Yet another 'newbie' here to pick your brains

[Giles]

I know you want to keep away from paperwork, but if you really want your legacy to last as you currently intend it, then you should involve as much paperwork is as neccessary to set this up as a charitable trust. Often this can be achieved at minimal cost by partnering with an existing organisation.

There's no shortage round my way of 'batchelor' Lords leaving their estates to the National Trust, with the stipulation that their long term gentleman companion can live out his life in the major house first, if you get my drift! But then it's just another National Trust property, badly managed to national goals which won't suit your vision.

So pick carefully. A local conservation group who's views align as well as possible with yours might be your best bet. I'm a contractor to one locally, they are currently setting up the paperwork for a bequest of 100 acres from a childless old couple.

Trust local rangers have a lot of say how their places are run, not as black and white as you make out. And they can call on a big bank of experts to help with stuff that might not be apparent to a few locals playing at it.

 

[V8Druid]

Just what you need, already in Wales, and I know JB Plant has a great reputation.

@V8Druid will be along shortly to tell you that Jon's stock doesn't hang around, so act fast if you're interested.

However, I note with displeasure the bad re-paint job. I presume that was the previous owner, in a misguided attempt to maximise sale value- I don't think Jon repaints, as it's best to present a machine in it's honest working clothes. V* will know more.

aye .. John's turnover is fast ... doesn't buy crap and is an easy guy to deal with, him and Jonathan, his son.
less than 10 miles from me and known him 30+ years .......
that m/c will have VAT on top sadly.
John will paint if it's in dire need Doob, but does a good job ...
his other son is body shop trained and does a superb job.

ad says hrs can not be verified on that Kub.

 

[doobin]

Trust local rangers have a lot of say how their places are run, not as black and white as you make out. And they can call on a big bank of experts to help with stuff that might not be apparent to a few locals playing at it.

I know three rangers who were let go in the Covid cull. Two now work at other reserves- one a local place, the other run by Butterfly Conservation. Neither have a good word to say about the NT in comparison to where they are now.

 

[Lee]

For your 20k you’d get a good doosan 27 with about the 2000 hrs and have plenty change to cover post knocker, grab, rake, ripper…all the bits you’d want. Use it all for a couple of years, get your jobs done and sell on. If it cost you more than £50/Wk In depreciation and repairs over two years I’d be shocked. Won’t cost you a chunk for transport either if you’ve got the means to collect. Machines at that age/price are probably off the books too so cash/no vat would be viable.

 

[Henchard]

aye .. John's turnover is fast ... doesn't buy crap and is an easy guy to deal with, him and Jonathan, his son.
less than 10 miles from me and known him 30+ years .......
that m/c will have VAT on top sadly.
John will paint if it's in dire need Doob, but does a good job ...
his other son is body shop trained and does a superb job.

ad says hrs can not be verified on that Kub.

Yes had heard good things about him elsewhere (other than he won't move much on price ;-) )

The thunb would probably be fairly useful to me moving fallen trees etc.

Presumeably 'hrs can not be verified' translates as clock has probably stopped at some point?

 

[JD450A]

Presumeably 'hrs can not be verified' translates as clock has probably stopped at some point?

Pretty much, but tbh I'd not worry alot. The amount of hours you will put on it will mean most of the wear and damage will be caused by nature and time.

Regards safeguarding reserves, charity's trusts and the future..... IMHO find someone local who's reasonably young and gift it in your will. Nothing worse than watching good habitat and reserves ruined by either being tied into paperwork focused nonsense or large organisations.

I will give the national trust credit. In my experience they do try there best.... Alas there hands are often tied by the current "thing"..... For example they are busy trashing a very productive arable farm near me planting trees in borderline inappropriate places..... There is good and bad, but there mentality changes with the wind..... Pre environment alot of funding was sapped from there farms and countryside carparks to fund the pointless renovation of houses that where better left as ruins..... Equally there previous (I think) board of trustees director left alot to be desired in his opinions on local people and there rights to live in the area they grew up. This annoyed me to the point I sent it up the chain.

Small organisations aren't always any better..... And there is more chance of disrepair and it simply being abandoned.

Just my thoughts

 

[V8Druid]

Pretty much, but tbh I'd not worry alot. The amount of hours you will put on it will mean most of the wear and damage will be caused by nature and time.

Regards safeguarding reserves, charity's trusts and the future..... IMHO find someone local who's reasonably young and gift it in your will. Nothing worse than watching good habitat and reserves ruined by either being tied into paperwork focused nonsense or large organisations.

could do a lot worse and done right, you'd have the time to 'vet' candidates

 

[DaveDCB]

Steel tracks and comes with thumb

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There you go! Job done

 

[Henchard]

Once again thanks for all the input.

Just to be clear I'm not looking for any advice on how to manage/set up trusts etc. the land etc. This non commercial smallholding/private nature reserve is just a retirement project for myself and wife. We have done a lot over the last 12 years here and hope to have a lot more fun before 'croaking it'.

It's just the mechanical side of things that I'm looking for advice on as I'm not good with machines and can just about use a grease gun.

Here in the photos is some of the work that we did last year when i started clearing the adjacent land (using a hired excavator/driver) I bought and then putting up a new shed.

All input on excavators and ancillary kit welcome. You've already given me a lot to think about. Thanks.

 

[V8Druid]

No not VAT registered. Just an old boy in retirement creating a private nature reserve and homestead before shuffling of this mortal coil. Thus trying to keep away from paperwork. Appreciate all the input from everyone Clearly a private sale (no VAT) wouuld be better but then I suspect that buying from a reputeable dealer is safer?

That Doosan above is 4000 hours was kind of thinking something half of that if possible. Presumeably service history is the important thing here?

Here is part of the projectView attachment 46192

meant to say earlier ..... there is a property locally that looks remarkably like this one of yours, between Aber and Usk ... once made them a big fire canopy for their massive inglenook .. many, many years ago .. looks a lovely spot Boyo

 

[JD450A]

Once again thanks for all the input.

Just to be clear I'm not looking for any advice on how to manage/set up trusts etc. (using a hired excavator/driver) I bought and then putting up a new shed.

Word of warning your going to get it whether you like it or not from this forum

 

[Giles]

I know three rangers who were let go in the Covid cull. Two now work at other reserves- one a local place, the other run by Butterfly Conservation. Neither have a good word to say about the NT in comparison to where they are now.

So they were let go….

And they say the new place that hired them is better

We’ll strike me down with a feather….