The Woodland Trust has condemned plans to drill for oil in ancient woodland

A conservation charity has condemned the decision to let an oil company drill in ancient woodland in a designated area of outstanding natural beauty.

The UK's leading woodland conservation charity, the Woodland Trust, strongly opposes the decision by West Sussex County Council to approve planning permission for Northern Petroleum (GB) Ltd to search for oil beneath the South Downs.

The company, an operator of both onshore and offshore projects, will use a 36-metre drilling rig to bore down in search of oil in Markswells Wood in the village of Forestside, near Chichester.

The plans, which were agreed in a planning meeting by West Sussex County Council, will result in the loss of around a hectare of ancient woodland in an area that has been proposed for the South Downs National Park.

A spokeswoman for the Woodland Trust described the move as "an act of vandalism on our natural heritage" amid fears that if the initial exploration is successful in finding oil, further areas of surrounding countryside could be affected.

Alice Farr said: "Ancient woodland is the richest habitat for species in the UK, the UK's equivalent of rainforests.

"The complex undisturbed soils are irreplaceable and once destroyed, are lost forever. This is a worrying example of local government putting the search for money before safeguarding irreplaceable natural heritage."

Other opponents of the drilling include Chichester District Council, the South Downs Joint Committee, West Sussex County Council landscape officer, and the county council's own ecologist.

All are concerned at the visual and ecological impact of the drill on the environment, along with the loss of the ancient woodland.

Nat Belderson, a planning officer for the South Downs Joint Committee, said he was concerned for protected species close to the site.