Planting woodland

[jamesd]

Is there any rules as to where you can plant a woodland?

I am thinking about buying a small paddock that has come up on the market and would like to plant a broadleaf woodland there its only about 2.5acres,

But it would be something to call my own and I have always wanted to have a wood to potter around in.

But just wandered what the rules and regs are before i go any further!

[matelot]

I don't think there are any rules stopping you planting trees on land you own.

 

I would suggest that the value of a paddock will go down once there are trees on it...

 

But if you have the money it would be well worth it

[jamesd]

Unfortunately there are no woods for sale near me though.. so thought planting my own would be the best option!

What is the difference in price per acre between woodland and paddocks?

[matelot]

How long is a piece of string?

 

If you live in a wealthy area a lot of rich dad's wont think twice about spending a £100k on a paddock to keep the wife/ daughter happy.

 

As soon as there are trees on the paddock the chances of getting planning permission for a house will go right down.... again a 2.5 acre plot with planning for a nice house in a good area could be worth £500k....

 

I'd suggest that amenity woodland will struggle to get £10k an acre...

 

How much is the paddock for sale for?

 

If your heart is set on it and you can afford it you should definitely do it, however if you will need to sell it for your pension it might not be a brilliant investment.

[10 Bears]

Just to get back to the OP - there *could* be limitations on afforesting a site if your site is afforded protection by a specific land designation.

 

The most obvious example to give is if you are in a SSSI area, or even adjacent to one, and the establishment of your woodland will negatively affect whatever the SSSI is in place to protect.

 

Or you may need to check the existing plant community with an ecological study first. So, for example, if you have a Ophrys apifera happily growing away in your paddock and you plant a woodland over the top of it, you could be committing a section 13 WCA (1980) offence.

 

So, my advice is to check the land designations of your site, at the following websites and see if any are potentially going to effect your site:

 

Forestry Commission : GLADE : Land Information Search

 

Magic

 

and enquire about an eco survey with a local contractor and then you will have done all the right things.

[agg221]

What is the difference in price per acre between woodland and paddocks?

 

A quick look on Rightmove finds paddocks within 30 miles of Southampton ranging from £10,000 to £38,000 per acre asking price (smaller lots are always more per acre).

 

A quick look on woods4sale.co.uk finds prices for three woodland parcels, each just under 3 acres, ranging from £15,000 to £28,000 per acre.

 

I wouldn't say there is a lot in it.

 

You will probably see a decrease in value for the first 10-15yrs while it's just a scrubby mass but once the canopy starts to form and looks like a 'proper' wood I would guess the value will return. There are a reasonable number of people who want a small wood to potter about in, just as there are people who want to keep horses.

 

Alec

[spandit]

If you want a woodland then plant a damn woodland! It's what I've done and if I need to sell the land as a paddock again then I'm sure I could find someone on here with a chsinsaw.

 

I did mine through the Woodland Trust MOREwoods scheme. I'd suggest that planting a proportion to begin with would be best otherwise you might end up with no space to plant in the future when you learn about new species

[10 Bears]

If you want a woodland then plant a damn woodland!

 

Unfortunately, its because of attitudes like this that we now need environmental laws - to protect endemic species or areas that become threatened due to the actions of the mis-informed or ignorant.

 

Establishing a woodland is affecting a land use change at a local scale. Any responsible person would not just bash on without knowing what the potential environmental impacts may be.

 

It does not take a lot of time or effort to know you are doing the job properly, or to amend your plans if there is likely to be a negative environmental impact.

 

In fact, if the afforestation was in a National Park, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) or National Scenic Area (NSA) and over 2 hectares, then there is a legal requirement to conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment. For all other areas it is 5 hectares.

 

Although this site in question is considerably smaller, there is no need to ignore best practice when it doesn't take much effort at all to do the right thing.

[spandit]

the mis-informed or ignorant.

 

 

Got me down to a tee

[kevinjohnsonmbe]

Wise words from 10 bears, you may also find this link a useful:

 

Tree planting advice - Woodland Trust

 

There's good info on the many tabs on the page.

 

Follow your dream not the dollar! Leaving a woodland as a legacy for your children, grand children, great grand children.....