Group purchase of Woodland
- Thread starter arctic hobo
- Start date
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Hey Guest, Early bird pricing on the Summer Moot (29th July - 10th August) available until April 6th, we'd love you to come. PLEASE CLICK HERE to early bird price and get more information.
Oh and I could have made this so you could see who chose what... this might be better in the long term but with money it's always best to keep it private until we all agree eh? 
Of course, it would all depend on where it is, what it is, and which currency you are talking about.
There's not much difference between USD and EUR, but there's a fair bit of difference between those and GBP. Or CHF.
I'd prefer the patch of woodland to be on an island either in the middle of a lake or river, or not too far offshore.
Those 46 acres sounded nice, until I saw that it's a narrow strip.
Keith.
There's not much difference between USD and EUR, but there's a fair bit of difference between those and GBP. Or CHF.
I'd prefer the patch of woodland to be on an island either in the middle of a lake or river, or not too far offshore.
Those 46 acres sounded nice, until I saw that it's a narrow strip.
Keith.
Just an idea:
I know they use in France some sort of legal contruction (not a Ltd. but something similar (not very familiar with British legal constructions for bussinesses)) when multiple people buy a house, which they all want to use - and they all own a percentage of the house - related to the amount in which the parted. You can't claim a percentage of the house (e.g. 1 sleepingroom and the garage) and forbid someone else to use it. It's just a paper construction.
This is not the time, nor the place to discuss it already in length, but out of interest is there something suited in the UK for this?
And just as an aside: I would suggest it being a bit in the centre of the UK - although when there is a good wood way up in Scotland (being it better then any other wood) this criterium would go overboard immediately.
46 acres ... hmmm how many footballfields (soccer) would that be???
Edit: I second Keith about the narrow strip thingie
I know they use in France some sort of legal contruction (not a Ltd. but something similar (not very familiar with British legal constructions for bussinesses)) when multiple people buy a house, which they all want to use - and they all own a percentage of the house - related to the amount in which the parted. You can't claim a percentage of the house (e.g. 1 sleepingroom and the garage) and forbid someone else to use it. It's just a paper construction.
This is not the time, nor the place to discuss it already in length, but out of interest is there something suited in the UK for this?
And just as an aside: I would suggest it being a bit in the centre of the UK
- although when there is a good wood way up in Scotland (being it better then any other wood) this criterium would go overboard immediately. 46 acres ... hmmm how many footballfields (soccer) would that be???
Edit: I second Keith about the narrow strip thingie
oh.... about 46!
Depending on where the land was, Scotland or England/Wales the appropriate laws would need to be adhered to. Scots law isn't the same as English.
Toddy
Depending on where the land was, Scotland or England/Wales the appropriate laws would need to be adhered to. Scots law isn't the same as English.
Toddy
This is only really here to get a feel for interest, rather than to propose a serious group investment. That is for others to do (I've no time, money or mobility )
) Great idea. Ideally we'd be looking for something in the South West or Wales, but we might consider somewhere else (even abroad) for the right deal.
match said:Any chance we could get this divided up according to where people are in the UK/world?
For example, I'd be happy putting a lot more money into a piece of woodland in Scotland/N. England than I would one in Cornwall
Just a thought...
Good thought Match, perhaps those going to the next Scottish meet could put some thought into this and we can all discuss it then.
sandbender said:
Good idea, If no one on the list is into land/conveyancing/property trusts, etc., I've got a lawyer friend who seems to be a mine of information about this. I could ask her for some information for discussion?
I agree with Match, land we can actually get to easily, rather than needing a day to drive to, would be much more appealing.
Cheers,
Toddy
Couldn't a donation/deal be struck with a larger, established woodland trust to keep the woodland in perpetuity? Perhaps with a clause that bushcraft activity such as firelighting be permitted as long as the users adhere to a few conditions ("Do not burn down the entire woodland") etc? I'd pitch in if I knew it would remain woodland forever, and someone would be looking after it *forever*.
Sorry for making a quote of my own post but this could turn out to be something really great,i guess it ill depend on the numbers interested and how much each can afford to spend ect.CLEM said:This sounds really exciting
If this is the way the majority want to go then I can recommend three Woodland Trusts, off the top of my head, who would be very interested in attracting new funding with access rights attached. I would point out however, that our aims may not truly mesh with the stated intents of the Woodland Trusts who would simply see 'our' area as part of their larger schemes. On the other hand, it would mean that we would have fewer logistical issues looking after the land and deciding who's supposed to do what, and presumably reduce or simplify any on-going expenses too.
Cheers,
Toddy
Cheers,
Toddy
Not that buying any land in GB would be desirable to me, but I have a suggestion. Why not divide the rights of your land based on your level of investment. Rights on a lower level will apply to the higher levels too.
Example: 10000£ Big-game hunting, 5000£ Small game hunting and net fishing, 1000£ rod fishing, 100£ foraging.
You may for example also set a limit to how big lumber (for cabins or tents) one can cut based on your investment.
Example: 7500£ up to 20cm diametre (if one is to make a nice forest maybe that is a suitable upper limit). 3000£ up to 10 cm. Below 1000£ under 3 cm.
And a good rule could be that noone can sell resources or rights from the area to outsiders.
Torjus Gaaren
Example: 10000£ Big-game hunting, 5000£ Small game hunting and net fishing, 1000£ rod fishing, 100£ foraging.
You may for example also set a limit to how big lumber (for cabins or tents) one can cut based on your investment.
Example: 7500£ up to 20cm diametre (if one is to make a nice forest maybe that is a suitable upper limit). 3000£ up to 10 cm. Below 1000£ under 3 cm.
And a good rule could be that noone can sell resources or rights from the area to outsiders.
Torjus Gaaren
Eric_Methven
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Some interesting points Torjusg. I don't think it would work quite like you suggest though. First of all, it's unlikely we'd be doing any hunting other than catching rabbits or other 'vermin'. Fishing's a possibility if there's sufficient water to do such an activity. Whether anyone would actually want to build a log cabin is another point - maybe we all want to keep it as primitive as possible while still managing the woods.
I agree that people who put more in the way of cash (or kind) investment should have more rights/say in how the project is run, and how it's decided is up for group discussion right enough, but all that is way down the line.
I also think a clause should be included that states that anyone wishing to sell their share must first offer it to people within the group at a fair market value. (We don't want some sly property developer buying up 51% of the shares and tearing the whole wood down to build a shopping centre).
Eric
I agree that people who put more in the way of cash (or kind) investment should have more rights/say in how the project is run, and how it's decided is up for group discussion right enough, but all that is way down the line.
I also think a clause should be included that states that anyone wishing to sell their share must first offer it to people within the group at a fair market value. (We don't want some sly property developer buying up 51% of the shares and tearing the whole wood down to build a shopping centre).
Eric
Poll's a few hours old, and already £18K in the virtual kitty...
It really would have to be done on regional lines - I'd be a bit reluctant to invest in anything more than 2 to 3 hours drive away.
It really would have to be done on regional lines - I'd be a bit reluctant to invest in anything more than 2 to 3 hours drive away.
Doc said:
I agree Doc.
I've been talking with my lawyer friend about our interest in a group land purchase; seems Scottish land laws are different from English/Welsh ones anyway. However she has given me food for thought re Trusts and Associations, and I hope she will come up with a few discussion starting points for us.
It all actually sounds pretty straight forward. Aims, rights and responsibilities, including services, taxes, fees & grants; and decisions on voting and selling and buying shares/portions.
The other suggestion is that it might be easier to rent a piece of land, much as shooting syndicates do, and see how we all get on before we commit to a group purchase.
I have also been told (by a green activist) that it is sometimes worth while approaching the Forestry Commission, in certain locales, and, "Asking what the craic is about getting permission to look after a parcel of ground."
Cheers,
Toddy
