Lump sum from will

Robert7578

I am in the position where I am retired with no dependents and want to enjoy a private wood for the time I have left , I am not interested in it as an investment or redevelopment or looking for PP to do anything with it.

I would go through a solicitor to check the lawful owner is selling it and any obvious snags but I will buy it and sell it if it doesnt work out. There are unforseen risks in anything and nothing is garenteed in life, banks may fold, land may be made worthless by illegal Travellers sites or a motorway built next to it, but these are risks we have to take.

Eco_Miser

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81949988#Comment_81949988

Yes, API was very proud of owning a carbon sink (before it decided to wind up and found it was unsellable), and expected to make money with carbon credits.

Robert7578

This thread is now done. The money has been paid and is now in an NS&I account,

Thanks for everyone's help.

efunc

Woodland, in my view, is a very sensible investment. It has its risks, most notibly being that it is not very liquid, so if you need to cash out quickly you may be sitting on your investment for longer than you want.

However the macro picture is that tangible assets, land and commodities may have more value in the new economy than traditional equities that have been favoured for many years. Whilst agricultural and farmland is most often considered a solid long-tem bet forestry and woodland is overlooked and in many respect a better investment and return, particularly for timber. I'm no expert at all, but it's something I intend to research myself.

Section62

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81980135#Comment_81980135

Woodland, in my view, is a very sensible investment.

That depends on how wealthy you are and what objectives you have.

Realistically timber value is only likely to exist in active forestry - land on which trees have been planted for the express purpose of producing timber. These will be trees of a species there is a demand for, and managed to produce good quality timber as a crop which can be harvested (mechanically). To produce timber value means ongoing investment over a period of many decades. Calling this "not very liquid" is somewhat understating the situation.

Woodland is different. There may be trees within it suitable for timber, but extraction could easily outweigh the cost of the harvested product. That's assuming the woodland isn't protected, and permission - if required - can be obtained.

With woodland there is always the risk of it coming under protection it didn't have, or a change in circumstances beyond your control. Investing in a global index fund may not be as pretty to look at, but the chances of a family of Great Crested Newts moving in to your tracker fund is negligible.

The risks of disease and storm damage also have the capability of wiping you out.

Investing in woodland as a HNWI can make sense - there's plenty of scope to make a loss if one is needed, and tax advisers are adept at finding ways for clients to benefit from investing in 'green' stuff.

It is an investment type where anyone considering it needs expert advice, and the capability to write the whole thing off if necessary.

efunc

Yes, all very good points. It's an investment in which you'd need to invest not just your money, but your passion, so not for everyone, and possibly beyond me.

However with currency debasement, 'the big print' and fiscal dominance my feeling is that we're moving away from a world in which we could rely on paper derivatives which are manipulated by central banks and enourmous fund managers and better to be in tengible assets and 'real things'.

DjangoUnchained

A bit of woodland could be a great idea for when war takes hold, civilisation crumbles as money and gold has no value. Then the only thing you need is a way of growing food, getting water and a means of protecting yourself and land. Stock up on non perishible goods, learn to live off the land and hoard weapons and medicine. Then when it happens you can laugh at all the people telling you to put the money in isas and bonds.

eskbanker

Many people prefer to put their money somewhere with plenty of branches… 😉