Mini hatchets - for bushcrafters

My workshop just finished making a batch of mini hatchets out of quarter inch, 01 Carbon steel. The handle are in American Oak. They are ideal for camping and survival situations when a knife isn't quite heavy enough but an axe would be overkill.

I just sold out all of the ones I made - in a day! We are making some more though...two are already reserved so get your name down if you are interested.

I'm selling the plain ones for £45 +£10 P+P. The ones with filework on the spine of the knife are £65 +£10 P+P.

They are nicely balanced and pretty weighty.

Your own ancient woodland. What could be more wonderful?

Once owning private woodland was the exclusive domain of the rich and privileged. But now, with a little help from Ancient Woodland, you can buy your very own piece of English woodland forever - for as little as £5,000. You can walk on it; protect and preserve it for future generations; camp on it; watch native wildlife and birds; create environments for the woodland creatures that live there; bequeath it and even sell it. You'll have a freehold interest so the choice is yours.

To find out more visit:

www.ancientwoodland.com

A unique way to own woodland in a beautiful part of Buckinghamshire

Here is a site map and location map of where our current wood is. It's 14 acres in total and is close to the Village of Wing, near to Aylesbury. There is excellent road access and parking. We have tidied most of the wood - in line with Forestry Commission guidance, so that we don't upset the the eco-systems in the wood too much. We will also build a very nice tree house in the wood over the next few months. There are two lockable gates and we have also created a woodland community online forum. Essentially how it works is we sell you a generous sized section of the wood - freehold. In addition you also get the beneficial right to wander in perpetuity over the entire wood. So for only £5,000 you get the use of the entire 14 acres for ever and you can bequeath this in your will in just the same way you could if you owned the freehold of the whole wood. A wood like this would cost about £100,000...so it is a real bargain. The wood is almost totally sold...we have two sections left...so hurry!

This is our website address: ancientwoodland.com

Salmon Fishing Scotland.: Salmon Fishing Scotland April 2008 Spring Fly Fishing on the Tay at Stanley.

Salmon Fishing Scotland.: Salmon Fishing Scotland April 2008 Spring Fly Fishing on the Tay at Stanley.

Things you should look out for when buying a wood

For three years now I've been looking at woods all over the Home Counties...I've seen hundreds...about 80% utterly useless for what I wanted! Many are just completely spoilt and full of rubbish, or inaccessible locations, or without parking, or with lots of public footpaths cutting right through them...or next to industrial units or a quarry! You name it I've driven for miles and see most of the options. There is nearly always an old vehicle too somewhere hidden in the middle of them. In fact I now say to my friends, 'where is the vehicle'? The last wood I bought I couldn't see one...then I completed and there it was an old 1950's trailer...cor they couldn't half make them then! It weighed a ton..or maybe more!

So when you look at woods, ask yourself these questions:

• Is the wood easily accessible - will I be able to get easy access
• Have I got absolute access? Watch out for ransom strips of land (ask your solicitor to check)
• Is there someone to park your car
• Are there any covenants that stop you doing what you want to do with the wood - otherwise you end up with a white elephant
• How will you renovate/maintain it....woods are a lot of work particularly if they are in poor condition
• Is there a preservation order on the wood (individual trees/blanket)
• Are there lots of public footpaths running through it? Not all members of the public will be as concerned about wildlife as you!
• Is it fenced/hedged? Does it need to be?
• Does it come with sporting rights? The last thing you will want is a load of men with shotguns shooting everything that moves in your wood on a Sunday morning!
• Can you afford it?
• Is it worth clubing together with some friends to buy the wood once you find the right one. They can help you to look after it and can split the cost...this is how I started!

My biggest tip is go there and look. Just sit in the wood...does it feel right for you?

Good luck. If you want to ask any questions...happy to help!

Fox Covert in Buckinghamshire

Here's my latest wood...it's in Buckinghamshire and called Fox Covert. It's 14 acres in total. I was going to go up there today but the snow had set in! Drat! We finished clearing it a month ago. There was a lot of rubble from the previous owner and an old trailer! It took all day to break the trailer up it was massive. It was sooooo heavy! In the end we had to beg a group of ramblers to help us to lift it into a skip. We rewarded them with a pint at the local pub. Hic!

The local deer weren't too happy with the activity....they gave us one look and then legged it

Affordable, private woodlands.

A relatively small wood can easily cost more than £100,000, which means it is beyond the means of most people. In addition to the initial cost, managing an entire wood on your own can be a fairly onerous long-term responsibility too. So rather than having to pay a huge sum of money to be able to roam in your own ancient woodland you can do it now, with a little help from ancientwoodland.com, for as little as £5,000.

Have a look at

www.ancientwoodland.com