Tracing landowners?

[Wallenstein]

Is there a good way of identifying who owns a particular area of land (in this case, woodland)?

There are several largeish areas of woodland in my area (Warwickshire), and I'd like to politely approach their owners with a view to using them for bushcrafty activities.

Several of the woods are near farm buildings, but that's not necessarily a reliable guide to ownership!

(Apologies is this has been covered before!)

[Tourist]

Land Registry. Fill out the form, pay the fee, send it off and you'll normally get the answer within a couple of days.

[mace242]

Find a house really near the woodland and simply knock on the door and ask . Something like "Sorry to disturb you but I was walking nearby and really like the woods you have near your house. Do you by any chance know who owns them?" You never know you may be lucky. It'll help if you're in normal clothes and not head to toe in dpm I expect.

[Wallenstein]

Thanks both!

I'll try the door-knocking first, and then have a look at the Land Registry if I don't have any luck.

[myheadsashed]

If there is a right of way nearby the local councils right of way officer may know.

[Kepis]

All i did when i got the use of my woods, was to make a few local enquiries and then go knocking on doors.

[bushwacker bob]

Stand in the middle of the woods and start a chainsaw.The owners will be with you within a few minutes.

[Tourist]

Stand in the middle of the woods and start a chainsaw.The owners will be with you within a few minutes.

That'd do it.

[Wallenstein]

All i did when i got the use of my woods, was to make a few local enquiries and then go knocking on doors.

How did you approach it? Did you pitch it as "camping" or "bushcraft" or "nature-lover" etc?*

I don't know how bushcrafters are viewed by landowners - would bird-watching be a safer approach?!

I guess I'd start by asking for an afternoon's access, with no fires, and then aim to leave the site absolutely pristine. Build up some trust, and then broach the subject of campfires / overnights etc?

Do you pay a fee each time you use the land?

*(One of the rugby clubs at my old uni used to call itself "University of [blank] Chess Club", 'cos whenever they tried to book venues as "University of [blank] Rugby Club" they'd be turned away by worried owners)

[Tourist]

Personally I'd ask them if they watched Ray Mears on the telly. Work out your response for either a yes or no answer. Tell them what its about, offer the fact that you have personal insurance (best advice: If you have'nt you should get some anyway), if you think it will clinch the deal tell them that most campsites charge 'x' per night which you as a law abiding respectable bushcrafter would be willing to pay and of course whilst you were on the land you could do a couple of hours of clearing etc for them. Big tip, when you turn up to have a chat with them look respectable - collar, tie etc...........yes I know, but it's got to be done.

I am working on Lord Althorp and Anglian Water at the moment, both have some rather nice bits of woodland.

[Big Mark]

Land Registry. Fill out the form, pay the fee, send it off and you'll normally get the answer within a couple of days.

Think you can do it online now??

The wonders of Techknowledgy!

[andywinkk]

The first farmer that asked gave me permision streight away and was very freindly

[Kepis]

How did you approach it? Did you pitch it as "camping" or "bushcraft" or "nature-lover" etc?*

I don't know how bushcrafters are viewed by landowners - would bird-watching be a safer approach?!

I guess I'd start by asking for an afternoon's access, with no fires, and then aim to leave the site absolutely pristine. Build up some trust, and then broach the subject of campfires / overnights etc?

Do you pay a fee each time you use the land?

I pitched it as Bushcraft to the landowner, i also took along some photographs of previous trips to show the guy so he could understand what it was all about, in addition i took along some business cards so he had my contact details, plus i took my passport to prove who i was, all in all it took less than ten minutes to gain permission to use his woods, all i have to do now is phone him up, tell him when i want to go up there, just so he knows it's me in the woods, and that's it, no fees, no hassle, and we have free reign to do as we wish, what's really good is the fact that his son now comes over on the odd occassion as well.

To prove to him we leave the site in the same way as we found it, i asked him on one trip when he came over to see us, if he could spot the site of one of our old camp fires, i told him he was within 20 yards or so of the site, he couldn't find it at all, and it was only when i told him he was standing on it did he see the faintest trace of charcoal, he was amazed, the other thing i do is to make sure i have a couple of those folding Swedish Army cups with me, that way if he, his son or his wife come over i can offer them a cup of tea or coffee, it's amazing how such a simple action like the offering of a drink can really help cement to relationship.

The relationship is such now that i rarely if ever get refused permission, the only time he says no is if he has a shoot on , at Xmas when i took him a bottle and an antler topped stick i made, as a way of thanking him for the use of his woods, he actually thanked me for looking after his woods and helping to manage them for him.