Our projects are designed to help the Community Access the Woods and improve conditions for priority species. You can help us with our projects by joining a volunteer day.
Our Projects
Community access
Path maintenance: the maintenance and improvement of the core path network in the woods, carried out by our volunteers
Signage upgrades: We use local wood in our workshop to produce signs and benches
Leisure opportunities
Bike park renovations: in the summer of 2024 an external contractor was appointed (kindly funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund through the Cairngorms National Park Capercaillie Project) to refurbish and improve the bike skills area. The Trust plans to continue work in this area. Future work may include renewing old and damaged signage, improving some of the trails around the bike skills area and making use of some of the felled wood to make benches for spectators and tired cyclists alike
Habitat restoration
Many of our volunteer days are focused on habitat restoration projects:
- Removal of non-native trees and plants
- Increasing the quantity of deadwood present and improving the diversity and structure of the woodland
- Selective thinning of Scots Pine to provide improved habitat for insects such as the northern damselfly
- Building dams along man-made drainage ditches to raise the water table in areas of wet woodland and bog woodland. This will improve wildlife habitat and reduce fire risk
- Creating and expand ponds to benefit wildlife
- Removal of unnecessary fencing and other barriers
- Tree winching to provide dust bowls for animals such as the Capercaillie
- Allow the natural expansion (without planting) of broadleaf species to parts of the woodland where they are missing or present in low numbers
- Managing the meadow areas in the woods to encourage native wildflowers
Species conservation projects
We work with other organisations to improve the habitat for some of the rare and endangered species that inhabit the woods:
Remembering loved ones
Memorial benches: If you would like to install a memorial bench to remember a loved one please contact us
Scattering ashes: If you would like to scatter your loved one’s ashes in Anagach Woods, please contact the Trust before you do so. We will be happy to grant permission. Although human ashes are not toxic, the minerals (phosphate) in cremated bones can over stimulate plant growth and cause harm to certain organisms if scattered in large amounts. For this reason, it is best to scatter the ashes over a wide area, not just in one spot. Permission is usually granted on the understanding that the ashes will be scattered discreetly, without leaving any grave markers behind. As Anagach Woods is a natural woodland used by locals and visitors alike, we request that these few guidelines are followed:
- Scatter ashes thinly over a wide area away from the main pathways. To help you scatter the ashes, a container, known as a ‘scatter tube’ can be useful.
- Please do not mark the ground in any way, e.g. with flowers, plaques, crosses or large stones.
- Please do not plant any bulbs, flowers, or trees.
- Be aware of the environment – avoid areas of special conservation and try not to disturb the ground.
- Avoid waterways.
- Choose a quiet moment when fewer people are likely to be around.
- Avoid windy days