A beloved woodland where people enjoy a walk, schools teach outdoor education and young carers enjoy precious respite is under threat.

The Enchanted Woodland in the old Joyce Green hospital grounds in Dartford is the only large area of broad-leafed woodland in the town. It is run by the The Temple Hill Trust, a community group managed by a group of volunteers and trustees, and is sustained purely by charitable grants.

Debbie Fryer spearheaded the project 10 years ago, starting a journey to turn four acres of disused land – which in places was 6 feet high with rubbish – into a haven.

She became project manager and chief executive of the company, and fervently applied for hundreds of grants from the likes of the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Nineveh Trust and Asda, but after two decades the funding has dried up.

By the middle of this month there will be no more money to pay Debbie a wage for her work, on top of managing the rangers and volunteers and organising activities in the woodland.

Debbie, from Stone, said: “I’m extremely sad. It’s been a project I’ve really put my heart into and this is such a shame.

“It’s an amazing legacy and there’s no way I’m going to turn my back on it. I will continue to volunteer, but I can’t put the hours in I do now – I still have a mortgage to pay and I need to work.

“What would make me less upset would be if we could get someone or an organisation to take it over.

“We are in talks with Temple Hill primary, but it’s a lot for just one school to take on – especially when, as a country, there doesn’t seem to be much money around for nice things like this.

“What would be lovely would be for some schools to work in partnership to manage the land. They would be able to use it for outdoor and forest school activities, and maintain this lovely resource for future generations.”

At the moment, Debbie, 56, needs around £3,000 funding a year to run the woodland and its activities. That includes covering insurance and admin costs that she says an organisation taking it over would absorb more easily.

“Obviously, a school wouldn’t need another telephone line, they have their own photocopiers, and the insurance would be less as an add-on, so it wouldn’t cost them anything like as much as that.

“They also won’t have to pay for the woodland itself. We just want to sell it to someone for a nominal fee who will look after and sustain it.”

The volunteer rangers – who make sure the paths are clear, and the trees are safe – have said they wish to carry on under a new manager or board.

If you are interested in getting involved, call Debbie on 07833 469485.

What about the young carers scheme?

One of the main events Debbie organises each year is a young carers summer scheme, which provides a much-needed week’s holiday for youngsters from the stresses and strains of caring for parents or siblings.

Debbie said: “The funding for that is secured for this year to go ahead, so I am happy to continue to organise that on a consultancy basis with whosoever takes on the woodland. It’s always such a wonderful event, a special week that the young carers get a lot out of. The adults always have a lovely time too.”

Other things the trust organises look set to continue thanks to volunteer support. Caribbean steel band Steel Ambition, and a forum for local groups called Working Lunch will continue to be organised by volunteers.