Wynyard Woodland Park Friends Group is a new venture for the park and was first advertised through the Friends Summer Solstice B-B-Q in June 2005 and later through the annual Country Craft Fayre in August. Membership is growing from strength to strength and the inaugural meeting of the Friends took place in September 2005 in Wynyard Planetarium.

The Friends meet once every month at the park. Although their purpose is similar to that of the Trust in many ways, the Friends operate at much more of a grass roots level and are more involved with the work of the Rangers on a day-to-day basis.

At meetings the Friends hear about park updates and developments from the Countryside Ranger Service, and meetings provide them with an opportunity to have a say in how the park is run. The Friends support the work of the rangers through organising events, volunteering and assisting with promotion and publicity of the park and park activities. The Friends group provides a voice for the local community and a consultation forum for discussing important issues. Certain grants that are not available to local authorities are also open to application from the Friends Group and therefore this is another important way the Friends can assist the Countryside Service in developing and managing the Woodland Park for the benefit of conservation, education and recreation.

For further information on the Friends Group, contact Countryside Ranger David Neal on (1740) 630011.