Woodland for Sale
Several years ago most of the woodland on the market was of a very large acreage,
often in Wales or Scotland, such as 750 acres near Inverness, costing in excess
of £725,000. This size of woodland could yield revenue from selling timber
but it also required maintenance and replenishment of any felled trees.
Over the past few years, however, there has been a significant development in the
woodland market with the emergence of smaller, private woodlands for sale. These
tend to be of far smaller acreage, usually between 5 and 20 acres and are purchased
by private individuals for leisure purposes.
Given the current trend towards increasing demand, buying a woodland today could
be a good investment. As ever, location is key. Woodland within the M25 will command
a premium price, versus woodland in Wales or northern Scotland.
Don’t buy woodland if you are after planning permission. It is unlikely that
any woodland would obtain planning permission for a residence. You can put non-permanent
structures such as sheds or tree houses in woodland and you can also camp in a caravan
for up to 28 days per year.
Typically the woodland is either mixed deciduous (containing a variety of trees
such as oak, ash, beech and silver birch) or conifer (consisting of either one or
a few types of conifer trees that have been planted in a more regulated format).
Small private woodlands are bought for a wide variety of pursuits including paintballing,
badger watching, woodworkers and naturists.
If you are expecting an income from your private woodland, then you need to look
at your figures carefully and do some research. Only larger acreage yields any substantial
revenue from timber sales and on most woodland there are limits on how much can
be felled per annum and the majority of the woodstock must be replenished.
However, there are now specialist companies on hand to help the private smaller
woodland owner sell mature timber. Ash and willow sells for good money, so there
can be some potential revenue generating opportunities with woodland.
With a mature conifer woodland, you might be able to harvest or clear up to 20%
of the wood stock in a given year. Trees, of course, would have to be replaced but
with this type of woodland, they grow fairly quickly.
Woodland can be enjoyed by using it for a wide range of outdoor activities:
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Paint balling
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Archery
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Tree climbing
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Cycling
Caravans can be kept in woodland for up to 28 days per year and non-permanent structures
are also acceptable, such as sheds or tree houses, although we do recommend that
any landowner takes specific advice.
Further information:
National Small Woods Association
Woodland Owner
