A WILDLIFE Trust has been "blown away" by the response to an appeal to save a vital wildlife habitat in Twyford.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust (HIWWT) are aiming to buy Hockley Meadows Farm in 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.

They say they need £200,000 to secure the farm, and already they have reached nearly three quarters of that target and have had £142,000 pour in.

But they still need £58,000 which must be found by February 24, and have now issued a rallying call for supporters to help them reach their final target.

Chief Executive at Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust Debbie Tann said: “We’ve been blown away by the generosity of our supporters. Every little helps, whether it’s £5 or £500, to help us secure this land for wildlife.

"The huge response not just from our members, but the local Twyford community, parish council, and even supporters from overseas, just goes to show how important protecting our iconic landscapes and species is to so many people.”

HIWWT plan to use the land to recreate the traditional wildlife-friendly farming methods that have shaped the Itchen Valley’s water meadows. As well as running a working wildlife-friendly farm, they’ll manage the surrounding floodplain meadows as a vital habitat for fantastic species like water vole, otter and the rare southern damselfly.

To support the appeal and for more information visit www.hiwwt.org.uk/hockley-appeal.