Private woodland is currently the most sought-after property in Britain,  according to the leading specialist agents in the sector, with an estimated 100,000 acres per year changing hands, and some parts of the market seeing values rise by as much as 20 per cent over the last two years.

This trend is reflected on the UKLandandFarms.co.uk rural property website, where approximately 25 per cent of the site’s growing visitor numbers now access the dedicated woodlands property section, compared with 15 per cent 12 months ago.

The vast majority of purchasers are private individuals and there is no single driver behind the increasing interest, though according to John Clegg & Co – responsible for approximately 60 per cent of open market woodlands in the UK - a future shortage of timber is a factor.

“Timber is a global commodity that is increasingly expected to be in short supply, and in the UK we are supplying just 40 per cent of our domestic requirement of sawn softwood, so at the top end of the market there are investors who see woodlands as a secure home for their money,” says John Clegg.

“There is strong demand at the moment for anything that comes available. I would say woodland is currently the best performing sector in the UK property market.”

Average values range from £1,500 per acre to £7,000 per acre, depending on size, timber quality, its state of maturity, location, site access and other variables, but some small woodlands (5 - 15 acres) are making up to £10,000 per acre.

Woodlands.co.uk, a specialist agent now selling around 150 woods a year across the UK, reports many reasons for investment in woodland beyond traditional forestry.

"Over 40 per cent of our buyers are looking to take firewood from their woodland for their own use,” says the company’s estates manager Richard Scholfield.

“There are many different types of woodlands and a wide variety of buyers.

“Once someone buys woodland, it often becomes a lifelong relationship, so our role is akin to that of a matchmaker.

"A lot of buyers are motivated as much by the enjoyment of owning woodland as by any financial gains or payback – there are tangible physical, mental and emotional benefits from ownership.”

Woods4sale.co.uk is a company specialising almost exclusively in the amenity woodlands market.

According to Alastair Bartholomew from the company, whilst many may be buying primarily for lifestyle reasons, the current competition for woodland property does also create a strong economic justification through growth in asset value.

“As the market stands currently, most investors in amenity woodland could expect to see a good return over three to five years,” he said.

“This autumn has certainly been very vibrant and woodland is currently bucking the general property trend.”

UKLandandFarms.co.uk is a specialist portal dedicated to rural properties with three or more acres.

The site now hosts properties for all the specialist woodlands agents and currently has over 250 woods advertised amounting to around 10,000 acres.

To see the woodland section please go to www.uklandand farms.co.uk/woodland-andforestry