Members of a charity who fought to save a Tayside woodland are celebrating after they became its official owners.
The fate of Dronley Wood, which sits just off the Dundee to Newtyle road in Angus, was thrown in doubt in early 2017 after Forest Enterprise Scotland announced it wanted to sell the land.
Locals swung into action and formed the Dronley Community Woodland (DCW) charity with the aim of becoming trustees of the site.
The DCW was awarded a grant of £394,000 by the Scottish Land Fund late last year, allowing it to save Dronley Woods for the community.
A celebration gathering was held at the wood’s car park at the weekend to mark the transfer.
Members of the charity shared the good news with assembled visitors and took them on a guided walk to demonstrate what plans they have for the future of the woods.
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The first step, now possible thanks to the Scottish Land Fund grant, is to look for staff to maintain the grounds.
The 50-hectare site, located between Dundee and the Sidlaw hillsides, is laced with a network of well-used paths leading from its public car park.
The wood’s Scots Pines are home to a lively community of red squirrels and a wide range of other wildlife.
It also boasts impressive views across the Sidlaws and out over the Firth of Tay to the North Sea.
Daniel Gilmour, DCW chairman, said he and the group were thrilled by the latest development.
He said: “We are absolutely delighted that Dronley Wood’s future now looks secure. Now the hard work begins, and the next stage will be to employ a part-time woodland manager.
“We have already obtained funding for this important post for the first two years.”
Funding from Angus Leader has also been agreed. This will be used to spruce up a 800m path from the car park, improving it to Paths for All standard.
The programme will include the addition of benches, picnic areas and information boards by the path.
Longer-term plans for the management of Dronley Woods include providing facilities for a “forest school” and this will be one of the objectives for the new woodland manager.
