Crimp Wood is an established mixed broadleaf woodland featuring sweet chestnut, oak, birch, alder, hazel, holly and beech. The northeast side of the wood comprises mature oak with an understorey of birch natural regeneration and some mature sweet chestnut coppice. There are also patches of alder found along the stream edges. Chestnut pollards are found along the field boundary. The south and west side of the wood comprises mature sweet chestnut coppice, with occasional oak standards. The chestnut could be brought back into active coppice management as a sequence of approx. 0.5 hectare coupes. Of course, it will conveniently regrow.

Crimp Wood has been designated as Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland (ASNW) by Natural England. ASNW is woodland that has been under constant tree cover since at least 1600AD. It is valued as a rich reserve of biodiversity. There is an approved Management Plan and Felling Licence for Skents Wood (of which Crimp Wood is a part) – details of this are available upon request. The Management Plan is not mandatory, but it is full of good advice, and a lot of background information which will certainly be interesting and useful.

The management plan notes that bird species including garden warbler, spotted flycatcher, willow warbler, lesser redpoll, lesser spotted woodpecker and woodcock might be present within the woodland. It is also noted that bat species will be present and will make use of the woodland and open areas within it for foraging. There is plenty of opportunity to enhance the habitat for wildlife here, from the simple provision of bird and bat boxes to the management of the tree cover and ground flora. Muntjac, roe and fallow deer have been recorded in the vicinity of the woodland.

Crimp Wood is extremely peaceful, surrounded by privately owned woodlands on three sides and fields to the east. It features some splendid mature oaks and delivers a stunning display of bluebells in the Spring. The wood also provides a plentiful supply of firewood. A rustic bench has been installed in a clearing amongst the oaks and broadleaves – the perfect place for private family camping.

Access to Crimp Wood is via a set of double metal gates off Free Heath Road (an owner will be provided the combination number for these locked gates). A stoned track leads to the ride stop entrance to Crimp Wood. Here owners can drive in and park a car within the wood itself.

There are no public footpaths within the wood or adjoining the wood.

The wood is sold with the sporting rights.

The owner of Crimp Wood will be asked to enter a covenant to ensure the quiet and peaceful enjoyment of 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. The sweet chestnut would provide a good source of firewood, or durable timber for making posts. Alternatively, an owner could encourage a more varied and diverse wood to develop by ‘singling’ the chestnut and planting mixed native broadleaves. You can read more about this in our blog. The oaks may benefit from halo thinning, by felling a few trees immediately adjacent to them to allow more light to reach the main crown. Of course, the wood also lends itself to family camping or simply allows a new owner to observe and enjoy the wildlife.

The management plan suggests that during the 16th and 17th centuries Skents Wood would have provided important fuel wood for the many iron furnaces then present in the vicinity. It seems likely that what would have originally been oak woodland with hornbeam coppice was converted to mainly sweet chestnut coppice in the late 19th century (as there are not many very large coppice stools in evidence). It is understood that the woodland previously formed part of the Bayham Abbey estate of the Marquess of Camden, which was broken up in the 1990s.

There are several important historical sites all within a short distance of Crimp Wood. The English Heritage site of Bayham Abbey is approx. 3 miles north and features ruins dating back to the 13th century. Scotney Castle is approx. 3 miles away – this impressive 14th century moated castle is well worth a visit. For those who love water, Bewl Water is only 4 miles from Crimp Wood and offers various water sports, as well as cycling and fishing. There is a 15th century pub called The Elephants Head in Hook Green, walking distance from Crimp Wood.