Anagach Woods

Anagach Woods Community-owned native pinewood covering 1000 acres in Grantown-on-Spey. A must-visit for wildlife, walking and bike trails.

The heather has faded, but our volunteers are still blooming... 🌸Our first 2026 autumn volunteer day, and after a dreich...
23/09/2026

The heather has faded, but our volunteers are still blooming... 🌸

Our first 2026 autumn volunteer day, and after a dreich start the sun shone on James, Eustace, Dawn, Alastair, Jamie, Fiona, Chloe, Emma and Oli, who joined Andrew, Simon and Ian for a spot of path maintenance.

The first task was to complete the installation of the new waymarkers along the All Abilities Trail. Made from materials sourced from the woods, the bases were made by volunteer woodworkers, and the tops by pupils from Grantown Grammar School. Each waymarker has been finished with preservative generously donated by All Finishes.

We also reinstalled a waymarker for the Speyside Way, while the returning to the Curling Club via the Old Military Road provided an opportunity to trim some overhanging branches. Suitably fortified after a well earned lunch break our volunteers tackled some path resurfacing work on the blue route.

We still have a few slots left on our 2026 programme, as ever you can sign up here: https://cairngorms.co.uk/taking-part/volunteering/volunteering-opportunities

Have you ever seen a caterpillar like this? This green beauty was lurking on the edge of the woods this week – check out...
18/09/2026

Have you ever seen a caterpillar like this? This green beauty was lurking on the edge of the woods this week – check out that spiky tail horn! 🐛

We were tipped off by our eagle-eyed Trustee Nick, who spotted it on his way to our latest board meeting. Luckily, there was still one hanging around the next morning.

It’s a Poplar Hawkmoth in the prime of life. According to the Woodland Trust, the larvae feed from June to October, before pupating and overwintering in the soil

Picture 3 shows you what it will eventually turn into – an equally impressive adult with amazing scalloped wings. This one was caught in the moth trap at our Family Day earlier this year.

Incredibly, the adult moth does not eat during its short life, relying instead on the fat built up as a caterpillar.

🗣 HAVE YOU HEARD FROM US LATELY?We’re tidying up our membership register to make sure we have the most up-to-date inform...
06/09/2026

🗣 HAVE YOU HEARD FROM US LATELY?

We’re tidying up our membership register to make sure we have the most up-to-date information for everyone. There’s also an AGM in November and we want to make sure our members know.

Maybe you've moved or changed email - tell us how to contact you!

Those with PH26 3 addresses are our Ordinary Members and have the right to vote on matters of importance to the Trust. Everyone else is an Associate Member.

No matter what type of membership you have, everyone gets a copy of our lovely seasonal newsletter giving updates about the Trust’s activities… the next one is coming out soon and will feature our recent volunteering days and beautiful creatures spotted in the woods (animals, not our Trustees!).

WHAT WE NEED
• Your name;
• Your permanent address, including postcode;
• An email address – most of our correspondence takes place over email these days!

Email us on [email protected] with your updated details or use the membership form on our website.

Grantown On Spey

Our volunteering team had a great time at the Sustainable Strathspey Greentown Show on Saturday. The scheduled woodworki...
03/09/2026

Our volunteering team had a great time at the Sustainable Strathspey Greentown Show on Saturday. The scheduled woodworking session moved to the Square, putting our skills firmly in the spotlight.

The team set to work on a new bench for the woods and we gave visitors to our stall the chance to have their say on where it should go.

It was wonderful to meet so many people interested in what’s happening in the woods and we had great fun with some forest-related activities.

Thanks to Sustainable Strathspey for another brilliant event!

CALLING GRANTOWN RESIDENTS - JOIN OUR BOARD!Some of our long-standing Trustees are leaving at the next AGM so we’re star...
01/09/2026

CALLING GRANTOWN RESIDENTS - JOIN OUR BOARD!

Some of our long-standing Trustees are leaving at the next AGM so we’re starting the search to find new members of the community to help us look after the woods.

Trustees get involved in lots of ways and we’d love to hear from those who can add to our skillset.

We would particularly like to hear from those who have had experience of sitting on a Trust or Board in the past and understand some of the governance issues involved.

We’re also keen to see younger members of the community come forward and join, along with those with skills and experience of community engagement.

And you should be able to attend our monthly board meetings are typically on Mondays, 6-8pm.

Most of all, we want people who are keen, enthusiastic and want to help look after our wonderful woodland: like Stef, who joined last year.

Stef said: “I’ve learnt so much – from taking part in nature restoration volunteering sessions to learning about how to conduct a woodland habitat assessment. Being able to put aspects of my environmental charity day job into practice has been invaluable.

“It’s been rewarding to give back to the woodlands which I enjoy visiting almost every day. It’s a privilege to help to look after our community woodland as simply, trees are important. Especially as our climate continues to change and we see the effects of this right on our doorstep. Supporting this magnificent ecosystem for future generations is a contribution I am very happy to make.”

If you’re interested to find out more, drop us a line with any questions by September 13 at [email protected]

Grantown On Spey

💦 TURNING THE TIDE ON VICTORIAN DRAINAGEOur brave volunteers Dieter, Alex, Alex, Phillip, Jamie and Adam recently joined...
23/08/2026

💦 TURNING THE TIDE ON VICTORIAN DRAINAGE

Our brave volunteers Dieter, Alex, Alex, Phillip, Jamie and Adam recently joined Andrew, Pete, Simon and Ian to build some permeable dams along Victorian drainage ditches.

It is understood that these historical features were dug out by hand more than 100 years ago in order to lower the water table for various reasons.

Times change and we want to increase the water table. The dams are created by digging out the earth upstream. That material is supplemented by small bits of timber found nearby to make the dam. These constructions do not block the water flow completely – but they do reduce it significantly to allow a small pond to form behind the dam. We also dig out small channels leading out from the pond to create a wider area of wetland. This forms an important wildlife habitat and increases fire resilience in the woods.

Not all of our volunteer days are as wet and muddy but they are all fun. Find out by joining us: you can sign up here: https://cairngorms.co.uk/taking-part/volunteering/volunteering-opportunities

CALLING OUR GRANTOWN MEMBERS!A quick reminder that Anagach Woods Trust is holding an EGM tonight at 7pm at the Grant Arm...
18/08/2026

CALLING OUR GRANTOWN MEMBERS!

A quick reminder that Anagach Woods Trust is holding an EGM tonight at 7pm at the Grant Arms Hotel. This is to consider the conversion of the Trust to a Scottish Charitiable Organisation.

A reminder, with relevant papers, was emailed to all our members last week. Ordinary members – those with Grantown addresses – are eligible to vote.

We will also be giving a short update on activities in the woods after the formal business is completed.

If you are unable to attend, please fill in the proxy form and return it ASAP to [email protected]

Anagach Woods Trust will be at Sustainable Strathspey's Greentown Show again this year. We’ll have information about our...
13/08/2026

Anagach Woods Trust will be at Sustainable Strathspey's Greentown Show again this year.

We’ll have information about our plans for the woods over the next year and some fun woodland-related activities for all ages. And you could even lend a hand - we’ll be running our woodworking session in the Square and there are a couple of spaces still available. Pictured are some of our activities from last year (thanks to Rosie Beetschen for the photos!)

The event runs on Saturday August 29, 10am-3pm. You can book your place on our volunteering session by visiting the Cairngorms National Park Authority portal: https://cairngorms.co.uk/taking-part/volunteering

A heads up that Roots and Shoots Highland will be in the woods this week, running their annual forest schools for local ...
03/08/2026

A heads up that Roots and Shoots Highland will be in the woods this week, running their annual forest schools for local youngsters.

That means there will be lots of activity, fun and probably a few shouts coming from the area beyond the Curling Pond, and on the meadow, AKA the old dump, from Tuesday to Thursday.

We wish the group well and hope everyone has a fantastic time learning some new skills and gaining new knowledge about nature.

💚💚💚

P.S. these are a few pictures of what they got up to last year!

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Grantown On Spey
Grantown On Spey

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