Gurnard Cliff (Spencer) Wood came on the market in December 2018 with Waterside Properties.  The asking price is offers over £150,000. This led to community interest keen on buying the woodland - simply because it is beautiful.

To make a pledge towards this project now complete this form or contact us if you would like more information.  If you are interested in helping to register the footpath through the wood as a public right of way - read on.  And do spread the word.

One of the outcomes of looking into buying Gurnard Cliff Wood is that many people have come forward who have used the wood for  well over twenty years.  This means that the footpath itself can be registered as a Public Right of Way in conjunction with advice from the Ramblers Association.  This footpath will then be added to the Isle of Wight Definitive Map of footpaths to protect it from future withdrawal or development.  Hence, if you have walked through the wood please do get in touch so that we can provide you with the form which is to be completed by Wed 6 March.

​

Gurnard Cliff Wood, known to locals as ‘Spencer Wood’ was originally bought by Harry Spencer from the Isle of Wight Council for £42,000 in 1985.  The Council had plans to build a carpark there and Harry being what we would probably now describe as an ‘Environmentalist’ bought it to preserve the beauty of the woodland at that time. Before then it had been a Victorian bottle bank / tip!

The price of offers above £150,000 reflects that despite being only 1.45 acres, it is in a prime location and contains some land for which the possibility of obtaining planning has been suggested by Isle of Wight Council planning department.   If IOW Beauty in Perpetuity  buy this land, as a community, we commit

• to NOT building on the land

• allowing community access to the woodland (rather than one private owner)

• in conserving and enhancing the wood for the future.