to think no one should own land and ignore a sign saying private woods

[mls3]

Ok o will probably get flamed here.

But there is a badly managed woods near me with am old broken sign that say private woods. Aibu to collect a few broken branches for the wood burner? I know it is stealing, but this woods is overgrown and I'm thinking how unethical it is for anyone to own land.

Land used to all be free, until someone carved it all up to hoard for themselves. If land was still free now maybe we wouldn't have to all be working such stupid hours wasting our lives doing a job we don't like.

^^ my favourite joke!
Meh, take the wood just don't hurt yourself and sue them!

"But, I do think that gathering fallen wood would probably fall under foraging. Which is permitted so long as it is only for personal use."

I'm pretty sure that it would be permissible under the Theft Act but the trespass which is necessary to obtain the wood would be a civil offence.

IMHO it wouldn't be the taking of the wood which would annoy me, it would be the intrustion onto my property.

What a strange thread I've found myself in..

Hahaha this is like when my 5 year old tries to justify something utterly outrageous with some sort of twisted logic that only applies to him But he is 5 it is allowed.

You presumably are a grown up so you don't need to make up some lame story to justify you pinching a few bits of wood. Because that's what this is about. You want to pinch a few bits of wood for your wood burner. You dressing this up as some kind of stand against the establishment is just silly.

Whether it is morally right or not is irrelevent in this case. Actually I agree with you that it stinks that so few have so much while most people struggle, particularly when you consider how those with the fantastic amount of wealth acquired it. Or rather, their ancestors did...

But we don't live in the world that ought to be, we live in the world that is and I am fairly sure that if the landowner caught you and chose to take action, the judge would not be interested in your defence of land should belong to everyone.

You could choose to find out who the land belongs to and if you can gather some wood. I bet that unless there's some big reason why the woodland is left (environmental, endangered species, protected habitat, whatever) they'd probably be ok with people gathering wood off the ground. There's something about the legality of it here click here

And you're right, it is artificial. I am fairly sure the birds in the sky take no notice of which humans reckon to own which bits of the world. But they don't have to. We, otoh, created societies with rules and laws and there are consequences for disregarding them.

I could say to you that all property is theft, and come into your house and take your TV. You'd still call the police and have me arrested. And rightly so.

You can find out who owns the land, ask at the council first as that search is likely to be free, others you'll need to pay for. Do approach the owners they may be happy to give you some firewood in exchange for doing a touch of coppicing. I'd let you take some fallen wood in exchange for labour, nothing in this life is free, it may be in the next.

But you are not talking about going into a wood to dig for gold, but picking stuff up that is on top of the soil?

Would you feel better if you popped one of these on while you take your wood? That'll show 'em... Capitalist bastards!!

Basically, you want to trespass and steal some logs but you don't want to feel bad about it.

As someone who moved to a farm 25 years ago having only 'owned' (courtesy of the bank) a house and flat before, I feel able to add something to this debate.
First the 'ownership' is actually 'stewardship' - with nature on your doorstep it doesn't half remind you that it is permanent and you are so temporary!
Second, some people cannot see how them camping/walking etc somewhere is anything like doing same in someone's garden - but the psychological envelope is the same. (And we don't actually have a garden).
Third, although the land is pretty tough the animals on it are vulnerable - whether pets, stock or wildlife one has nurtured and protected them and you feel a responsibility. Oh and the trees too - many of which we planted.
The animals recognise us as their humans too in a humbling way. It is surprising how they react differently to strangers than when it is just us. Most lovely is how when our children were little the animals recognised them as our babies. It is during the winter that the animals need us of course - in the summer they are quite happy off on their own!
It is a privilege to steward land but also a responsibility and the experience of a quarter century of the four seasons in this stunningly beautiful place is something that others simply do not have. We are happy to share it - ramblers regularly cross the permissive footpath we established to link two viewpoints but we close it during lambing. Visitors to the neighbour's SC cottages with children come to meet the animals.

The problem is the lack of mutual understanding between those who have always had land and those who never have - a tricky gap to bridge. Also the variations in humanity mean that some who have land are stupid, feckless, lazy etc. All their neighbours know this and disapprove and they don't have much success with livestock if they lack the sensitivity and observation/commitment to animals.
As for collecting wood - not a big deal really. Neighbours help each other - mine offered to loan me the money for a new washing machine yesterday as our old one has broken down and we are skint.

Oh and we and our closest neighbour are Labour voters and most here are Lib Dem!

OP, you presumably do not own a house and never will as a matter of conscience. You also don't mind people walking through your garden (if you have one as part of your rental), or by extension through your house as it is on land.

correct?

jealousy belongs in the playground.

Woodland Trust information on how dead wood helps endangered insect species. Without speaking to the owner to ask permission to remove dead branches, you don't know if the "bad management" is actually wildlife conservation.

Of course she owns her house. She has a bloody wood burner.

Mls3 - the Land Registry will be able to tell you who owns the land, so you can approach them for permission to gather wood.

Your argument, though, is ridiculous, and based purely on envy.

On what grounds, and with what qualifications are you stating that this woodland is badly managed?

"99% of the land is owned by 1% of the population"

Is that really true? I can't help but feel a little cynical about such a 'tidy' and convenient statistic.

A lot of land will be government owned, where does that count?

"Of course she owns her house. She has a bloody wood burner."

Eh? What's this law they've been keeping from me? The one about rented properties not being permitted to contain wood burners?

iK8 you think tenants don't have woodburners? Are you serious?

I love this thread

What? What???

Do people actually think this? Are people actually this dim?

Goodness me :)

eservices.landregistry.gov.uk/www/wps/portal/!ut/p/b1/hc7NCoJAFAXgR7p_4zgubeE4BEkYlHcTs5AwdNxEz1-2qyjv7sB3DhcUOioKYkKbE5xAU7wPl3gb5hTHJas9CztDZLh2YnMMWeWFDpmgkSfo_gBPa_22T3AE_WBNVWKQTbP1smdE-wXedxyvgOWPF8AfVyLs6nnqYdLRteFqHqE1bl0!/dl4/d5/L0lDU0lKSmdrS0NsRUpDZ3BSQ2dwUkNTQS9ZSVVJQUFJSUlJTU1JS0VFQUFDR09HT0NHSUJKRkpGQkpORE5EQk5ISUVBTExBISEvNEczYUQyZ2p2eWhDa3lGTU5RaWt5RktOUmprS2NhZ21Rb2dnL1o3XzMyODQxMTQySDgzNjcwSTVGRzMxVDUzOFY0LzAvaWJtLmludi8yNzI5NzEyMjU5MzEvc3BmX0FjdGlvbk5hbWUvc3BmX0FjdGlvbkxpc3RlbmVyL3NwZl9zdHJ1dHNBY3Rpb24vITJmTWFwRW5xdWlyeUluaXQuZG8!/

Rental houses with woodburners

OP - I grew up in the country. A large wooded area near us had 'private' signs up. In fact, all local people were allowed a permit to walk in the woods. But the landowner would send us out information about shoots, etc, thus ensuring we didn't get a backside peppered with shot. I think that, at the very least, I'd be aware that there may be good reasons why you shouldn't wander about private woodland.

Maybe I don't live in the right kind of area, but the only people I know with woodburners are the definitely well-off. And rented houses with woodburners are not the kind of houses that people have when they can't afford the wood to burn.

I own a bit of land, including a wood. If someone knocked on my door and asked if they could have some, I would happily show them which bit they can clear. If someone helped themselves I would call the police.

The joys of owning land include taking a bin bag round the edge next to the road since people just chuck bags of rubbish over the fence :( but who cares? Serves me right for owning it probably.

Most land is owned by farmers who work it.

The argument is daft, by that rationale I could go in to your garden and steal your stuff. After all, all property is theft and if you've got what I need, why shouldn't i? Especially if you haven't mowed your lawn!

You're not one of those Freeman of the land gobshites are you?