A LOCAL woodland, and a much loved walking destination, has been put up for sale with an asking price of £90,000.

A for sale sign is now present at Merrivale Wood Nature Reserve and is being marketed by Sunderlands on behalf of Herefordshire Wildlife Trust.

The trust originally explained on a notice posted in June last year, that the decision had been made following a review of its landholdings and ensure that the trust’s limited resources were targeted at conservation and nature recovery across Herefordshire.

The trust’s nature recovery manager Claire Spicer added: “Over the decades, since the trust formed, it has acquired some nature reserves through fundraising to purchase particular sites, while in some cases land has been gifted by generous donors.

“Today, we aim for our landholdings to be strategically located to deliver the most they can for wildlife and people.”

The sales particulars state that the Local Nature Reserve designation will be removed as part of the sale and thereafter public access will no longer be mandatory other than for the existing public footpath that runs along the eastern boundary of the woodland.

It also states that Merrivale Wood extends in total to around 11.21 acres and notes that the woodland has been actively used by the public, but with the delisting as a Local Nature Reserve, it would present an excellent opportunity for the purchaser to consider alternatives uses such as setting up a recreational site as a business opportunity, subject to obtaining all the necessary planning consents.

Merrivale wood is classified as ancient woodland and exhibits two distinct vegetation types: the western two-thirds are dominated by oak and ash, while the eastern section features old ash, wild cherry, and sycamore trees.

Anybody wishing to make an offer, should complete a tender document, which must be received by the agents by noon on October 30.