VILLAGERS hope historic parkland will remain a haven of peace after being sold to a mystery buyer.

Oxford University is understood to have found a purchaser for picturesque Nuneham Park in Nuneham Courtenay, but is remaining 'tight-lipped' about their identity.

There were rumours that the 1,054 acre estate - which was being advertised with a price tag of £22m - had been snapped up by Virgin tycoon Sir Richard Branson or vacuum cleaner designer Sir James Dyson.

But spokesmen for the entrepreneurs have confirmed that neither is the buyer.

The estate includes 29 rented properties, grade I listed gardens originally designed by Capability Brown, three vacated farms and Palladian villa Nuneham House.

Emma Whyte (pictured), who has lived in a cottage in Nuneham Park for five years, said estate agent Savills 'had not been forthcoming' about the sale.

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The 44-year-old said: "I am hoping some sort of marvellous environmentally-friendly philanthropist will buy it, but who knows.

"I have absolutely no idea, I am hoping for the best.

"I'm hanging on for a fantastically wealthy and socially-responsible person."

The designer and retailer, who runs an upcycling business, added: "I don't want anyone who will encroach on more unspoilt rural land.

"The hope is to maintain it in this mad world of changes.

"The park is just off the road, you would hardly know it exists. It's very peaceful and friendly."

The park initially went up for sale in September, when Savills' farms and estates director Richard Binning plugged its potential for 'investment and redevelopment'.

Mrs Whyte said it was 'no good being a nimby' about potential new developments on the estate but hoped any new buildings would favour an eco-friendly design.

She said: "My personal hope is that any building here will be of a very high environmental standard, to become a bit of a leader in that."

Nuneham House is let on a long-term lease to the Global Retreat Centre, which hosts spiritual festival Peace in the Park every summer. An employee at the retreat centre, who did not want to be named, said he was not even aware that the park had been sold.

John Peters, a member of Nuneham Courtenay Parish Council, said he had also heard very little about the estate.

He said: "They are pretty tight-lipped about it but there is no physical sense of anything changing in the village." Both Oxford University and Savills have said the buyer's identity cannot be revealed because of a confidentiality agreement.

Mr Binning of Savills had previously pledged that the buyer would be 'carefully selected'.