Buying a Forest

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If you’ve ever spent a lovely afternoon wandering through a forest or even just sitting under a massive tree relaxing and enjoying the wildlife, chances are that you’ve contemplated how nice it would be to have a forest of your very own to enjoy whenever you wanted. Unfortunately, growing a forest isn’t an overnight job, and even fast growing trees like pines take around 30 years to reach maturity. The other option is buying a chunk of forest, and this is what more and more people are doing across England and Wales.

How much?

As with everything in the property market, the size and price of the forest will depend very much on where in the country it is located. Prices in the south east of England are far higher than in rural Wales or the North-East, for example. Around 4 acres of woodland in a remote location could cost around £25,000 and you will own the freehold to the land outright. Larger wooded areas in popular counties such as Sussex could set you back £150,000 or even more.

What can I do with it?

The first thing to be aware of is that it will be impossible to get planning permission in most cases to put up any sort of building on your newly-purchased forest, whether that be a summer house, dwelling house or even a stable for a horse. You will be able to gather firewood and manage the trees in the woodland, which means chopping down any trees which are overgrown or damaged. What you do with the wood is your business, so you might be able to get that oak coffee table you’ve always wanted, or even get enough wood to provide all of your friends with an oak coffee table too. Responsible forest management is the key, and there may well be legal convenants on the sales contract specifying exactly what you can and cannot do with the land.

Practicalities

Buying a forest is pretty much the same as buying any other sort of land or property. There are dedicated agencies which specialise in the sale of forest or woodland, and you simply browse through the listings, and contact the seller about anything of interest. Postcodes are given so you can check out on foot any wood you’re interested in buying, and once you have had a lawyer read through the conditions of purchase, you make your offer to the seller. Once your offer is accepted, you go through the same process as you would selling or buying a house or other piece of property.

Responsibilities

Buying a woodland is a good investment but also carries significant responsibilities, in that you will have to visit the woodland regularly and make sure that you take steps to ensure the trees survive for future generations. Trees may need to be felled if they become damaged, and have to be inspected for signs of disease. New trees may need to be planted in their place, and you will also have to be aware of any wildlife in your forest which is a protected species.

Finding a beautiful and affordable oak coffee table is easy at National Furniture.

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