Shetland Wood comprises sweet chestnut coppice with mature oak standards. The north side of the wood will reach full maturity in approximately 6-8 years and the south side in approximately 12-13 years. The east side of the woodland includes birch, willow, hazel, hornbeam and ash.

The chestnut coppice could be harvested, and the standard oak trees should be retained where possible. When seasoned the chestnut could be used as firewood in a wood-fired boiler to provide your central heating. In the coming years this woodland has enormous potential to provide a steady and sustainable supply of excellent firewood. 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.

Shetland 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 and Felling Licence for Newlands Wood (of which Shetland 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.

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.

- An ancient semi-natural mixed woodland within the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

- Good quality chestnut coppice providing a lifetime supply of firewood.

- There is a recent brush cut path that begins at the entrance and runs round the boundaries of the woodland, as well as right into the heart of the woodland.

- A small pond.

- Great access and a convenient shared timber stacking area to facilitate the management of the wood.

Access to Shetland 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 Shetland Wood. Here owners are able to drive in and park a car within the wood itself.

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

The wood is sold with the sporting rights.

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

The wood lends itself to both amenity use as well as an opportunity to learn how to manage a small chestnut coppice wood. Or a new owner could simply relax and picnic amongst the trees and see what birds can be spotted in the woods.

It seems likely that what would have originally been an 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). There are some features of potential local archaeological interest in the woodland including a woodbank within the wood, and a couple of small pits which are most likely to be a collapsed ‘denehole’ (historically used for chalk extraction for marling of adjacent agricultural land).

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.