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Michelmores is a sustainable, forward-thinking law firm. We evolve with changing social and economic demands, adapting our practice and supporting clients in diversifying their business to build and maintain lasting economic resilience.
Commercial opportunities
Over the last five years we have acted for the largest forester and creator of woodland in the UK. We have supported them throughout their expansion into a number of commercial enterprises, including, for example, in-forest concerts, open-air cinemas, off-grid cabin installations and extreme sport experiences. We have also supported their establishment and growth of different environmental service lines, such as nutrient neutrality and Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG). While some of the more tangible commercial opportunities, like large-scale concerts, will be unrealistic for smaller, privately owned forests, there is real scope for (and we have seen forward-thinking clients undertake) diversification of their forests for ecological and profitable gain.
One such client is the Cabilla Valley Temperate Rainforest; a rare temperate rainforest and an official ancient oak woodland.
Cabilla Valley
Cabilla Valley sits in the heart of Bodmin Moor and spans 300 acres of upland hill farm and rainforest valley. The land consists of 100 acres of woodland, including both secondary and ancient rainforest, and 200 acres of degraded grazing land. In January 2023, the owners of Cabilla Valley founded the Thousand Year Trust; a charity dedicated to the restoration of temperate rainforest landscapes and with its mission to catalyse the movement to triple the amount of temperate rainforests in the UK over the next 30 years.
The Thousand Year Trust is supporting research into the true value of temperate rainforests for the benefit of biodiversity, climate and people. To increase engagement with the rainforest and support of the charity, individuals and groups can visit Cabilla Valley overnight, stay in a Koyt cabin and have full access to the 300-acre site. The owners have collaborated with local partners to create unique experiences for visitors.
Supporting diversification
We have the legal expertise to support diversification and growth to ensure the interests of individual landowners are best protected. This could include the incorporation of special purpose vehicles to ringfence risk; clearly written contracts with commercial partners so that the expectations, rights and obligations on everyone involved is understood from the outset (and the risk of disputes are minimised); and the implementation of tax efficient structures. We also have an expansive and growing network of organisations that can provide further support, such as ecologists, land agents, brokers and technology businesses.
Reporting tools
If you are a forester considering diversification but don’t know which areas of your landholding to put to which use, data-rich reporting tools, such as those developed by Map Impact, can help you to make initial decisions on an informed and empowered basis.
Map Impact screens sites using geospatial satellite imagery to help end-users identify which areas of their landholding would best align with early-stage BNG requirements and other nature-based markets. Using UK Habitat Classification, Map Impact maps over 60 different habitat types in detail to identify and analyse ecological characteristics. This detail can inform landholders as to how and where to diverse their holding.
We are always happy to share our expansive network with our clients.
If you would like to learn more about efforts to protect and restore temperate rainforests, please visit Thousand Year Trust.
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Royal Three Counties Show
The team are looking forward to attending the Royal Three Counties Show in Malvern. We hope you can join us at one of the following...