A FIVE-acre woodland in Ringwood could be transformed into a visitor attraction.

Ringwood Town Council is in negotiations with an educational trust about the land at Folly Farm, just off the A31.

The land is currently owned and managed by the town council but at a meeting of the recreation, leisure and open spaces committee, proposals were made for the space to be leased to the Sheiling Trust.

The trust, which incorporates the Lantern Community, the Sheiling School, Sturts Farm Community and Ringwood Waldorf School, already uses the land informally, but, according to town clerk Terry Simpson, the council is looking for better ways to manage it.

At a recent meeting, members of the council heard from the trust about its current maintenance of the pathways and access road and future ideas for using the land. These included working with other charities on wildlife and environmental projects, including education to benefit not only their organisation but also the general public.

Terry Simpson said: "Once we have had further negotiations with the Sheiling Trust and carried out the appropriate consultations, we will put a formal proposal together for members to consider.

"But if this is developed the right way, and public access to the site is enhanced, it could turn out to be a really exciting visitor attraction."

Simon Figg, a spokesperson for the Sheiling Trust, said: "The negotiations are in the early stages at the moment pending approval from the council.

"But we hope that if they are successful we can safeguard the land and introduce an educational element into the work we do there.

"We hope to get some guidance on conservation issues and how best to manage the land. By publicising that the land is there and making it more accessible to the public, we hope it will become a site for everyone to enjoy."