A group of Rowley Regis campaigners are determined to save a piece of woodland and its wildlife habitat from being culled in a possible housing development.

Residents living in Yew Tree Lane and Admirals Way are protesting against plans by property developers Mar City to build 35 houses on land by their homes, which would mean trees, planted by King George VI, as well as wildlife such as badgers, foxes and bats being destroyed.

Although no planning applications have been submitted to Sandwell Council, concerned residents claim the land, which was formally owned by TW Lench Ltd, is already being cleared to make way for the houses.

Over 400 signatures have been collected from protesting residents, who want to keep the little piece of countryside safe.

The land is not only home to foxes, newts, owls, bats as well as a breeding pair of badgers but also to trees which King George VI, then the Duke of York, planted in 1925, during a trip to the area with the Duchess. Twenty seven trees were planted, which were then covered by a preservation order, to commemorate Lench workers who were killed in World War One.

Protesting residents also claim the land is unstable to be built upon and is named as a site of local interest for nature conservation in the Unitary Development Plan.

Ian Baker, of Admirals Way, who is spearheading the campaign, said: "I'm dead against seeing land destroyed. These developers think they can come in, clear land and destroy habitats and then apply for planning permission.

"We don't want more houses, we have enough where we live."

Residents have been in contact with wildlife trusts and are now in the process of setting up night vision cameras to capture the badger family and other nocturnal animals, as proof of the thriving habitat in the woodland.

Blackheath councillors Mary Docker and Shirley Ching are also backing the residents campaign.

Cllr Docker said: "The issue of the wildlife and the unstable land is a great cause for concern. Both myself and Shirley are backing the community 100 per cent."

Mar City Developments Ltd were unavailable for comment.