A PIECE of ancient woodland where yellow archangels, wild garlic, dog's mercury and other wild plants grow, is under threat.

Doreen Hewitt, from Gants Hill, is claiming that building a three-and-a-half-storey block of flats on part of Claybury Wood will destroy the area.

Mrs Hewitt, of Collingwood Gardens, has spent the last few years campaigning to stop the development of Forest House, once a hospital ward on the former Claybury Hospital site.

Mrs Hewitt claims that Forest House (site Six) is set in an area with a number of protected plants and trees.

Mrs Hewitt explained. "Parts of the wood have never been trampled on and the soil has an eco-system which is undisturbed. The place is unique. It is aglow with bluebells, celandines and anemones in the spring.

As part of the original Claybury Hospital site, the wood was rarely visited by the outside world. It contains a number of species of plants and flowers some of which have never been seen in Epping or Hainault Forest.

Mrs Hewitt, a former lecturer in psychology, is spearheading the Barkingside Agenda 21 group campaign to save the wood.

Claybury Hospital, a former psychiatric hospital, and much of the area surrounding it has been developed by Crest, and the 235-acre development has been renamed Repton Park.

Mrs Hewitt said: "This is an unknown superb piece of land, which very few people have walked on. Forest House was a one-storey ward, but Crest wants to build a 27-apartment block, an underground car park and a passageway from the wood to the rest of the estate.

"The land slopes quite dramatically, and the high piling needed for the underground car park will seriously harm the vegetation, affect the water flow and damage the soil."

Mrs Hewitt is hoping others will join her in writing to the Inspectorate, to protest about the development.

But a spokesman for Redbridge Council said: "Planning permission for the whole site was granted by the DETR Planning Inspectorate more than 18 months ago.

"Outline planning permission for a three-and-a-half-storey building with 27 units was granted on November 8. '

Development Director of Crest Michael Walker said: "Consent has been given and cannot be revoked, but written appeals from residents can be sent to the inspectorate which will give them thorough consideration.

"There has been development on the site for over 100 years. The principle of new development was taken five years ago. Forest House was an old derelict ward and we are building in the footprint of the old building.

"We understand residents concern about change and uncertainty but we believe this development is a good thing for the borough."

Anyone who wants to should write to the Planning Inspectorate, 3/0b Kite Wing, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol, BS1 6PN (quote 1701/98AK) before December 6.