Sauchen Woodlands by Sauchen,

Summary

Sauchen Woodlands

Highly desirable woodlands, located close to the scenic Howe of Alford, with excellent access to the city of . Maturing timber ready for thinning and felling to provide timber revenue, with areas of broadleaved woodland providing further amenity. Sporting rights included.

Freehold For Sale as a Whole or in 4 Lots

Lot 1 Kirkhill Wood – 53.4 hectares / 128.7 acres Offers Over £350,000

Lot 2 Ordhead Wood – 19.2 hectares / 46.3 acres Offers Over £85,000

Lot 3 Blackhillcrofts Wood – 42.8 hectares / 103.1 acres Offers Over £200,000

Lot 4 Millbank Wood – 34.8 hectares / 83.9 acres Offers Over £205,000 Enquiries To:

Denis Torley, MICFor

As a Whole, Offers Over £840,000 Elm House, Cradlehall Business Park, Inverness IV2 5GH

t: 01463 796056 F: 01463 798246

e: [email protected]

bidwells.co.uk Introduction Description A rare opportunity to acquire mature, mixed commercial The woodlands exhibit a diversity of ages and species. All 4 woodlands in the vicinity of Aberdeen. The woodlands will attract Lots have been well managed in the past and have undergone those looking to enjoy the amenity these woodlands have to offer extensive thinning, with small coupe felling carried out in Lots, while investing in commercial woodland. 1, 2 and 4. Location Lot 1 – Kirkhill Wood Kirkhill Wood is a compact commercial conifer woodland, The woodlands are situated approximately 12 miles west of extending to 53.4ha with crops mainly planted in the 1970s and the city of Aberdeen and 9 miles from the town of Alford. The 1980s. 34.0ha of the woodland comprises Sitka spruce or Sitka woodlands lie close to the villages of Sauchen and Monymusk. spruce in mixture with other species. There are also fine stands The locality offers an appealing mix of arable and livestock of Douglas fir and Norway spruce, complemented by areas of farmland, and includes significant stands of commercial forestry. mixed broadleaved woodland. The mature Sitka spruce could The A944 passes to the south of the property and provides be felled at any time, with the potential for thinning of the younger excellent access to Aberdeen and established timber markets. crops, subject to obtaining the necessary felling licences. Directions Lot 2 – Ordhead Wood The woodlands are situated between the villages of Sauchen Lot 2 extends to 18.8ha and comprises both conifer and and Monymusk. broadleaved woodland. The Lot is bisected by an adopted, From Aberdeen take the A944 westbound signposted to Alford. unclassified road. The western area of woodland holds mature Approximately half a mile before Sauchen, turn right and stands of Scots pine and Norway spruce, with areas of felled head north east for approximately 1.2 miles, until reaching the over land partly regenerating with native broadleaves. To the crossroads just north of Drumnahoy. Blackhillcrofts Wood, Lot 3, east of the unclassified road approximately 3.5ha of mature lies directly to the northeast of the crossroads. Beech and Birch woodland provide further amenity. For Lot 1, turn left at these crossroads, continue on this road Lot 3 – Blackhillcrofts Wood for approximately three quarters of a mile, then turn right and Enjoying extended public road frontage, this mature, continue for approximately half a mile, passing the church and predominantly coniferous woodland is an attractive mix of graveyard. The road becomes a farm track which leads to the diverse conifer species, extending to 42.8ha holding impressive entrance of Kirkhill Wood, Lot 1. stands of Sitka spruce, Scots pine, Noble fir and Norway For Lots 2 and 4, continue on the A944, passing through spruce. The majority was planted in the 1970s and the more Sauchen for a further 2 miles. Lot 2 lies directly to the north mature stands have been progressively thinned and could be of the settlement of Ordhead; Lot 4, a mile further west, lies felled shortly. To the northern end of the property is an area of adjacent to the A944 at the settlement of Millbank. open grassland extending to 8.8ha or thereby which presents Please refer to the Location Map and Sale Plans. opportunities for grazing. Two small ponds have potential to be developed for duck flights. Viewing and Guide Price Lot 4 – Millbank Wood Viewing may be undertaken at any time during daylight hours, Millbank Wood extends to 42.8ha and is situated directly to the provided viewers are in possession of a set of these particulars. north of the settlement of Millbank. The woodland comprises As a Whole, Offers over £840,000 are invited. predominantly mixed conifers planted in the early 1970s, with stands of Sitka spruce and Norway spruce in mixture, and older stands of Beech and Scots pine. Compartment Plans are available from the Selling Agents.

Management All 4 lots are free from any Grant Scheme or Long Term Forest Plan obligations, providing the potential purchaser with flexibility in determining future management of the woodland.

All 4 Lots have been registered under the Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS) allowing the Purchaser the flexibility to take advantage of incentives through the Rural Development Programme. Detailed information on the Scotland Rural Development Programme, including Forestry grants, is available through the following websites: www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland and www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/ Rural/SRDP.

Access All 4 Lots are served by well-proven forest tracks which have previously supported the extraction of timber, felled under Licence prior to 2011.

All Lots benefit from pedestrian and vehicular rights of access the details of which are fully disclosed in the Title Deeds.

Taxation At present, all revenue from the commercial timber sales is exempt from Income Tax and Corporation Tax.

Growing timber is exempt from Capital Gains Tax, although there may be a liability on the land. Under the current Inheritance Tax regime, 100% Business Property relief is available on woodlands after 2 years of ownership. Sporting Rights Third Party Rights Prospective purchasers are advised to consult their financial advisers to ascertain how these tax concessions may be of The sporting rights are included in the sale. Roe deer are The property is sold together with the rights and is subject to the benefit. present and there are opportunities for the rough shooting of various burdens and conditions all as detailed in the title deeds winged game. for the property. In addition the seller will reserve all necessary rights to use existing services, pipes, cables and others serving Boundaries and Minerals retained property the details of which will be agreed at the The woodlands are mainly bounded by agricultural land and missives stage. other forested land. Where the property borders agricultural The Title Deeds are available for inspection by a prospective land, it is bounded by post and wire fences or drystane dykes. purchaser or his agent at the office of the seller’s solicitors, Mineral rights are included in the sale insofar as the seller has subject to making a prior appointment with their offices. rights to, except as provided for by statute. Should there be any discrepancy between these particulars, stipulations, special conditions of sale and missives of sale, the last shall prevail.

01463 796050 bidwells.co.uk

Closing Date Potential purchasers are advised to formally register their interest in order that they may be informed if a closing date for offers is set.

Contacts Denis Torley, MICFor Bidwells Elm House, Cradlehall Business Park, Inverness, IV2 5GH Tel: 01463 796056, Fax: 01463 798246 e: [email protected]

Vendor’s Solicitor Gail Watt Morton Fraser Quartermile, Two 2 Lister Square, Edinburgh EH3 9GL Tel: 0131 247 1000 e: [email protected]

Authorities Forestry Commission Scotland Grampian Conservancy, Ordiquhill, Road, , AB54 4SJ Tel: 01466 794542

Local Authority Aberdeenshire Council Woodhill House, Westburn Road, Aberdeen, AB16 5GB Tel: 01224 522000

Agent Notes For clarification, we wish to inform prospective purchasers that we have prepared these sales particulars as a general guide. We have not carried out a survey. Given the potential hazards of a working forest we would ask you to be as vigilant as possible for your own personal safety when making an inspection of this property. If communications, condition of the property, situation or other such factors are of particular importance to you, please discuss these priorities with us before arranging an appointment to view. This should avoid a wasted journey. Any photographs displayed in these particulars depict only part of the property and it should not be assumed that the property remains as displayed in the photographs. No assumptions should be made regarding other parts of the property that have not been photographed. The property being open to inspection, the purchaser(s) shall be deemed to have full knowledge of the state and condition thereof and as to the ownership of any boundary or part of the property. These particulars do not constitute an offer or contract or part thereof. Bidwells LLP do not make or give either in these particulars or during negotiations or otherwise, any warranty or representation whatever in relation to this property. All measurements are given as a guide and no liability can be accepted for any errors arising therefrom. No responsibility is taken for any omission or mis-statement in these particulars. Bidwells LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England & Wales (registered number. OC344553). Registered head office is Bidwell House, Trumpington Road, Cambridge CB2 9LD, where a list of members is available for inspection. Particulars prepared June 2015. Photographs taken February and July 2015.