Back from our little trip North, we managed to squeeze in a couple of woodlands – not to buy but to get a feel for a few things like size, differences in planting and relative location (to civilization, to roads, to London).

First one we saw was Peel Wood (£55,000 and 6 acres) which was in the Lake District, just up the road from Dodd Wood a commercial wood with walks and a tea shop I used to visit often as a kid. Pluses: It had a stream running through it; large mix of trees and plants; probably some deer and red squirrels amongst the fauna. Minus: Too far from here, for now at least; right on the main A591 road so a bit noisy; could do with a bit of thinning here and there (another wood, right next door had some clearings and was further from the road, but we didn’t get chance to look at it – also, more money)

The next one we saw a couple of days later was All Saints Wood in East Yorkshire (£49,000 and over 6 acres). Located off a tiny but neat road in a tiny but neat area of natural beauty it had a completely different feel. We actually ended up looking at the wrong wood, but it was just next door and much of this still stands. Plus: Quiet, remote, away from zombies; Mixed planting with clearings. Minus: No water; steep!

The third one we visited was Marlborough Wood near Lincoln (£49,000 over 6 acres) which was entirely different again. Very flat (well, it is Lincolnshire) and incredibly dense bramble undergrowth it opens onto a sedentary river (ok, really an ancient drainage ditch from the surrounding farmland) with fishing rights. Plus: fishing; almost not too far from here; remote enough, city nearby; Minus: big clearing job to do first; bit flat, even for me.

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