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Have you been to Scotland’s best small community woodland in Angus?

The village of Westmuir, near Kirriemuir, is enjoying a double celebration after also securing vital funds to upgrade the local hall.

By Graham Brown

February 15 2025, 7:00am

Trust members Ann Warren, Clare Ross, Lynda Grant and Philip Ross at the award-winning woodland. Image: Paul Reid

Westmuir has started 2025 with a spring in its step after morale-boosting winter for the Angus village.

And it hopes better weather will bring folk flocking to enjoy the efforts of what is officially Scotland’s best small community woodland.

The village, a mile west of Kirriemuir, bagged the accolade in Scotland’s Finest Woods awards.

It is deserved recognition for a project that first began 25 years ago.

Westmuir community woodland park — Ann, Lynda, Clare and Philip at the entrance to Westmuir Community Woodland Park. Image: Paul Reid

The excitement around the woodland win had barely subsided when it landed a lottery windfall to upgrade the village hall.

Locals are keen to get cracking on the hall project – and have no intention of resting on their woodland laurels.

Volunteers transformed acres of woodland

This community woodland was conceived about 25 years ago by a couple of visionary villagers.

It took five years and six figures’ worth of funding to transform three hectares of unused land.

Drovers historically used part of the woodland to rest their cattle on the way to market in Kirrie.

The wetland habitat now has a network of paths, boardwalks, seating and a play area.

Westmuir community trust volunteers at woodland park. — Volunteers work all year round to maintain the community woodland. Image: Paul Reid

It is run by the small group of volunteers who make up Westmuir Community Development Trust.

Ann Warren represented the group at the Holyrood awards ceremony for Scotland’s Finest Woods.

She said: “This charity has fundraised, organised work parties, planted trees and hedges, made paths and generally made the wood a welcoming place for villagers and local nature alike.

“We have been supported by grants and advice from charities and organisations.”

Angus criminal justice community payback team has also lent practical help to the project.

Ann continued: “Hard on the heels of this excitement has been the news that grant applications for upgrading the outside of the Westmuir Hall were successful from the National Lottery Community Fund and Kirriemuir Landward West Community Council.