BACKGROUND

This insurance scheme was originally established in 1988 by the then National Small Woods Association through Bervale Mead Insurance Brokers. It was designed for owners of amenity, leisure & conservation woods who were finding it increasingly difficult to find individual property owner's public liability cover that was not prohibitively expensive and is now available for owners of woods up to a maximum of 75 hectares in size (185 acres) .

The scheme is currently open to all amenity woodland owners, collectives, community groups, residents associations, parish councils, tenants, etc., who can buy into the scheme and get the full cover that an individual policy would give but at a much lower cost*.

The standard cover is Woodland Owners Public Liability that indemnifies the insured for accidental bodily injury e.g. to a trespasser or visitor; and loss of or damage to property of a third party e.g. neighbouring property, fences, buildings, etc., up to a limit of £5 million in any one claim. There is no Excess.

(*NB: Owners of woods of a commercial nature cannot be covered by this policy. Also owners requiring 'growing timber' cover should click on 'SUMMARY OF COVERS AVAILABLE' from the list on the left hand side and obtain a quote from Willis Ltd).

The block policy runs from 1st July - 30th June annually and this year the cost is set at £112.00 per wood from 1st July 2009, this includes the minimum Annual Premium charged by the Broker (£81.00), the government Insurance Premium Tax (£4.05) and the Policy Holders Fee (£26.95), and is irrespective of the size of the woodland (up to the maximum allowed) or number of owners or whenever you join the scheme. However, if you join the Scheme after 1st January 2010, the cost is reduced to £79 (Broker £50.00, IPT £2.50 and PHF £26.50) for the remaining six months or any part thereof, until 30th June 2010.

However, the insurance cover does not extend to activities carried out in your wood such as shooting, horse-riding, motor-cycling, orienteering, etc., that  should be insured by the organisation or individual running those activities. Any such activity must be noted on the proposal form under ‘Supplementary Information’. You are advised to satisfy yourself that appropriate cover has been arranged by the organisers for these activities.

Owners are advised that any woods containing hazards such as permanent lakes and ponds, streams and rivers, seasonal ponds and streams, mineshafts, quarries, saw-mills, etc. may not be accepted. Each applications will be considered on its merits and owners should consult the Broker, Willis Ltd, Woodland Section, on 0870 010 0410 in advance of applying for cover. Please enquire if you wish further clarification on your suspected hazard.

Store sheds, cabins, summerhouses, treehouses, buildings, etc., or their contents, are not covered under this policy. A separate quote can be requested direct from Willis Ltd on 0870 010 0410.

To take advantage of the scheme please download the proposal form by clicking on the link 'DOWNLOAD PROPOSAL FORM' from the list on the left and send it with your cheque for £112.00, (or £79.00 if between 1st January and 30th June 2010), payable to RAP Ltd, to the address above. If you are unable to download the form it can be requested by phone or email and mailed or emailed to you.

There is much more information on the other seven pages of this website that you are advised to read. To access any of them just click on the link from the list on the left hand side of the page.