Mud and tracks

[Andy & Heather]

Reading the discussion about the best tyres for muddy tracks, I was wondering: has anyone actually used their permitted development rights and put in a hard surfaced forestry access track? This would presumably be accessible at all times of year. What about a network of rides with proper drainage ditches to keep them dry? I know it can get very expensive if you have to buy stone in, but putting in a network of grass rides does not seem too bad, and yet I don't often read about people doing so. Am I missing something?
Interested to know what others have done as we are hoping to put in a track and some rides.
Heather

[Chunkymunky]

There are some grants available for creating access for some woods

[Meadowcopse]

Depending on how your land is registered on the Rural Land Register (not Land Registry), the construction of hard surfaces have to be declared on your plan and can affect SFP, ELS / HLS

[Chunkymunky]

Obviously there is a variety of materials you can use and the description of hard surface leaves some out. Laying bark for instance wouldn't be a problem because it wouldn't be a permanent surface

[Meadowcopse]

Depending how your land is registered with them (particularly farmland not in a forestry scheme, but planted with trees or in the process of), Number 24 could be relevant in the link http://rpa.defra.gov.uk/rpa/index.nsf/contentdocs/0DE30F7D95824972880256F8600321C26

[Andy & Heather]

Depending how your land is registered with them (particularly farmland not in a forestry scheme, but planted with trees or in the process of), Number 24 could be relevant in the link http://rpa.defra.gov.uk/rpa/index.nsf/c ... 8600321C26

Thanks for this. Don't think it will make much difference in our case because the stoned track will only be 100m long by 3m wide.

As for grants for putting in tracks: as far as we can work out, and it may be different here in Wales, you will only get help with putting in access tracks if you allow public access. To some extent that seems fair, why should we be paid to put tracks in private woodlands? But if it is possible, then we would like to hear more!

Heather

[Chunkymunky]

There is an informative section on grants on woodland.co.uk

http://www.woodlands.co.uk/owning-a-wood/grants/

[docsquid]

Our woodland is very wet and we have put in some forestry tracks, both Cat1 and Cat2. We got a grant for this from the FC, even though access is only permissive on certain days/times, and not universal. Because our whole woods are covered by a TPO, we had to get planning permission, but this was put in as a block of permissions for a building to house equipment, ponds, fences and tracks. The FC do not like tracks going in ancient woodland, but in our case were convinced that the potential damage was greater if we didn't put them in, as we wouldn't be able to get down to manage the lower part of our wood, or would try and cause tree root and soil damage. When building the tracks, we ensured that all the soil was kept on the site, along with its associated seed. The tracks are now greening up nicely and you would be hard pressed to realise they are vehicle capable.

[SimonFisher]

Our woodland is very wet and we have put in some forestry tracks, both Cat1 and Cat2 ... [snip] ... The tracks are now greening up nicely and you would be hard pressed to realise they are vehicle capable.

What's the construction method and materials of these tracks? You have any photos?

[Andy & Heather]

I was going to ask a similar question. Also, what do Cat 1 and Cat 2 actually stand for?

What type of soil were you working with? We have clay soils and have been told we will need 2 tonnes of foundation stone (4" and down) for each running metre of our 3m wide track - that is a lot of stone! The contractor is then recommending that we cap it with 'MOT grade 1' to give us a surface that is suitable for a family car all year round and wheelchairs/mobility scooters. Is that fairly similar to your construction?

We have had no problem with the FC because our woodland is a clearfelled conifer plantation with natural regeneration. We were able to clear a way for the track this weekend using loppers and handsaws! The Enviromental Impact Assessment and Permitted Development of a forest access track seem to be going though no problem.