Woodland for sale

Dales Wood - about 7 ¼ acres

Extremely private sweet chestnut coppice wood with great access and a plentiful supply of firewood.

Dales Wood is situated about 5 miles north-east of Maidstone in Kent. It is within the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). It is situated in the heart of a larger woodland known as Newlands Wood. Tracks border the wood on all sides. It has great access along a stoned track to the south, west and north of the wood. A grassy track runs along the east boundary. It is an extremely private wood. The whole woodland is within a Kent Wildlife Trust Local Wildlife Site.

Dales Wood provides a fantastic opportunity to own a chestnut coppiced woodland and would offer enjoyment for generations to come. Bluebells flourish in the spring, and there are other ancient woodland indicators including a woodbank inside the wood.

It is worth noting that woodland owners may be able to get relief from Inheritance Tax and Capital Gains Tax. There may be adjacent woodland available here. If this is of interest, please contact the area managers for this region - [use Contact Agent Button]

The purchasers of the woodland will be asked to enter into a covenant to ensure the quiet and peaceful enjoyment of adjoining woodlands and meadows.

Dales Wood is a mixed age sweet chestnut coppice which will be ready for coppicing in 5-7 years. It could be harvested in a series of small blocks knows as ‘coupes’. Hazel, hornbeam, field maple, birch and oak are found in the wood. It is worth noting that Woodlands.co.uk offer £300 towards a course for a new owner. This would provide the opportunity to learn the skills required to resume coppicing in the future. In the coming years this woodland has enormous potential to provide a steady and sustainable supply of excellent firewood.

Dales Wood has been designated as Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland (ASNW) by Natural England. This is woodland that has been under constant tree cover since at least 1600AD. It is valued as a rich reserve of biodiversity. There is a draft Management Plan for Newlands Wood (of which Dales Wood is a part) – details of this are available upon request. It is noted in management plan that stands are generally well stocked; the chestnut is of good quality, and they would lend themselves to management on a relatively short rotation, providing timber for either commercial or private use.

Wildlife

The Woodland Wildlife toolkit suggests the range of bird species including garden warbler, hawfinch, spotted flycatcher, willow warbler, lesser redpoll, lesser spotted woodpecker, tree pipit, marsh tit and woodcock might be present within the woodland, either breeding or over-wintering. A new owner could install some bird boxes and build a simple hide to observe which species are present.

Access, tracks and footpaths

Access to Dales Wood is via double metal gates off Court Lane (an owner will be provided a key for this locked gate). A stoned track leads to the ride stop entrance to Dales Wood. Here owners are able to drive in and park a car within the wood itself. A convenient timber stacking area by the main gates will be shared with other woodland owners here.

There are no public footpaths within the wood. The North Downs Way is accessible approx. 1 mile from the wood.

Rights and covenants

The wood is sold with the sporting rights.

The owner of Dales Wood will be asked to enter a covenant to ensure the quiet and peaceful enjoyment of the wood.

Activities

A fantastic family wood - great for camping and numerous outdoor activities. Dales Wood provides the opportunity for a new owner to manage a coppice wood and to learn and practice green woodworking. Why not set up a private camp for overnight stays, or simply come for a relaxing day out and picnic within the trees, or see what birds can be spotted in the woods?

Local area and history

There are some features of potential local archaeological interest in the woodland including a woodbank inside the wood.

The wood is approx. 1 mile from the Kent Showground, home to the annual Kent County Show. Held in July, this well-established show includes animals, horses, vintage vehicles and retail stands for a celebration of the best in the county. Maidstone is approximately 5 miles south-west of the wood.

The North Downs Way is accessible approx. 1 mile from the wood.

Directions

Please note, for satellite navigation, use the post code ME14 3HF. This will take you to within approx. 0.5 miles of the main entrance gates to Newlands Wood (of which Dales Wood is a part). Coordinates to the main gates leading to Dales Wood (off Court Lane) are: N51.313599, E0.584996. To find the wood follow the instructions below.

- Leave the M20 at Junction 7 head north on the A249, Detling Hill / Sittingbourne Road.

- Pass under the pedestrian bridge (Jade’s Bridge) and after approx. 0.5 mile take the right turn onto Scragged Oak Road.

- Continue for approx. 1 mile (past the Kent Showground) until you reach Court Lane on your left. Turn down this road and continue for approx.350 meters.

- You will reach a set of double metal gates on the right-hand side with a ‘Woodlands for Sale’ sign on it.

Once you arrive at the gates:

- Park in front of the metal gates (leaving space for people to get in and out the gates) and walk round the side of the gate and up the track.

- Follow the main stoned track for approx. 500 meters. (You will pass a turning to the right but walk past this). At the fork take the right fork along the stoned track for approx. 50m.

- The ride stop entrance to Dales Wood is on the right-hand side of the track with its boundaries marked in ORANGE.