Ridley Green, Nr Nantwich, Cheshire

Full Description

For Sale by Auction
(Subject to Conditions and unless previously sold)
on Thursday 2nd September 2010 at 7.00pm at Rowton Hall Hotel, Rowton, Chester

Solicitors: Cullimore Dutton, 20 White Friars, Chester, CH1 1XS Tel: 01244 356789 (Reference: DGM)

34.63 acres (14.01 hectares)

Lot 1: Ridley Wood 21.919 acres (8.87 hectares)
Lot 2: Chesterton Wood 12.711 acres (5.14 hectares)

SITUATION
The woods are 18 miles south east of Chester, 8 miles north of Tarporley and 5 miles west of Nantwich. All distances are approximate.

DIRECTIONS
Approaching from Nantwich, take the A534 west and after 5 miles lot 1 is on the right, opposite Ridley Bank Farm (green corrugated buildings). The wood is easily accessed by a recently cut circular track.

To reach lot 2, return east on the A534 for ¼ mile. The access is on the left through a tubular steel gate. Follow the surfaced track for a short distance and the wood is on the left through a wooden gate. O.S. 1:50,000 Map 117 Ref. SJ565537. (Lot 1).

VIEWING
At any time without appointment by prospective purchasers carrying a set of sale particulars.

SPORTING RIGHTS
The sporting rights are owned and included in the sales of both lots. They are not let.

MINERAL RIGHTS
These are owned and included in the sales of both lots except as provided for by statute.

FENCING
There are no known fencing liabilities.

RIGHTS OF WAY
Chesterton Wood is sold with the benefit of a right of way for all purposes over the southern route coloured brown on the sale plan together with the right to enter and repair. Also, there is a 24 feet wide right of way over the northern route coloured brown subject to making good or paying compensation for any damage caused.

RIGHTS AND EASEMENTS
The woodland is sold subject to and with the benefit of all rights, including rights of way, whether public or private, light, support, drainage, water, gas and electricity supplies and any other easements.

WAYLEAVES
The woodland is sold subject to all existing wayleaves and purchasers will be deemed to have satisfied themselves as to the routes thereof.

PLANS AND AREAS
These are based on the Ordnance Survey and are for reference only. They have been carefully checked and computed by the selling agents and the purchaser shall be deemed to have satisfied himself as to their accuracy and any error or mis-statement shall not annul the sale or entitle any party to compensation in respect thereof

TENURE AND POSSESSION
Freehold. Vacant possession will be given on completion.

METHOD OF SALE
The property is for sale by Auction on Thursday, 2nd September 2010 at 7.00pm at Rowton Hall, Rowton, Chester CH3 6AD. The property will be sold at a Reserve Price and the Auctioneer reserves the right to bid on behalf of the vendor or to withdraw the property. The property will be sold subject to Special Conditions of Sale and Contract, which will be available for inspection at the offices of the Auctioneer and at the Solicitors for 10 working days prior to the sale. They will also be available at the time of the sale, but will not be read out at the sale. The purchaser will be deemed to have notice of all Conditions on the terms of sale whether they have inspected them or not.

THE WOODLANDS

These are two quality woods featuring mid-rotation oak, ash, other mixed broadleaves and Scots pine. The location, just west of Nantwich, could hardly be bettered in this cherished part of Cheshire. These are level, easily worked woods with good access. They have good Cheshire brown earth soils, an average annual rainfall of 30 inches and are sheltered at 400 feet above sea level.

The woodlands are rich in fauna and flora. A survey of Ridley Wood in 2008 identified birds including chaffinch, mistle and song thrush, blackbird, buzzard, greater spotted woodpecker, jay, wren, robin, great and blue tits and chiffchaff. Butterflies noted were orange tip, peacock, red admiral and speckled wood. A wide variety of ground flora was present including bugle, garlic mustard, ramsons, wood anemone, wild angelica, lords-and-ladies, wood false brome, pendulous sedge, remote sedge, fat-hen, broad buckler fern, male fern, herb-robert, primrose, red campion, bittersweet, germander speedwell and common dog-violet.

After two years ownership, commercially managed woods qualify for 100% relief from Inheritance Tax. Timber sales are free of all Income Tax and do not attract Capital Gains Tax. In certain circumstances it is possible to roll-over Capital Gains into the proportion of the purchase price attributable to the value of the land.

LOT 1: RIDLEY WOOD
21.919 acres (8.87 hectares)

What the purchaser should do is take great pleasure in thinning, reducing the Scots pine and the few Lodgepole pine and favouring oak, ash and mixed broadleaves. This would have a wonderful effect in releasing potential and should raise tax-free income from sales into the local fuel wood or biomass markets.

Ridley Wood is classified as Ancient replanted woodland. The classification Ancient woodland implies that the property has existed as a wood since at least 1600 and possibly long before. Ancient woodland is a term used in the United Kingdom to refer specifically to woodland dating back to 1600 or before in England and Wales.

Ancient replanted woods are Ancient woods in which the former tree cover has been replaced, often with non-native trees.

There is a useful small hard-standing area just inside the access gate.

LOT 2: CHESTERTON WOOD
12.711 acres (5.14 hectares)

Native broadleaved trees are what Chesterton Wood is all about, especially oak, ash and Silver birch. Sycamore is present but should not be regarded as aliens as sycamore was present in England long before the Romans.

The present owner has thinned Chesterton Wood really well but there will be more to come as the wood will not mature for at least another 30 years. Its age is variable due to the span of time over which it regenerated naturally since felling took place in the 1940s.

The merits of growing timber in Chesterton Wood are obvious enough but appreciating the subtle interactions taking place at field level, shrub level and the crowns of the trees through the season will bring many fascinations for the purchaser.

A little used public path crosses Chesterton Wood, otherwise the wood is delightfully secluded. The old marl pits are reputed to hold water seasonally but were dry in mid 2010.

SELLING AGENTS: AUCTIONEERS:
John Clegg & Co Denton Clark
The Old Coach House 4 Vicars Lane
Southern Road Chester CH1 1QU
Thame, OX9 2ED Tel: 01244 409660
Tel: 01844 215800 Email: sales@dentonclark.co.uk
Email: thame@johnclegg.co.uk www.dentonclark.co.uk
www.johnclegg.co.uk