Woodland at Unesco site for sale after 300 years

The land is being marketed for about £1.2m

A plot of ancient woodland on the shores of England's largest lake has gone up for sale for the first time in 300 years.

The 32-acre (13-hectare) site at Windermere, in the Lake District's Unesco world heritage site, has been put on the market with a guide price of between £1m and £1.2m.

H&H Land and Estate, the company marketing it, said the land was designated as ancient and semi-natural woodland, meaning there were restrictions on how it could be used.

A spokesman said the land had a mix of broadleaf trees and open glades with a variety of waterfront flora and fauna.

It sits on the eastern shore of the lake, under the summit of Gummer's How, near Newby Bridge.

According to the Woodland Trust, ancient woods are areas of woodland that have been around since 1600 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and 1750 in Scotland.

H&H said it was the first time in more than 300 years that it was up for sale.

"It is impossible to overstate just how remarkable and a one-off this opportunity is," director Mark Barrow said.