woodland donation??

[Brett]

I have a client who's father was a property developer, the client has just recently discovered that he has inhereted 2 small strips of woodland that were not sold off by his father with the houses.

 

Each strip contains aprox. 30-40 mature trees, Beech, Turkey Oak, Grey Pop etc, etc. and are within the bounds of a conservation area.

 

We have just completed a survey for him which has not highlighted any major issues.

 

The client lives miles away from the area and see's no value in these areas and see's them purely as a liability. He has aked for a price to clear fell theses areas, which i know he is never going to get permission to do and i am currently trying to convince him to change his veiw.

 

The question is; does anyone know about donating woodland to charitable organisations / wildlife trusts / comunity councils???

 

hope this make sense?

 

Brett

[Ty Unnos]

The local wildlife trust might be interested. Give them a call.

 

There also might be tax benefits to the client in making a donation:

 

Tax efficient giving to charity: the basics : Directgov - Money, tax and benefits

[Charlieh]

having spent a fair while working and contracting for the wildlife trusts, dont be suprised if they dont take you up on the donation especially if there is no special wildlife element to the site, they are as large landowners very away of liability of landownership and certainly round here get specialists in to assess liability.

 

Im not trying to put a downer on it, and its worth a try but just dont be to supprised if they say thank you but they arent interested.

[Brett]

I think it would hold very limited 'wildlife' value, at least no more than any other small urban strip of trees.

 

mmmm......

 

since its a conservation area, is there possibility of council taking it on?

[fraxinus]

dont give it to the council! there are social forestry people who would kill for their own sites. if they are not big areas or close to/within a town then they can certainly be used. even if they are out of the way, these people will find a way. i know a guy called kenny comain (google it) or take a look at one of his sites Home-In Harmony with woodlands he is actively looking for sites. he mainly works with autistic kids and has a great track record. i know it sounds like a sales pitch but it would be such a better use for a wood than a council or wildlife trust forgetting about it or trashing it with "schemes". and it wouldnt be felled or ruined it would actaully be looked after and valued. some of these sites have turned some kids lives around. think about it.

[Brett]

dont give it to the council! there are social forestry people who would kill for their own sites. if they are not big areas or close to/within a town then they can certainly be used. even if they are out of the way, these people will find a way. i know a guy called kenny comain (google it) or take a look at one of his sites Home-In Harmony with woodlands he is actively looking for sites. he mainly works with autistic kids and has a great track record. i know it sounds like a sales pitch but it would be such a better use for a wood than a council or wildlife trust forgetting about it or trashing it with "schemes". and it wouldnt be felled or ruined it would actaully be looked after and valued. some of these sites have turned some kids lives around. think about it.

 

i had a look at this just now, i think you may be over estimating the size of the areas in question, but good idea