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As I (hopefully) will be getting a few acres, we had been discussing what else we could be doing with the land. At the moment its set up as two big plots next to each other , one is a house with huge garden and the other a big field. The previous owners have set out all the land fairly sympathetic to nature, lots of general wood areas with mini lumber area, two mini orchard areas, the edges of the property lined with fruit bushes, super generous area built as food production plots.
That still leaves the larger field which has a small entertaining area within but generally is left to wildflower and cut once annually. This is the area that we havent really decided what we shall do with it. So I am keen to investigate alongside you to see whats possible to become a net contributor both to local nature/wildlife but potentially also community.
I also know that the next door fields and chalk pits are owned by an investment firm who would likely be open to selling (they offered to the current owners) and we will likely look at that in order to expand on that initiative.
The plots are in a national landscape (the new name for AONB's) so planning is likely to be a little more complicated but if its altruistic and for community good then parish councils etc can be convinced.
Would be interested to also find out what you discover if you do go further on this and potentially be actively involved too.
jaitch-
As I (hopefully) will be getting a few acres, we had been discussing what else we could be doing with the land. At the moment its set up as two big plots next to each other
Perhaps part of the field to create a safe space for travellers? the law makes it increasingly difficult for them to find a legal place to stay.
The chap I mentioned further up thread who has the woodland for sale tried to sell some land nearby in small plots for travellers but the borough councillors created a right stink and wouldn’t grant planning permission but if it’s for temporary use planning shouldn’t be a problem? wheeled caravans not static should be o.k. -
Well I think I'll be talking to https://www.protect.earth/ to see if something halfway between doing good for the environment and doing good for local people works.
I still have no clear plans, haven't looked at what to buy and where, and don't yet have any funds to do anything. But if I can bring my mortgage under control, then I'm willing to push some of my disposable income this direction, to save towards this and then acting it on as and when the funds amount to anything. Do it for a while, establish whatever the operating costs are, and then find whatever equilibrium makes most sense.
I think if plans excluded wild camping for a couple of nights, or being open to people to use for picnics and gatherings, then I'd be less interested overall. I want to balance a social benefit that can be seen directly in how it's used, and doing good for the neighbours and environment. My definitions of these are sweepingly broad, all ideas (stupid or not) remain on the table, but it can't be people to the exclusion of nature, or nature to the exclusion of people, because that's what I hope here, to have this as an accessible space for people, but in a good way.
Mr_Smyth
Velocio
I put the first post on the fediverse at the same time, and have been introduced to a couple of different people who have successfully purchased fields for rewilding, as modern commons, and been able to grant permissions for wild camping.
So apparently it's not a totally dumb idea. One of these folk also has solicitors now trained in this, and is able to access funding from farmers, developments and councils for biodiversity investments for part of the areas bought. He's also a regular bikepacker and nomadic worker, the guy who has done this, not the solicitor.
I'm sure there's still a maze of impossibile rules, but now I know a couple of people who have managed to navigate it in the past.