Woodland for sale

Hartbeech Wood is in the North Downs AONB and is classified as ancient Woodland on MAGIC, the Government's natural environment website. There are widespread bluebells, an indicator species of ancient woodland, veteran trees including the old pollarded hornbeams which are an ancient form of boundary marking. The wood is mostly well-grown sweet chestnut coppice which is a enduring hardwood and has multiple uses, including of course firewood. Most of the wood is easily walked through so exploring is a simple task.

Trees

Sweet chestnut dominates but there are some mature oaks, some mature beech and large standard chestnut trees. Previously beech has been planted at the last coppicing of the chestnut but the young beech have been outgrown by the chestnut and would benefit greatly from small amount of halo felling to give them more light and the opportunity to grown on unhindered. It would be worthwhile identifying the best young beech trees. Young yews are spread thoughout the wood and if left will grow into large mature trees.

Wildlife

A herd of deer wander though the whole area, their resting places at night can be seen where the ground is scraped clear of vegetation. Hartbeech Wood is part of Denge Wood, which is full of the most interesting flora and fauna including lots of orchids and twyblades and the nationally rare Duke of Burgundy butterfly. Denge Wood doesn't have a wildlife designation but is certainly worthy of one. You'll find lots of bluebells in season.

Access, tracks and footpaths

Access to the ridestop entrance on the southern boundary of Hartbeech Wood is over ¾ mile along a private forest track, A-B on the plan, although a fair distance it is a very pleasant walk. There is a full right of way in perpetuity, from the public highway in Garlinge Green (by gate A). The track leaves the public highway at gate A then for about 900 metres it then passes through the main woodland down to the valley bottom, here there is a sharp right turn and for 250 metres the track passes though chestnuts up the slope of the valley side, round to the right by the Foresty Commission's woodland and comes out into an opening. Here the track turns left and for about 270 metres winds through mature woodland until coming to another track. Hartbeech Wood is just to the right on the left side. The access is good for normal family car for most of the year, although a 4X4 would be preferable in the winter.

Rights and covenants

There is a full right of way in perpetuity from the public highway at gate A to the wood and along the wood's frontage. The track to the entrance is all stoned.

As is the case for all our woodlands, the purchaser will be asked to enter into a covenant which serves to protect the peace and quiet of the woodland.

Local area and history

Garlinge village name derivation is obscure but may be Old English from Geon-ling (gren-hlinc), meaning green lynch, (green hill or green bank) evolving through Grenling, Grelinge or Gerlinge, Grellnch, Garlyng and Garlings to its present form.

Around Canterbury, much of the land is covered by very extensive areas of woodland. Looking in a south-west direction down from high on Chartham Downs, you can see spread out below the huge forest areas including Denge, Pennypot, Eggringe, Capel and several other smaller woodlands - in total some eight square kilometres of semi-natural ancient woodland.