AN URGENT appeal has been launched by a wildlife trust to save a "vital" wildlife habitat.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust (HIWWT) want to buy Hockley Meadows Farm near Twyford, which they say is a vital for species like water vole, otter and the rare southern damselfly.

The site which in the heart of the Itchen Valley has been put up for sale by the farmer who owns it as he is retiring.

HIWWT want to ensure that the land is protected from future development or intensive farming, and the owner has offered to sell the farm to the trust at the market value of £400,000 instead of putting it onto the open market.

Although they have raised more than half of this, they still need £150,000 to reach their goal and the trust is calling for people to help its appeal to secure the site.

Should HIWWT secure the site, they will continue to operate it as a wildlife-friendly working farm, where herds of conservation cattle and sheep are kept, and they will recreate traditional farming and grazing methods to maintain wildlife habitats throughout the Itchen Valley.

A Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust spokeswoman said: “We’re calling on our brilliant supporters to help us secure Hockley Meadows Farm for wildlife. It’s right at the heart of what used to be widespread floodplain meadows – a vital habitat for fantastic species like water vole, otter and the rare southern damselfly.

“We plan to manage the site to benefit wildlife - and as a working farm for our conservation grazing herd, which help us maintain habitats we manage throughout the Itchen Valley.

“With the generosity of our supporters we will be able to protect this traditional landscape, and save the farm and its water meadows from future development, commercialisation or intensification.”

Twyford Parish Council chairman Waine Lawton said that he hopes people in the area get behind the appeal.

Cllr Lawton said: "I would not be surprised to see people support this, I certainly hope people can support this and I would not be surprised if everyone got behind this appeal and went for it."

To support the appeal visit http://www.hiwwt.org.uk/hockley-appeal.