Woodland sales branching out

A unique chance to own a slice of England's finest landscape has seen a "staggering response" as bidders line up to buy 103 acres of Lake District woodland.

The January sale with a difference sees the Lake District National Park Authority offering land to the highest "sympathetic" bidder, as part of a major review of its 1,600 acres of woodland.

More than 50 telephone calls and a similar number of emails flooded in last week and a similar number are expected to have arrived by Friday.

Already on the open market are 12.7 acres at Meathop Woods, woodland at Ghyll Head, Bowness and 7.2 acres at Bank Wood, Bassenthwaite. Other areas, including 61 acres at Summer House Knott and Waterside Knott, near Newby Bridge, and 1.2 acres at Pool Wood, Hawkshead, are unlikely to be advertised before Christmas.

Full details of the woods on offer, along with photographs, are featured on LDNPA's website www.lake-district.gov.uk/woodlands for sale.htm

Hopes that conservation organisations, community groups, or individuals keen on preservation would grasp a rare opportunity to buy picturesque Lake District woods are being realised.

According to LDNPA surveyor Peter Ward many of the enquiries are from "those who appreciate small areas of woodland and would properly manage and conserve them in the future".

LDNPA's property manager Janet Moss had emphasised the pockets of land would only be sold to a responsible purchaser who would ensure the landscape was protected.

"Our woodlands are very important to the national park and what we are proposing are a few small changes, as part of a major review" she said.

The closing date for offers for Meathop Woods, Ghyll Head and Bank Wood is 31 January, 2006. The email address for enquiries is woodland@lake-district.gov.uk, or ring Peter Ward on 015394 46892.