Angus Wood

Angus Wood today

Chair Jenny’s March 2021 Newsletter here:March 2021 BET Newsletter

Angus Wood is a thriving community woodland. A haven of tranquillity in Blandford’s town centre. The wood is permanently open to the public and is a great place to unwind. Used by residents and their families, children, visitors and dog walkers, and a great spot for a picnic. Halloween in Angus Wood is very popular with young families and a successful sustainability fair or summer fete may be held once Covid-19 restrictions allow.

Walkers in the wood are welcome to bring their dogs as long as they pick up any dog waste and dispose of it in the red bin provided. This is important as children often play freely in the wood. It is also important that volunteers who work to maintain the wood in a fit state for public access are able to do so without being contaminated.

Thoughtless dog owners are leaving their dog’s poo in the wood. Please stop doing it!

Snowdrops in the wood March 2021

History

Angus Wood was donated to the community by the Angus Family in 1990. The Woodland Trust planted the wood for Mrs Jean Angus in 1985. The family, who were keen nature lovers, is delighted that the wood has become even more of a community asset under the management of the Blandford Environmental Trust (BET), and that it continues to carry their name.

Managed by the community for the benefit of the community

Neglected for a number of years as a difficult to maintain small wood, The Woodland Trust sought community involvement. Blandford Rotary took the initiative to set-up the BET as a limited company in partnership with the Blandford Town Museum and The Blandford School, with the aim of maintaining the wood for the benefit of the community and as an open air classroom for schools and community groups of all ages. The Woodland Trust granted BET a 25-year lease on the wood in June 2010. The fine oak tree planted in the clearing at the time promises to have a very long life.

Our Management Plan is available here 2021_Angus Wood Management Summary-5

Sir Ghillean Prance, President of Blandford Rotary at the time Jim Atkins and happy children plant a fine oak tree during the opening ceremony

Geoff leading the way installing our new noticeboard, well built by Blandford’s Men in Sheds

Friends of Angus Wood

The healthy state of the wood today has been achieved through the efforts of the directors and, most importantly, by the Friends of Angus Wood. Before lock down we installed a new oak notice board – made for us by Blandford’s ‘Men in Sheds’.  Crucially, work maintenance mornings held on the last Saturday of the month between 10.00 am and 12.00 noon, with coffee at 11.00 am, keep the wood in good condition throughout the year. These will resume in April 2021 with social distancing and face masks in place. Members of The Blandford School’s 6th form environmental group play an active part in our work mornings. Membership is open to all – we particularly welcome local residents and families of all ages.If you would like to become a member of the Blandford Environmental Trust (BET) and the Friends of Angus Wood (annual membership fee £10) please e-mail the BET Secretary at http://mail to: [email protected] or phone 01258 458911,and either ask for an application form to be posted to you or print off and complete the form below and send it to:

GDPR

GDPR documents and the consent form can be read here:

20210320 BET GDPR Privacy Statement

20210320 BET GDPR Policy

20210320 BET GDPR Consent form

BET Team

Chair: Jenny Thompson

Directors: Dr. Sylvia Hixson Andrews, Dr. Peter Andrews, Steve Adamson and Martin Nicol (Nic)

Treasurer Geoff Poskitt.

Blandford Rotary Club

‘Supporting the community in the Blandford area’