Nature

Some very good advise offered Nature, and sorry you lost out on the wood you wanted to buy.

I am sure something else will come up.

Yes, there has been great advice that I am very grateful for. This is a great forum.

Would be happy to talk to you if you PM me with contact details.

Best of luck.

Thanks for your kind offer. If another opportunity presents itself soon I'll take you up on it.

Procrastinated?!

Yep!

woodland of that size isn't commercially viable as a stand alone business, certainly you'd be eligable for grants but not much else, we've some neighbours trying to do similar on 20 acres which theyre living and building in now bought it on bad advise 20 acres for over 100k on the basis they could live in it without planning provided they worked it.

Thanks for your comments.

In your opinion what is the minimum size of mixed woodland needed to be a commercially viable stand alone business?

At around £5k per acre it seems expensive compared to other businesses, but I guess the tax sheltering and land price bubble is accounting for that.

Thanks for your comments, Natalie. I take you point about the woodland being too small for a commercial enterprise.

Sadly, I prevaricated for too long as the woodland has now been sold to someone else.

I'm on the lookout for another one though.

I have just bought a new Isuzu D-Max that has a diesel particulate filter which requires regeneration occasionally.

On a drive back from the West Country to Essex, it regenerated twice, but I think it depends on traffic conditions and dusty environments.

There is nothing to fear about this IMO as the engine senses the build up of particles in the filter (there is a screen display which shows this) and then automatically starts the regeneration process.

The regeneration raises the engine temperature so the exhaust can smell a bit hot, but we have not had to drive over 30 mph for a set time. In fact we have turned the engine off during regen and the regen process just starts again where it left off when turned back on.

So far there have been no problems at all, and it has not had any impact on our use of the vehicle either, though we've only had it for three weeks so far.

The new Isuzu has a five year warranty so I am not too worried about the complexities involved.

Hope this helps.

Hey Nature,

 

Thanks but I need a full time job tbh, I have a friend that may be interested though, if your still looking for someone?

Sure. Could you ask him/her to contact me asap via PM please.

Hey Nature,

 

Thanks but I need a full time job tbh, I have a friend that may be interested though, if your still looking for someone?

Sure. Could you ask him/her to contact me asap via PM please.

Yeah, it's not about the money. Today I fought my way through 20 yards of nettles to confirm what I thought I saw. A ragged old hazel stump I had coppiced back to nothing in January. Now there is a stem which stands taller than me and plenty others following it.

 

Plus some of the Alder sun shoots I had cut from the fallen tree, left in the river for 3 weeks and then roughly stuck in the soft ground are now trees.

 

Makes your heart sing, or mine anyway.

Awesome. This is one of the reasons why I asked for advice on this forum.

There is a real enthusiasm for forestry and trees. It's why I am considering investing in Woodland rather than a more conventional business (more fool me!)

Yeah, it's not about the money. Today I fought my way through 20 yards of nettles to confirm what I thought I saw. A ragged old hazel stump I had coppiced back to nothing in January. Now there is a stem which stands taller than me and plenty others following it.

 

Plus some of the Alder sun shoots I had cut from the fallen tree, left in the river for 3 weeks and then roughly stuck in the soft ground are now trees.

 

Makes your heart sing, or mine anyway.

Awesome. This is one of the reasons why I asked for advice on this forum.

There is a real enthusiasm for forestry and trees. It's why I am considering investing in Woodland rather than a more conventional business (more fool me!)

P.S. i am very envious

You don't need to be as you are fortunate to live in a stunning part of the world. I worked at Orielton Field Studies Centre, just outside Pembroke, many moons ago and had a fantastic time

You are correct in thinking that I am unsure about how to exploit this opportunity (common sense dictates that I should walk away from it as it is outside my expertise). I think it is a good idea to talk to the tree officer about the TPO constraints.

P.S. i am very envious

You don't need to be as you are fortunate to live in a stunning part of the world. I worked at Orielton Field Studies Centre, just outside Pembroke, many moons ago and had a fantastic time

You are correct in thinking that I am unsure about how to exploit this opportunity (common sense dictates that I should walk away from it as it is outside my expertise). I think it is a good idea to talk to the tree officer about the TPO constraints.

i would give my back teeth to have access and even ownership of 47 acres of mixed woodland. So many wood markets you can explore when you own the timber but as long as you do the work yourself or have someone trustworthy working with you.

Thats pretty much the first positive comment about this possible venture - thanks

My problem is that I haven't got the skills or experience to do the forestry work myself.

I like the idea of processing the wood into products for retail sale (not yet more hen hutches!) so I own the process from start to finish. My background is in internet marketing so that is the part that I can bring skills and experience to bear.

i would give my back teeth to have access and even ownership of 47 acres of mixed woodland. So many wood markets you can explore when you own the timber but as long as you do the work yourself or have someone trustworthy working with you.

Thats pretty much the first positive comment about this possible venture - thanks

My problem is that I haven't got the skills or experience to do the forestry work myself.

I like the idea of processing the wood into products for retail sale (not yet more hen hutches!) so I own the process from start to finish. My background is in internet marketing so that is the part that I can bring skills and experience to bear.

Some will baffle you with BS, acronyms and paperwork; others with any decent time spent as a woodman will cut the crap and make it much easier. Be careful who you pay. Frankly, pure consultants in my experience are a complete waste of time and money...

Completely agree, which is why I am seeking advice here from those who seem to have practical experience and enthusiasm

Some will baffle you with BS, acronyms and paperwork; others with any decent time spent as a woodman will cut the crap and make it much easier. Be careful who you pay. Frankly, pure consultants in my experience are a complete waste of time and money...

Completely agree, which is why I am seeking advice here from those who seem to have practical experience and enthusiasm

I have a Leylandii hedge which is about 100ft long and 12ft high in Rayleigh, Essex, that needs trimming, if you are looking for a one off job.

Please PM me if you are interested as I am getting a few quotes now.

I have a Leylandii hedge which is about 100ft long and 12ft high in Rayleigh, Essex, that needs trimming, if you are looking for a one off job.

Please PM me if you are interested as I am getting a few quotes now.

Again, thanks very much for your considered replies.

The woodland is in Cornwall.

If it was unregulated and you could clear-fell without replanting, then yes you could make a healthy ROI.

However thinning, or selective felling is more labour intensive, less productive and hence less profitable.

Good points. It is heavily regulated with that blanket TPO. Also I could not possibly clear-fell it, even if it was unregulated.

the fact you're even contemplating employing foresters (absolute madness) full-time says you would do well to pay a Forestry consultant to view the wood with you for an hour or two.

I was going to seek consultancy, if there was a consensus of opinion from those on this forum that investing in this woodland is a reasonably sensible idea.

So far, the consensus is that it is not commercially viable. I appreciate the thoughts about other uses such as paint balling, quad biking etc. Whereas shooting and maybe even paint-balling might be OK (but for shooting, I think the woodland isn't big enough), I wouldn't think about quad biking because of the damage and noise it would create.

As a hedge against inflation and as a safe haven for cash, then its perhaps one of the best places to invest. Relying more on the asset (land) appreciation, than the timber production.

Good point, particularly with the IHT and income tax advantages, however I wonder if agricultural land would be a better investment, though I do like that woodland for what it is, and what it could become with management.

Again, thanks very much for your considered replies.

The woodland is in Cornwall.

If it was unregulated and you could clear-fell without replanting, then yes you could make a healthy ROI.

However thinning, or selective felling is more labour intensive, less productive and hence less profitable.

Good points. It is heavily regulated with that blanket TPO. Also I could not possibly clear-fell it, even if it was unregulated.

the fact you're even contemplating employing foresters (absolute madness) full-time says you would do well to pay a Forestry consultant to view the wood with you for an hour or two.

I was going to seek consultancy, if there was a consensus of opinion from those on this forum that investing in this woodland is a reasonably sensible idea.

So far, the consensus is that it is not commercially viable. I appreciate the thoughts about other uses such as paint balling, quad biking etc. Whereas shooting and maybe even paint-balling might be OK (but for shooting, I think the woodland isn't big enough), I wouldn't think about quad biking because of the damage and noise it would create.

As a hedge against inflation and as a safe haven for cash, then its perhaps one of the best places to invest. Relying more on the asset (land) appreciation, than the timber production.

Good point, particularly with the IHT and income tax advantages, however I wonder if agricultural land would be a better investment, though I do like that woodland for what it is, and what it could become with management.

Wow, so many good replies already. Thanks

on 47 acres of softwood, you wont employ anyone, you wont buy any extraction equipment (unless your doing the work yourself), and you probably wont make any return on your investment (well not at that price per acre for softwood unless its close to final crop)

 

I would suggest very seriously if you considering this you seek specialist advice, as its too much ifs and guesswork without walking the site, predictions of timber yields, and knowing exactly what the terrain is like to work

 

the estimated value of the thinnings will depend on so many variables, what thinnings is it? first, second, what is the quality, if your getting sawlogs what grade are then? if its early thinnings then unless its very easy harvesting, it will be a cost operation.

you could be looking at a range from -£5/ton to +50/ton depending on the above.

 

You need to be realisitc about this, and seek some detail advice thats specific to the site for that level of investment

I don't think i explained that correctly as it is actually 47 acres of mixed woodland, mainly broad leaf, but with about a third given over to Douglas Firs.

The trees to be thinned are about 30 years old so they are substantial, however I do agree with your sentiments that the woodland seems too small for sustained profitability.

We run educational programs which provides the funds and resource to help maintain our 45 acres of ancient woods and SSSI called Holly Hayes Woods.

 

Also, have a look at Hill Holt, just google it and it will come up.

Thanks for the suggestions. I've had a look at your website and Hill Holt. I had been wondering about monetising the woodland via other means such as education, however its location is a bit off the beaten track and so is not that easy to get school mini-buses etc to it.

I'll give it more thought though

Wow, so many good replies already. Thanks

on 47 acres of softwood, you wont employ anyone, you wont buy any extraction equipment (unless your doing the work yourself), and you probably wont make any return on your investment (well not at that price per acre for softwood unless its close to final crop)

 

I would suggest very seriously if you considering this you seek specialist advice, as its too much ifs and guesswork without walking the site, predictions of timber yields, and knowing exactly what the terrain is like to work

 

the estimated value of the thinnings will depend on so many variables, what thinnings is it? first, second, what is the quality, if your getting sawlogs what grade are then? if its early thinnings then unless its very easy harvesting, it will be a cost operation.

you could be looking at a range from -£5/ton to +50/ton depending on the above.

 

You need to be realisitc about this, and seek some detail advice thats specific to the site for that level of investment

I don't think i explained that correctly as it is actually 47 acres of mixed woodland, mainly broad leaf, but with about a third given over to Douglas Firs.

The trees to be thinned are about 30 years old so they are substantial, however I do agree with your sentiments that the woodland seems too small for sustained profitability.

We run educational programs which provides the funds and resource to help maintain our 45 acres of ancient woods and SSSI called Holly Hayes Woods.

 

Also, have a look at Hill Holt, just google it and it will come up.

Thanks for the suggestions. I've had a look at your website and Hill Holt. I had been wondering about monetising the woodland via other means such as education, however its location is a bit off the beaten track and so is not that easy to get school mini-buses etc to it.

I'll give it more thought though

Wow, so many good replies already. Thanks

on 47 acres of softwood, you wont employ anyone, you wont buy any extraction equipment (unless your doing the work yourself), and you probably wont make any return on your investment (well not at that price per acre for softwood unless its close to final crop)

 

I would suggest very seriously if you considering this you seek specialist advice, as its too much ifs and guesswork without walking the site, predictions of timber yields, and knowing exactly what the terrain is like to work

 

the estimated value of the thinnings will depend on so many variables, what thinnings is it? first, second, what is the quality, if your getting sawlogs what grade are then? if its early thinnings then unless its very easy harvesting, it will be a cost operation.

you could be looking at a range from -£5/ton to +50/ton depending on the above.

 

You need to be realisitc about this, and seek some detail advice thats specific to the site for that level of investment

I don't think i explained that correctly as it is actually 47 acres of mixed woodland, mainly broad leaf, but with about a third given over to Douglas Firs.

The trees to be thinned are about 30 years old so they are substantial, however I do agree with your sentiments that the woodland seems too small for sustained profitability.

We run educational programs which provides the funds and resource to help maintain our 45 acres of ancient woods and SSSI called Holly Hayes Woods.

 

Also, have a look at Hill Holt, just google it and it will come up.

Thanks for the suggestions. I've had a look at your website and Hill Holt. I had been wondering about monetising the woodland via other means such as education, however its location is a bit off the beaten track and so is not that easy to get school mini-buses etc to it.

I'll give it more thought though

Is this wood in the middle of nowhere or is it close to habitation ?

It's about 6 miles from the nearest town.

Is this wood in the middle of nowhere or is it close to habitation ?

It's about 6 miles from the nearest town.

Is this wood in the middle of nowhere or is it close to habitation ?

It's about 6 miles from the nearest town.