A slice of woodland near the centre of High Wycombe has gone up for sale after a well-known Wycombe furniture maker decided to sell up having taken it on several years ago.
The 6.2-acre Lucas Wood, off Lucas Road, is being marketed at a guide price of £50,000, with Stewart Linford “reluctantly” giving up the area due to moving out of the area after helping protect it during his ownership.
UPDATE - Campaign launched to 'save' Lucas Wood
As one of the last remaining High Wycombe furniture makers, Mr Linford gained a worldwide reputation for his chairs and fulfilled a lifelong wish by buying the wood, which experts say is at least 400 years old.
He said: “This is a beautiful mixed woodland with a variety of wonderful broadleaves of all ages. I dreamt of owning a wood and achieved it with Lucas Wood.
"My hands-on involvement in the management meant I came to know the wood intimately and particularly enjoyed the contrasts between the seasons of the year.
“It is with sadness that I sell and I hope we shall find a purchaser who will enjoy the wood as much as I have.”
The woods were also the scene for a high-profile shooting in 2014, when three people suffered gunshot wounds and two others were injured.
Agents for the sale John Clegg & Co said the area is protected by a tree preservation order, and insisted the possibility of the site being used to build houses was “highly unlikely”.
Mr Linford enlisted the help of John Morris at The Chilterns Woodland Project to draw up a long term management plan to help bring back active management to the wood.
Along with volunteers, he has worked to upgrade the wood from and promote it as a wildlife/conservation site.
The woods are designated as Ancient and Semi-natural woodland, indicating the land has been covered in trees since at least 1600.
Call John Clegg on 01844 291384 or visit www.johnclegg.co.uk
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