In 1974 Banff and Buchan District Council purchased the Aden site and in 1975 Aden was designated a Country Park. Aden Country Park is now owned and managed by a team of staff from Aberdeenshire Council Services working in partnership with a variety of community volunteer partners. The team includes:
The Landscape Services department of Infrastructure Services manage the day-to-day running of the park. This includes operating the onsite plant nursery and sawmill, carrying out regular grass cutting, litter collection, and weed prevention, along with the general upkeep of the lake and woodland, and maintenance of facilities such as the children’s play area. The Landscape Services Officer for Buchan and maintenance staff are based in the park.
Live Life Aberdeenshire is part of Aberdeenshire Council and manages the Aberdeenshire Farming Museum, Hareshowe Working Farm, North East Folklore Archive (NEFA), and the Aberdeenshire Recording Centre, which are all located within Aden Country Park.
Two part-time Buchan Countryside Rangers are based within Aden Country Park. The Ranger Service main aims are to providing support to help people enjoy the outdoors; increase awareness, understanding, care and responsible use of the natural and cultural heritage; and to support the sustainable management and use of the outdoors. The Ranger Service delivers a wide range of events, along with school and group sessions, in Aden and across Buchan.
Buchan Day Opportunities helps adults with learning disability, autism, and multiple disabilities to meet their needs in their local communities. The service covers Peterhead, Mintlaw and the surrounding areas. In Aden, Buchan Day Opportunities run the Woodcraft at Aden project, based in a purpose-built workshop selling a wide range of high-quality garden furniture, kindlers, and other wooden items. In addition, Buchan Day Opportunities man the Aden Craft & Gift Shop in partnership with the Friends of Aden volunteers.
The Property Service is responsible for building maintenance. The Estates section of the Property Service manage the leases within the park, these include the Café at Aden, Craft & Gift Shop, Gardeners and Grieve’s Cottage, and the Aden caravan & Camping Site.
Buchan Development Partnership (BDP) is an independent, community-led initiative working with communities across Buchan. BDP support new and existing community projects of all sizes by providing information and advice on funding, applications, governance and structure, project planning, feasibility studies, community consultations and capacity building. In Aden BDP manage the Aden Caravan & Camping Site, the Café at Aden, and also deliver a range of events and activities within the park.
The Friends of Aden main aim is to provide local people with an opportunity to be involved with, and have a greater say in, Aden Country Park, and how it is developed. The Friends of Aden work alongside the various Aberdeenshire Council services and community partners, to preserve, protect and enhance the facilities and environment of Aden Country Park, creating a place that is safe for everyone to enjoy.
The Mintlaw and District Men Shed group is based in the newly renovated Gardener’s Cottage and yard area in Aden Country Park. The group are a friendly bunch of guys who enjoy getting stuck in with a wide range of projects. Men’s Sheds are community spaces for men to connect, converse and create. The activities are often similar to those of garden sheds, but for groups of men to enjoy together. They help reduce loneliness and isolation, but most importantly, they’re fun.
The Aden Allotments are situated just off the main drive in Aden Country Park. The allotments are run by the plot holders themselves under the name of Aden Community Allotment Association (ACAA). The allotments can be rented by anyone who lives in Mintlaw and surrounding area. There are many recognised benefits to having an allotment, people learn new skills, grown their own food, reduce food miles, save money, get exercise, improve physical and mental wellbeing, spend more time outside enjoying nature, as well as meeting friendly like-minded folk
