Crab Wood, Farleigh, Surrey, CR6

Crab Wood is somewhat of a rarity; standing such a short distance from the capital yet having a truly rural setting that feels much further removed from the city.

The geographical location is a great benefit for this wood; offering far more than just immense investment potential but also the opportunity for woodland recreation and engagement with the natural environment in a highly accessible location within the M25.

There is more than just location that makes this woodland stand out. It is a picture book example of a classic English woodland and all the natural delight that this brings. In spring, a gleaming incandescent haze of bluebells illuminates the forest floor beneath the vivid green emerging leaves of mature oak trees.

This magnificent floral display is an uplifting sight that gradually gives way in late spring to the rich variety of woodland grasses and shrubs that populate the woodland in summer.

The wide range of tree species at Crab Wood provides a natural resilience to this environment. Biodiversity in a woodland is an important benefit that is inherent protection from nature. If one tree species is vulnerable then there are others that will still thrive in its place. There are extensive areas of oak and hazel at Crab Wood, along with wild cherry, chestnut and hornbeam. As with much of our English Woodland, ash trees have recently become adversely affected by disease and the population here presents an opportunity for replanting infected areas to demonstrate sound commercial management and realise some returns from the timber.

After the heat of high summer when the nurturing shade of the immense woodland canopy provides cooling shelter for the wildlife living within the wood, the autumn provides equally dramatic natural displays. A myriad of gold and yellow colours lights up the landscape before the leaves fall to the floor to form a protective wintery blanket. This covering is essential for not only the survival of the invertebrates and small woodland mammals during the colder months but as fertile ground for the emerging green shoots of the following spring.

Boundaries

The boundaries are defined to the east by a bridleway and to the south by open fields. To the north east, a field boundary leads onto an established woodland track which follows the northern edge of the wood.

The western boundary runs north to south through the wood, just to the west of open field to the south of the wood

Tenure

The freehold is available including any sporting rights that pass with the land. There is no VAT chargeable on the purchase price.

Ownership

The benefits of woodland ownership have recently become more widely acknowledged. There is a good deal of flexibility when acquiring woodland to do so in such a way that can assist with inheritance tax planning for future generations. In addition, during the period of ownership there is currently no income tax payable on sales of timber from the woodland. There are also capital gains tax benefits relating to the increase in value of trees as standing timber and there are no business rates or annual taxes on woodland.

Planning for the best financial outcome from woodland ownership starts with a well conceived Woodland Management Plan. This is a site-specific document that sets out the long term aims the woodland with the focus of commercial management in mind. At Legacy Forestry, we provide buyers with a bespoke Woodland Management Plan drafted by a forestry professional who will not only be able to advise on your personal aims for managing the woodland but also have the local contacts to contract any forestry operations necessary to carry out specific objectives.

There is also a further consideration that comes with the opportunity to own woodland. Apart from HMRC’s favourable tax treatment of commercial forestry investments, woodland ownership also brings with it the enormous additional rewards of stewardship of the countryside and a chance to conserve, manage and enjoy a precious and important environment.

Access

A recently improved access track provides a right of way to Crab Wood through neighbouring fields to the eastern boundary of the wood. There are a number of possible further entry points along this boundary to create an improved access to the extent considered necessary by a new owner of the wood in order to realise their own management objectives in accordance with their management plan.

A bridleway runs along the eastern edge of the wood and a footpath runs at a central point north to south.

Location

The scarcity of land around the capital makes this a very unusual opportunity. Warlingham itself is a sought-after residential area from which there is easy access from the M25.

Viewing and Directions

Please contact Dan Sharp on 07780 900 192 to arrange a visit. You are welcome to visit this wood by yourself, but as many woodlands do not have mobile phone reception or internet access, please try and make sure you have a copy of these sales details with you. Please be aware of potential hazards within the woodland when viewing.