An area of woodland once owned by the family of the founder of West Ham United Football Club has come to the market at Chiddingstone Causeway, near Tonbridge in Kent.
The woodland has been divided into two lots - Redleaf Wood and The Grove – and collectively extends to 41.62 ha (102.88 acres) – which equates to nearly 60 football pitches.
It is available for sale either as a whole or separately for £430,000 and £390,000 respectively.
The mixed-age woods originally formed part of a larger estate, but were purchased by Mr F C Hills in 1870.
Mr Hills and his son, Arnold, ran the Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company Ltd which specialised in building warships and liners.
In 1895, Arnold Hills set up the Thames Ironworks Football Club for the firm’s employees which in 1900 became West Ham United. The club is still sometimes referred to by the nickname ‘The Irons’.
Redleaf Wood, which is 21.77ha (53.85ha), contains an impressive mix of trees from coastal and giant redwoods, Douglas Fir, Lawson cypress and Western red cedar through to broadleaves including oaks, beech, sweet chestnut and silver birch.
The Grove, which is 19.85ha (49.03 acres) forms part of a Grade II Registered Park and Garden and includes some trees which are more than 200 years old. The buyer will also get to enjoy fishing rights on the River Eden.
John Clegg, partner at John Clegg & Co which is marketing the property, said: “The wood is an absolute joy to visit and you can tell the way that it has been managed over the decades has been exemplary. There is an impressive variety of crops, a good network of well-maintained rides, a small stream, lakes and it also joins a river at one end. It just leaves you with a wonderful feeling.
“This will suit a buyer who is looking for a woodland investment that they can also enjoy. It’s within very easy reach of London and is a lovely place to spend time in.”
Mr Clegg added: “Woodland has proven to be an excellent investment over the past twenty years. It has offered strong capital growth and there is also the opportunity to generate income from timber.
“Timber prices have continued to rise over the past six months, partly as a result of the devaluation of Sterling in the wake of the Brexit vote, but also due to increased demand for home-grown timber supplies because of the strength of the construction industry.
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