Protesters have been in their tree village for nearly four months

The Body Shop founder, who launched her ethical store in Brighton in 1976, has allowed protesters in Titnore Woods to link her name with the Sussex campaign.

Landowner Clem Somerset has won a court ruling for protesters to be evicted, although bailiffs have yet to move in.

Developers' plans changed so 210 out of 265 threatened trees will be unaffected but protesters want to save them all.

John Clarke, from Protect Our Woodland, said protesters could only have dreamed of having the support of "such a respected person" when they started their campaign.

There is a wave of optimism Dave Phillips

Another group, Worthing Eco-Action, has now revealed that campaigners have approached Mr Somerset with a view to buying the woodland themselves.

Spokesman Dave Phillips said: "There is a wave of optimism that, given the opposition locally to the development, it would in fact be possible to raise this sort of money."

He said the campaigners were still waiting to hear from the landowner about their offer, and about how much it would cost.

About 55 trees are still threatened under the changed plans

Campaigners moved into the woods in Durrington in May, setting up home in two 30ft tree houses, but the eviction order was granted in July.

They took their fight to the High Court, claiming that the case had been rushed, but the court ruled against them saying eviction could go ahead.

Then West Sussex and Worthing councils said road improvements associated with the housing development were not needed, in the light of government guidance, and so 210 trees would not have to be removed.

But the eco-warriors said they would only leave if all the trees were saved.

The developers - a consortium of the Heron Group, Persimmon Homes and Bryant Homes - have planned 875 new homes on land known as the Lake Rue.