When Graham Winn resolved five years ago to buy nearly 30 acres of Coulsdon woodland and allow the public to use the land freely, he never imagined his repayment would be a load of rubbish.

His initial gesture was fuelled by rumours that Prospect Plantation, on which four generations of his family had played as children, was to be sold on for development.

But increasingly the area is being vandalised and used as a tip for garden, building, and general household waste.

Mr Winn, who now lives in Wallington but whose parents live in the family home adjacent to the land on Winifred Road, told the Croydon Guardian: "I bought it because I was concerned about the future of the land as it was something I had loved.

"I have never tried to stop the public using it but now some people seem to think it's there for dumping rubbish. I would ask them to please stop."

The area is home to several varieties of butterfly and contains protected trees. His mother, Audrey Winn, said: "All our son wanted was to provide a haven for the wildlife. A lot of people do respect it and enjoy the song of the birds and the beauty of the trees at the bottom of their gardens and those who don't shouldn't spoil it for others. "