A pair of National Lottery winners who scooped a seven-figure jackpot have transformed a 15.5-acre woodland in east Kent into a community space for local Sea Scouts and schoolchildren.
Ted and Marilyn Newton, aged 84 and 80 respectively, purchased the woodland with part of their £7.9 million Lotto winnings.
They are now preparing to host their 31st event for Sea Scouts on their land.
The woodland, complete with its own unique postcode, has become a hub for outdoor adventures for hundreds of young people.
Ted and Marilyn Newton, aged 84 and 80 respectively, purchased the woodland with part of their £7.9 million Lotto winnings
PA
The Sea Scout group comes from one of the most deprived parts of Dartford.
Marilyn explained: "We moved here so we had somewhere for our grandchildren to run about and explore."
The couple initially bought Park Wood to walk their dog, Poppy, but little did they know their purchase would benefit many beyond their family.
They have since opened the woodland to the local community - a school and creche now use the space alongside the Sea Scouts.
"With money tight for so many families it can often be hard for the Sea Scouts to fund camping trips away," Marilyn said.
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The couple are preparing to host their 31st event for Sea Scouts on their land
PA
The woodland provides opportunities for children who might otherwise miss out on outdoor experiences.
What began as a one-off camp has evolved into a decade-long relationship with the Scout group.
The Newtons' son Steve leads the Sea Scout group from Dartford - and says he has witnessed remarkable transformations in the young visitors.
"It never fails to amaze me when some of the young children, who maybe haven't been in this sort of natural environment before, tentatively start to explore," he said.
The woodland offers a range of activities for the scouts, from Duke of Edinburgh hikes to visits to the Battle of Britain Memorial.
"Everything we do here is to help these young people have fun, without the aid of a screen or technology," Steve explained.
Marilyn said the woodland purchase was the couple's "greatest joy" since winning the lottery.
"When the scouts are here, you can hear the laughter ringing through the trees," she said.
