New land owner indeed of advice and guidance

[Chalmers]

I'm sure there would be opportunities for using the land outside of renting. The difficulty, as others have alluded to, is with the distance involved, profits are likely to be minimal once management fees are paid to whoever operates the site on your behalf. A decent land agent could be worth contacting, to discuss your options.

Thank you. We didn't think of a land agent. Definitely worth looking in to.

 

[Campani]

I'll be amazed if you ever make the £5000 back you paid for clearing it. I would think your best bet if you don't want to sell is to find a local farmer to graze it for you, depending on the land you may be able to charge rent for this, but I would think it is more likely you won't find anyone who will pay. You may even need to pay for someone to graze it.

Have you considered planting it as woodland under a woodland creation grant? the correct grant should pay for ongoing management and provide a small income?

 

[Lofty1984]

Thank you. We didn't think of a land agent. Definitely worth looking in to.

You will be throwing more money at it with a land agent

 

[Cowmansam]

Look into building would be my first port of call is the land just off up a lane or is it near other buildings

 

[Chalmers]

I'll be amazed if you ever make the £5000 back you paid for clearing it. I would think your best bet if you don't want to sell is to find a local farmer to graze it for you, depending on the land you may be able to charge rent for this, but I would think it is more likely you won't find anyone who will pay. You may even need to pay for someone to graze it.

Have you considered planting it as woodland under a woodland creation grant? the correct grant should pay for ongoing management and provide a small income?

We are not looking at getting the 5k back. It was what it cost us to clear the land. As I said we are 300 miles away and wasn't down there for long to find someone to help clear the land. Until it was cleared we didn't know how the ground looked, we would like to see it getting some use rather than just letting it go. Not consider woodland gran but will definitely be looking into now. Thank you very much.

 

[Chalmers]

Look into building would be my first port of call is the land just off up a lane or is it near other buildings

Just off up a lane.

 

[Cowmansam]

Makes it a bit tricky then not impossible though

 

[Vader]

The ground was very overgrown with brambles weeds and general wild plants. It was knee deep and with out cutting it back we could make out what the ground was like. To me it looks like good firm grown but im no expert so I could be wrong.. it has a slight gradient to it as well.

5k to clear brambles and weeds on 5 acre??
Seen you coming and leg lifted comes to mind!!!
Couple hrs with a flail topper....

 

[Chalmers]

Makes it a bit tricky then not impossible though

Very true. Not definitely but I think we can only put a movable dwelling on it. Like a static caravan etc..

 

[Chalmers]

5k to clear brambles and weeds on 5 acre??
Seen you coming and leg lifted comes to mind!!!
Couple hrs with a flail sou

 

[gone up the hill]

I'll be amazed if you ever make the £5000 back you paid for clearing it. I would think your best bet if you don't want to sell is to find a local farmer to graze it for you, depending on the land you may be able to charge rent for this, but I would think it is more likely you won't find anyone who will pay. You may even need to pay for someone to graze it.

Have you considered planting it as woodland under a woodland creation grant? the correct grant should pay for ongoing management and provide a small income?

Are you nuts??

Planting land into trees is the worst thing the OP could do!

The small income you talk about will be lost in the drop of land value let alone the cost of looking after said trees!

Who in their right mind would plant trees on land worth 8/10k an acre to only see that land worth 3/4k an acre in 10 years time?

 

[Formatted]

Couple of hours with a flail mower? Think you've been shafted...

 

[Chalmers]

Sounds like a lot I agree but they were they for 5 days a team of 6 people. Cutting all dead wood and fallen trees from wooded area. Clearing all land including boundary area. Wasn't a quick days work. I did see pictures, heavy equipment was used.

 

[gone up the hill]

Very true. Not definitely but I think we can only put a movable dwelling on it. Like a static caravan etc..

You have to show a need to put a movable dwelling on it unless it is to be used as short term holiday accom ( ie glamping huts for example )

Ie you cannot just put a mobile home on a field and live in it 24/7 for 12 months of the year!

 

[Chalmers]

Couple of hours with a flail mower? Think you've been shafted...

Easy to say when you didn't see the state of the land. Shame you were not the contractor then we would have been quids in.

 

[gone up the hill]

This land, where in North Devon is is?

Is it fenced?

Steep/flat etc??

 

[Chalmers]

This land, where in North Devon is is?

Is it fenced?

Steep/flat etc??

Fenced by road, barb wire on boundary with next field. Slightly steep but nothing crazy..just south of south molton.

 

[Vader]

Sounds like a lot I agree but they were they for 5 days a team of 6 people. Cutting all dead wood and fallen trees from wooded area. Clearing all land including boundary area. Wasn't a quick days work. I did see pictures, heavy equipment was used.

6 people for 5 days with heavy tackle??
I bet they sent you pictures!!
Something to do after they finished on 2nd day..
That many people could cut and clear acre of wood completely in less than 5 days with right gear.
Be intresting to see the heavy equipment and how much wood was removed.

Think this illustrates your main problem.
Your to far away and going to get shafted on any jobs that need doing as your paying top whack to so called experts with inflated prices.
Where as if you were local and knew locals, would have got it done for a lot less!

 

[gone up the hill]

Fenced by road, barb wire on boundary with next field. Slightly steep but nothing crazy..just south of south molton.

South as in towards Barnstaple or back towards Tiverton?

What condition is the grass ley in?

 

[Chalmers]

6 people for 5 days with heavy tackle??
I bet they sent you pictures!!
Something to do after they finished on 2nd day..
That many people could cut and clear acre of wood completely in less than 5 days with right gear.
Be intresting to see the heavy equipment and how much wood was removed.

Think this illustrates your main problem.
Your to far away and going to get shafted on any jobs that need doing as your paying top whack to so called experts with inflated prices.
Where as if you were local and knew locals, would have got it done for a lot less!

That's very true and maybe we did pay over the odds but we didn't have the time, contacts or information about getting it cleared. We live and learn. Hence why we would like to start getting a income from it. Even if its 600 quid a year. Thins might sound cheap but we live far away and don't hand thousands to spend making it a dream.