Blandford Environmental Trust

The Blandford Environmental Trust Ltd (BET) was set up in 2010 as a partnership between the Blandford Town Museum, the Rotary Club, and The Blandford School. The Trust was established to manage Angus Wood after the Woodland Trust sought a local community group to take on responsibility for it. It is a charitable company limited by guarantee, with the company number 07285622.
BET also supports other environmental projects in the Blandford area such as sustainability events and organises community fundraising events including Blandford’s Hidden Gardens Day. Visit BET’s Facebook page for more information, and click here to download an application and help support BET by becoming a member and Friend of Angus Wood.

Angus Wood

Angus Wood is a small (0.5ha) plot of young woodland situated amongst housing near Blandford town centre. It was planted by the Woodland Trust for Mrs Jean Angus in 1985, and donated to the community by the Angus Family in 1990. Because of the difficulties of maintaining a small wood, it fell into neglect for several years until the Woodland Trust sought community involvement. The newly established BET was granted a 25 year lease on the wood, which was formally opened under our management by Sir Gillean Prance (former Head of Kew Gardens) on 1st July 2010.

The woodland remains permanently open to the public, with public liability insurance, and is managed by BET members and other volunteers as a wildlife woodland in accordance with the aims of the Woodland Trust. Volunteers meet in the wood every month to carry out maintenance work and ensure it is safe for people to visit.

The wood may not always look tidy, but birds and animals prefer the woodland with less interference. Insects live in dead and fallen trees and branches, and provide food for birds and animals such as hedgehogs. Ivy is left growing on trees to provide habitat for birds and insects, of which there would be fewer if the trees all had bare trunks.

Angus Wood has been used for nature-based and storytelling events for all age groups organised by BET, as well as its annual Halloween Spooktacular at the end of October, when the wood is decorated to create a magical experience for all the family. It is also a great place for a walk, with or without a dog, for picnicking, listening to the birds singing or just looking at the beautiful trees.

Angus Wood is on St Leonard Avenue, Blandford Forum DT11 7PJ. OS Grid Ref: ST 88973 06563.
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Blandford’s Hidden Gardens

This popular event gives residents and visitors a chance to discover some of the private gardens tucked away behind the walls and buildings of the town centre and surrounding streets.