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Photos

Description

Situated five miles north of the 17^th century town of Petworth, Old Beech Wood forms part of a larger forested area known as Roundwyck Copse.

Mostly a replanted Ancient Woodland, the copse sits among south facing fertile loam over clay soils with a canopy largely comprising mature Norway spruce, Douglas fir (a valuable knot free soft wood) and a number of mixed broadleaves. These include oak, ash and beech, particularly towards the southwest of the copse where majestic veteran beech straddle an earth bund. Below this is a lush shrub layer consisting of hazel coppice, regenerating beech, birch, hawthorn and holly. Vibrant green moss carpets the ground layer as well as broad buckler-fern, blackberry and occasional primrose during spring.

Wildlife is abundant; roe deer, fox, badger, buzzard, owl and numerous songbirds are frequent visitors. Far reaching rural views can be enjoyed from the level northern end, with the interesting topography sloping and undulating southwards, meeting with a gentle stream that flanks the southern boundary. A number of flat open spaces offer good locations for camping and bushcraft - the hazel coppice is a useful and malleable material for this.   

Old Beech Wood offers many recreational and woodland opportunities and is serviced by a private hard track that is navigable with a two-wheel drive vehicle.

There is an Article 4 Direction preventing some types of permitted development at the woodland.

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If It Were Mine

I would firstly yield a little of the younger ash for firewood as it burns well without the need to season the logs, then set about clearing an area by the stream for a secluded camping spot. Being a keen craftsman and with appropriate licences in place, I would be keen to carefully select one of the excellent Douglas firs for carpentry.

Please remember some management operations require approval and/or a licence.

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To View This Woodland

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

Download

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Residential Planning Permission

You are extremely unlikely to get residential planning permission for this woodland.

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Directions & Access

• From Petworth, leave town heading north on the A283, past the front entrance to Petworth House.
• After 3½ miles turn right at a junction signed for Balls Cross and Ebernoe.
• After 2 miles you will come to a T junction. Turn left in the direction signed for Northchapel.
• After about 100 metres turn right by a red post office box along Scratchings Lane.
• After a further ¾ mile you will cross over a small stone bridge. Immediately after, you will see a private tarmac drive lined with small logs on the left with a sign saying Howick/Howick Farm (point A on the plan below).
• Please park safely on the council road, not on the private drive and being careful not to obstruct through traffic from the private drive.
• From here, walk up the private drive for about 60 metres and you will come to a double wooden gate on your left (point B). Open the gates (please close them behind you) and after a few metres you will come to a secondary single locked wooden gate. Climb over the gate (sorry we do not provide keys for viewings).
• From here, continue for 650 metres along the hard forest track and you will eventually come to a split in the track (point C) where the hard-surfaced track goes off downhill to the left.
• Continue down the hard track and up the opposite side for 270 metres, passing over a stream and then turn right at the top of the track (point D).
• Continue along the track for 190 metres and you will arrive at the woodland (point E), indicated by blue painted wooden posts.

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Boundaries

• The north boundary is the agricultural fence with fields beyond.
• The east boundary is the top of the bank on the edge of the sunken track, indicated by yellow and orange paint on trees and wooden posts.
• The southern boundary is the centre of the stream.
• The west boundary is indicated by blue paint on trees and wooden posts.

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Sporting Rights

The sporting rights are owned and included in the sale. They are not let.

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Mineral Rights

The mineral rights are owned and included in the sale except as reserved by statute.

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Rights Of Way

• There is a right of way for the owners of Old Beech Wood from the gate all the way to the woodland at the north west boundary (BCDE).
• A right of way is reserved over the route EF for the benefit of woodland beyond.
• A maintenance clause covers all the shared rights of way with liability according to use.
• There is a public footpath that runs along the track between point EF on the plan.
• The right of way from the council highway up to the woodland gate (point AB) is clearly provided for in the Land Registry title.

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Fencing Liabilities

There are no known fencing obligations.

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Restrictive Covenants

There are some restrictive covenants to protect the woodland and the environment. Please click on the button below to view these.

Read More

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How To Buy

This woodland is being sold on a fixed price basis. We require the following information in writing before we mark a woodland as sold and take it off the market (please ensure you have funds in place before doing this):

• The name and price of the woodland
• Confirmation you have viewed the woodland
• Full name (including middle names), address, phone number and date of birth of all legal purchasers
• Please confirm how you will be funding the purchase and that you have cleared funds available
• The full contact details of your instructed solicitor (including name of company, contact name, email address, telephone number and full address)

Please click on the button below for more information.

Buy This Woodland

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Maps & Plans

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Note

Plans, areas and particulars are for reference only. They have been carefully checked by us but we cannot guarantee their accuracy and they 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.

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