Yard space?

[TheHungrySquirrel]

Trying to find some yard space, mainly for storing firewood, milling logs and some greenwood courses in.

 

It's confusing me how to find somewhere, local farmers seem an obvious option but not sure what I should be paying and also if I'm allowed to put up roofs over log stacks and such.

 

Won't be keeping any tools there or machinery, I'm guessing hard standing would be better than grass but I'm open to anything.

 

How did you guys secure your yards and roughly what do you pay/what size?

[eggsarascal]

Trying to find some yard space, mainly for storing firewood, milling logs and some greenwood courses in.

 

It's confusing me how to find somewhere, local farmers seem an obvious option but not sure what I should be paying and also if I'm allowed to put up roofs over log stacks and such.

 

Won't be keeping any tools there or machinery, I'm guessing hard standing would be better than grass but I'm open to anything.

 

How did you guys secure your yards and roughly what do you pay/what size?

 

 

From my experience its been one of two ways. You either do it all 'by the book', and pay proper rent, business rates and the like or you pay cash every week, paying cash leaves you at the land owners mercy, if he wants you and your 200 ton of cord off his land by Friday, you're gone on Friday.

[Daythe trees]

Its took me three years to find somewhere and I'm now buying it. Spend a Sunday driving around your local area with a gps, os map, compass and notepad and pen. Then crawl down every lane in your area stoping to record the location and as much detail as possible of every suitable location. Then when you get home and have eaten the lovingly prepared roast get on the land registry website and find out who owns each patch, when it was last sold and what for. Now the difficult bit, find these people and have a chat and see how you go.

 

Best of luck,

Chris

[TheHungrySquirrel]

From my experience its been one of two ways. You either do it all 'by the book', and pay proper rent, business rates and the like or you pay cash every week, paying cash leaves you at the land owners mercy, if he wants you and your 200 ton of cord off his land by Friday, you're gone on Friday.

 

 

The cash each week sounds a lot easier than the 'proper' way but I get where your coming from

[TheHungrySquirrel]

Its took me three years to find somewhere and I'm now buying it. Spend a Sunday driving around your local area with a gps, os map, compass and notepad and pen. Then crawl down every lane in your area stoping to record the location and as much detail as possible of every suitable location. Then when you get home and have eaten the lovingly prepared roast get on the land registry website and find out who owns each patch, when it was last sold and what for. Now the difficult bit, find these people and have a chat and see how you go.

 

Best of luck,

Chris

 

 

Thanks Chris, that's a really good answer, I guess I better top up the diesel and get out exploring.

[Daythe trees]

I forgot to mention the other essential research technique. Stop for a pint in each village if covering a wide area or (as in my case) find the pub in your town/village where the majority of tradesmen/small business owners drink and after doing your driving tour open conversations geared towards finding somewhere. I'm sure you've done this already but chatting to people and buying them a pint can gain more information than any other method. I'm a Yorkshireman so if I'm buying you a pint and you're not a leggy blonde female then it ain't just for your company!

[TheHungrySquirrel]

I forgot to mention the other essential research technique. Stop for a pint in each village if covering a wide area or (as in my case) find the pub in your town/village where the majority of tradesmen/small business owners drink and after doing your driving tour OpenPlay conversations geared towards finding somewhere. I sure you've done this already but chatting to people and buying them a pint can gain more information than any other method. I'm a Yorkshireman so if I'm buying you a pint and you're not a leggy blonde female then it ain't just for your company!

 

 

You sure about that Chris? I figured the local could be a good place to go.

[Daythe trees]

Sure about what mate? But in general yeah, arm yourself with information then go and find the place people who "work the area" congregate and find out the bits you're missing. If you don't get the answer you will get a pointer.

[Daythe trees]

Oh I see...... If you knew what I looked like you would know that no amount of money or booze would buy more than company with said blonde.

[farmer rod]

Squirrel, where in Kent do you hail from ?