to not let my 8yro ds in to nearby woods without an adult

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I let ds out to play around the estate where we live. It's a secluded private estate, everyone knows each other, very safe and lots of green areas where the children play. I'm fine with this. He wears a watch and is back by set time. He has just knocked to ask if he can go to nearby woods (5 min walk away, out of our estate) with his friends aged 9, 9 and 11. I said no, ran it past dh who also agreed it's a no. Ds thinks we are being unfair as his friends are allowed to. I just feel it's too risky and I'm just not comfortable with the idea. Would you have let your 8yro go?

Okay, well fake I'm not sure how to answer that for the small minority keeping their children unhealthily wrapped in cotton wool so I guess I'm talking from the point of view of people already in the 'developing their skills and letting them live normally' camp.

But we aren't in Germany. Comparisons over anything really on what other countries do are always going to be subject to a multitude of variables. You can't transport a cultural norm without the context very easily.
My nephews are disciplined physically and raised on sugared milk because it's the norm where they live. But that's meaningless because over here eyebrows would be raised.

In general we are very hysterical over children in the UK.

It would depend who the other children are and where we lived. My 12 year old is allowed to go fishing in the woods with his friends, as they take their dogs, my dog's a baby still but very smart, loyal and has a deep bark, his friend has a German Shepherd (nuff said). There are some children I've known and some places I've lived in the past where I would say 'no way' and often not be 100% on why. So perhaps you should trust your instinct behind saying no and perhaps review it when he's older.

I might, depending on the area. Where I used to live we played in the woods all the time as youngsters. I've been back and it's still just as idyllic.

Our local woods aren't so nice. Frequented by drinkers and full of rubbish. I wouldn't want them coming across needles and stuff (DH found some down our road)

I wish they could have the freedom I had but actually it's not the "perverts" I'm worried about it's the drivers who don't bother stopping at the nearest road crossing when the lights are red.

YANBU, it's very much your call. I wouldn't let my ds, 7.5 because he just isn't ready. It also sounds too far away. However, I'd be more likely to let him play with friends in woods than on our nice estate as I worry far more about traffic than murderers. It all depends on your perception of risk and what you know of how mature your ds is etc.