If you go down to the woods today you’re sure of a big suprise - because it is up for sale for just £29,000.

A six-and-three-quarter acre patch of ancient woodland in Rusper, Crawley, is now on the market, offering any buyer a chance of buying a slice of tranquility.

And according to its current owner, more people are now interested in snapping up England’s wooded glens and glades for a wide range of reasons.

John Snape, regional sales manager at Woodlands for Sale, said: “There’s a real range of people who are interested.

“The new owner could be people from the city, families looking for a retreat or an individual who wants an area to recreationally manage.

“Last week I sold a plot in South Wales to a group of naturists who will used the land as a private retreat.”

The Rusper woodland is mostly oak and boasts a spring carpet of bluebells and other wild flowers.

The plot is also home to wild birds, including owls, goldfinch and woodpeckers.

The ancient semi-natural woodland is a Site of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCI) and also carries a Tree Preservation Order.

This means that the new owners cannot build a house on the plot and the woodland cannot be completely demolished Woodlands for Sale also make the buyer sign a covenant to ensure the land is not used in anyway which would be a nuisance to neighbours.

Mr Snape, who said the company was founded to widen the ownership of woodland, has been selling similar plots for 20 years.

And despite the restrictions he confirmed buying your own wood was very easy and demand is extremely high.

He said: “Unlike house prices the price of land has remained pretty stable.

“We’ve seen more business in the past year as people are looking to invest their savings into something real.

“The woodland gives you a place to get away from everything.

“And because it requires no upkeep once you buy it all you can do is enjoy it.”

Paul Rowley, Head of Strategic planning at Horsham District Council, confirmed the Great Brandy Wood site did not fit into any local development plans for the future.

Mr Rowley said: “Any development on the land will be small scale.”