Needed some wood...bought a forest.

[cardiffrob]

S'funny how these things happen. We bought a log burner for the house and looked at the cost of logs. Quite high, so, we then happened upon a 5 acre ancient woodland plot for sale nearby (Wales) that has poor access but no TPOs to worry about. Lots of 2m girth Beech, Sycamore, Cedar etc.

The thing is, I was wondering if there was anything we could do that might allow us to 'farm' the wood and get guidance on how best to manage it with regards to replanting, feeding, logging, biodiversity etc. Are there any Colleges, for instance, who would like to use the land for their students to plan how to run it...stuff like that. Maybe someone like the Forestry Commission? Where should I go to get good info/guidance?

Any pointers would be gratefully received.

Thanks

Rob

 

[chriscase]

Hi there , this web site has some useful links on it
http://www.woodlandadvice.org.uk/
All the best
Chris

 

[Wendelspanswick]

That's weird, there can't be many people who are building Austin 7 specials who also own an ancient woodland, we own a 16 acre mix of ancient woodland and meadow!
When I did my chainsaw certs the trainer took us to a woodland where the owner had given us permission to practice felling. There are lots of sites and organisations that can offerr advice and help, the Small Woodland Owners Group has a forum but it doesn't see much traffic, the Arbtalk forum has lots of posts but is mainly aimed at commercial users.
The Forestry Commission will come out and give you advice.

You do not need a licence:

• to fell less than 5 cubic metres in a calendar quarter (Please note that you cannot sell more than 2 cubic metres in a calendar quarter)
• for trees that have the following diameters when measured 1.3 metres from the ground
  • 8 cm or less
  • 10 cm or less for thinnings
• 15cm or less for cutting coppice

Windblown trees and dropped limbs don't count as your quarterly allowance.

 

[p0689109]

You could try engaging a tree surgeon to do a health check and advise you on what needs to be done as regards trimming and felling to the forest. He should be able to advise you on the health of the stock and any work needed to maintain the standard. In doing so he might advise a cull of certain specimens which could give you a supply for your burner!

 

[Shox Dr]

Watching this with interest, as I'm on the lookout for 4+ acres

 

[kier]

depends on the wood , I have a chestnut wood grown for comercial use originaly , now over grown cos I cant keep up just cut what I want, all my heating is free plus cutting work

 

[TechnicAl]

How much should a woods cost

Is it so much per acre?

Ive looked at Woodlands.co.uk and they seem expensive but thats a Yorkshiremans view

 

[Wendelspanswick]

How much should a woods cost

Is it so much per acre?

Ive looked at Woodlands.co.uk and they seem expensive but thats a Yorkshiremans view

Woodland.co.UK buy large tracts of woodland and then divvy it up into smaller parcels, they make small woodlands available but at a fairly high markup.
The smaller the parcel of woodland the more you will pay per acre, typically 3 or 4 acres from woodlands.co.UK will cost around £25-30,000 whereas we paid around £2,500 an acre for 16 acres by buying through 'best offer' on our land which is less than 10 miles from home.
There are lots of less expensive parcels of woodland in Wales but that's not much cop if you live on the East coast unless you are very dedicated.
We spent 3 years searching on the net through estate agents for woodlands and viewed about 4 in that time before settling on what we have now.

 

[sardine]

Could you build a small cabin in your wood and live there unofficially ?

 

[TechnicAl]

Could you build a small cabin in your wood and live there unofficially ?

Like the 3 bears?

 

[JohnRUFC]

What is it like trying to get planning permission to build anything at all?

 

[winchman]

Could you build a small cabin in your wood and live there unofficially ?

May I suggest looing at that bloke from Grand designs, he just stuck his on an old trailer then its mobile so no planning needed

 

[sardine]

I could be a hermit of the woods, grow a long beard, and never wash again.

 

[cardiffrob]

Thanks for the replies.
About £5K per acre seems the average round here. It appears exactly the same on a 1897 survey but was not present in an 1813 map, so I guess it is all about 150-175 years old.
I understand you can sleep on site for up to 28 days per year but not put up any permanent sleeping structure which is a shame as there is a large amount of sedimentary limestone layers just below the surface that makes great walls.
Plans being discussed at the mo include Archery, Air Rifle shooting and (not my idea!) Burials!

[Wendel. Just trim, wiring and brake adjustment to go.]

 

[Mr Fro]

Wow - it's cheap in your neck of the woods (geddit?). it's 40k odd for a few poxy acres round here.

I'd love a bit of woodland - not entirely sure why - probably so I can pretend being Ray Mears but the wife won't have it at that sort of money.

 

[colnerov]

May I suggest looing at that bloke from Grand designs, he just stuck his on an old trailer then its mobile so no planning needed

Hi, was there more than one? The only one I remember was Ben Law in Sussex. He had permission because he was doing forestry management. It was a cruck frame construction and if and when he left it had to be dismantled and removed.

Colin

 

[octo0072000]

Hi, was there more than one? The only one I remember was Ben Law in Sussex. He had permission because he was doing forestry management. It was a cruck frame construction and if and when he left it had to be dismantled and removed.

Colin

think it was if his family or relations ever left it it had to be removed but could be passed down in the family

 

[HughF]

Look at getting HLS (Higher level stewardship) on the woodland (you might be able to) - they pay you to cut your own firewood

 

[Robotstar5]

The guy who owns the land where Mrs Robo stables her horse wanted £10k per acre and it hasn't even got any trees on it!.

 

[Wendelspanswick]

Thanks for the replies.
About £5K per acre seems the average round here. It appears exactly the same on a 1897 survey but was not present in an 1813 map, so I guess it is all about 150-175 years old.
I understand you can sleep on site for up to 28 days per year but not put up any permanent sleeping structure which is a shame as there is a large amount of sedimentary limestone layers just below the surface that makes great walls.
Plans being discussed at the mo include Archery, Air Rifle shooting and (not my idea!) Burials!

[Wendel. Just trim, wiring and brake adjustment to go.]

If you can prove that you need a shed for storage while working there you can normally get one via Prior Notification, there is a 12 acre minimum for agricultural land but this is waived for woodland. Welfare facilities (shelter, toilet, eating area, cleaning facilities and first aid) are good reasons to put in a Prior Notification application as these are recommended by the HSE.
A Prior Notification is where you inform the council of your plans and they have 30 days to object, they can only object on valid reasons.
A good time to put in a PN application is in December because of all the public holidays, parties and sickness.
If you want any advice on a PN just ask.