Dartmoor Wood £89,000 Freehold
- Detling, near Maidstone, Kent
- about 6 acres
- South East England
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The rustic bench in a private clearing
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Chestnut coppice regrowth
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Fungi
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A sweet chestnut shell
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A private walk track through the coppice
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Mature trees feature
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Ash
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Hazel
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An old coppiced chestnut stool
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The ride stop entrance to Dartmoor Wood
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The stoned track leading to the wood entrance
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The stoned track along the north boundary of the wood
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The unsurfaced track along the east boundary of the wood
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Post line boundary
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Sunshine through the Chestnut coppice
Description
Dartmoor Wood is situated in a diverse agricultural area of Kent with horse paddocks surrounding the woods and a herd of Highland cattle over the road. A stoned track from the road leads to the entrance to the wood, enabling all year-round access. Bluebells can be found in the spring and fungus in the autumn. There is plenty to discover with every season.
A private walking track meanders through the chestnut coppice to a sunny clearing where a rustic bench has recently been installed. There is an old woodbank found within the wood which may have been part of an enclosure at some point in the past.
Dartmoor 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 part of a larger woodland known as Newlands Wood. The whole woodland is within a Kent Wildlife Trust Local Wildlife Site (download the citation and map from here).
Trees
The good quality chestnut will be ready for cutting in approx. 4 - 6 years and would provide a steady supply of firewood, or durable timber for making posts. Chestnut regrows at an incredible rate, and an owner may choose to coppice in a series of ‘coupes’ which will help retain woodland cover. Other broadleaf species found in the wood include hazel, birch, ash, hazel and holly and there are several mature oak standards and hornbeams. The birch lends itself to management for a sustainable firewood supply that could be easily harvested without machinery.
Dartmoor 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 Dartmoor Wood is a part) – details of this are available upon request.
Wildlife
A new owner could install some bird boxes and build a simple hide to observe which species are present. 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.
Features
- An ancient semi-natural mixed woodland within the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
- Good quality chestnut coppice potentially providing a lifetime supply of firewood.
- Some splendid oak standards.
- Rustic bench in a small private clearing.
- Great access and a convenient shared timber stacking area to facilitate the management of the wood.
Access, tracks and footpaths
Access is via double metal gates off Court Lane. A new owner will be provided with a key for this locked gate. A stoned track leads to the ride stop entrance to Dartmoor 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.
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.Activities
Dartmoor Wood is extremely well-suited to family forestry, from thinning the younger trees from around the oaks to coppicing the sweet chestnut.
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.
Whatever woodland project most appeals, new owners can be assured that there is a wealth of local knowledge from forestry contractors and existing woodland owners.
Local area and history
This manageably sized woodland is likely to have originally been an oak woodland with hornbeam coppice, converted to mainly sweet chestnut coppice in the late 19th century.
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.
Wood maps
Wood map
Boundaries
The boundaries of the wood are indicated with BLUE markings.
Find this wood
Location
- OS Landranger: OS No. 188
- Grid ref: TQ 803 604
- Nearest post code: ME14 3HF
- GPS coordinates: 51.3143, 0.586508
Location map
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 Dartmoor Wood is a part) as shown by the red dot on the map. Coordinates to the main gates leading to Dartmoor 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 gate:
• 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 track approx. 220 meters. Take the first right turn. The entrance to Dartmoor Wood is approx. 50 meters on the right-hand side with its boundaries marked in BLUE.
• Sat Nav note: The post code ME14 3HF is for the point shown on the location map by the red dot.
How we support our buyers
Membership of the small woodland owners’ group
£300 for a woodland course of your choice
One year's free membership of the royal forestry society
Please note this wood is owned by woodlands.co.uk.
Our regional managers are often out working in our woodlands, so if you email an offer and want to be sure it has been received, please phone our manager on their mobile phone. The first offer at the stated price which is accepted, whether by phone or email, has priority.
Please take care when viewing as the great outdoors can contain unexpected hazards and woodlands are no exception. You should exercise common sense and caution, such as wearing appropriate footwear and avoiding visiting during high winds.
These particulars are for guidance only and, though believed to be correct, do not form part of any contract. Woodland Investment Management Ltd hereby give notice under section 21 of the Estate Agents Act 1979 of their interest in the land being sold.
Dartmoor Wood is a flat and easily accessible private woodland featuring chestnut coppice and some magnificent old oaks.
