of the Woodland Trust, said: "We think the same policy should apply in Wales.

"The Forestry Commission in England has got it right and it should be applauded. But Wentwood is the largest ancient woodland in Wales and we think it would be a great place for this policy to start.

"Wentwood Forest is as much a part of the history of Gwent as its castles and churches."

There may be good news for the Woodland Trust.

A spokesman for the Forestry Commission Wales told the Argus it is set to launch a £2.3 million campaign this summer to reclaim ancient woodlands across Wales.

The Reclaiming Our Forgotten Inheritance campaign is being unveiled in July at the Royal Welsh Show in Builth Wells.

Most of the grants will be given to woodland in Objective 1 areas of Wales, as it is part funded by the European Union.

But the Woodland Trust may be eligible for grants to help with the management of Wentwood forest.

Mr Francis said: "The details are still to be worked out but we may be able to get cash for Wentwood under this scheme if our bid is successful.

"We helped with the bid so we should be eligible for some funding."