Woodlands For Sale South East England

Barnabys Wood, near Maidstone, Kent. 8.50 acres (approx.) of mature broadleaved woodland £42,000 freehold [#174].

An interesting broadleaved woodland on level ground with excellent access. Within easy reach of the M20/M25 and south and east London.

Barnabys Wood is a fascinating mixture of open woodland with large mature Oak trees, more mixed age broadleaves under mature Oaks and a small area of young mixed broadleaves.

About one quarter of the woodland has recently had the underwood coppiced, leaving large mature Oaks with very open ground between them. This area will regenerate from the coppice stools to re-grow another generation of mainly Ash, with some Hawthorn, Hazel and Field Maple.

Beside this area is a second quarter that was felled 6-8 years ago and is now regenerating well with mixed broadleaves. The trees are quite dense and about 15-20 feet high. Interesting paths have been cut through this section to a small central glade.

The ground vegetation includes plentiful bluebells, wood anemones, celandine and wild strawberries, while wildlife includes buzzards and kestrels, plus foxes and badgers.

The remaining half of the woodland area still retains its mixed broadleaved understorey, with a canopy of large mature Oaks. This gives a new owner the opportunity to leave this area as it is, or alternatively continue the coppicing operation to produce a valuable supply of firewood which is now much in demand in these days of escalating energy costs.

The woodland has excellent access along a hard private road which then runs inside and along the length of the northern boundary.

2.03 acres of the woodland is occupied by “adverse possession”, and thus does not appear on the Land registry title. There is a Statuary Declaration confirming continuous occupation for 13 years.

There is a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) on the whole forest. This does not prevent normal forest management operations, including felling, as can be seen from the recent coppicing operations in various parts of the forest. It simply means that the agreement of the local Tree Officer must be obtained prior to felling.

There are restrictive covenants on this property that prevent certain activities. Please click on the link below to view the covenants.

From the M20 junction 8, take the Maidstone direction along the A20 (signed for Bearsted). After ¾ mile turn right into the narrow Crismill Road. If you pass ‘Potted Garden’ nursery then you have gone too far.

Continue up this narrow road, under the M20, and turn left at the other side along Crismill Lane. Around a sharp right hand bend the tarmac will finish but the road still has a good hard surface.

After about 300 metres you will come to a padlocked steel gate on your right hand side. You should park here, taking care not to obstruct either the gateway or the road. Both are in use at all times.

From this point you need to pass around the gate and continue straight down the road for 300 metres, over a stream then ahead for another 250 metres until you see a wooden post with a blue painted top on your right hand side.

At this post you need to turn right along another hard road for a further 500 metres until you come to wooden posts on both sides of the track with red painted tops. Our ‘For Sale’ sign will be in front of you. This is the start of Barnabys Wood, point A on the plan below.

OS Landranger Series sheet: 188.

Locked gate by parking point: TQ 818 561.

Centre of Wood: TQ 823 555.

Nearest postcode:  ME17 1XH.

The northern boundary is the edge of the forest road, indicated by posts with red painted tops.

The western boundary is the centre line of the hedge with the field beyond.

The eastern boundary is indicated by posts with red painted tops.

The southern boundary of the registered title is indicated by posts with red painted tops and the unregistered area is the fence along the railway.

The woodland comes with the benefit of full sporting rights.

These are owned and included in the sale except where reserved by statute.

There is a right of way for the owner of Barnabys Wood from the gate on Crismill Lane, through the locked gate, all the way to the woodland boundary, for all purposes at all times.

There is a right of way along the forest road that runs inside the northern boundary of Barnabys Wood for the benefit of the woodland beyond.

A shared maintenance clause covers both these rights of way.

A public footpath runs just inside the south west corner for about 50 metres.

There are no known fencing obligations.

You are welcome to view this woodland at any time during daylight hours. We do ask that you print these particulars and take them with you, mainly so you can correctly identify the boundaries and access points.

Once you have seen this woodland, you can contact us by telephone on 01248 364362, or by email at info@woods4sale.co.uk.

Plans, areas and particulars are for reference only. They have been carefully checked by us but we cannot guarantee their accuracy and do not form a part of any contract. Prospective purchasers must satisfy themselves, and we will give as much help as possible with all information we have available.