Forest of Marston Vale - Beds - Wikipedia Entries on Waymarking.com

The Forest of Marston Vale is an evolving community forest in Marston Vale, which runs south west from the towns of Bedford and Kempston in Bedfordshire, England towards the M1 motorway. It is operated by a registered charity called the Marston Vale Trust.

The vale is traditionally a brickmaking area, but brickmaking industry has been running down since the 1970s. It has left a large amount of spoiled countryside containing several large empty pits some of which have now been converted into lakes. The Forest of Marston Vale is one of twelve of community forest projects in the United Kingdom. It was initiated by the Countryside Agency and the Forestry Commission, in partnership with Bedfordshire County Council, Mid Bedfordshire District Council, and Bedford Borough Council. The total area covered is 61 square miles (158 km²), but most of this land is in private ownership. There are incentives for landowners to plant trees, and the target for community forests in general is to reach 30 % tree cover.

The principal public open space in the Forest is Marston Vale Millennium Country Park which covers 2.5 km² (1 mile²) and was opened in 2000. The park features several lakes including the large Stewartby Lake and extensive wetlands. There is a visitor centre called the Forest Centre, which has a Lakeside Cafe, shop, toilets and bike rental through Route 51 Cycles. According to the official website the park attracts around a quarter of a million visitors a year. There are plans to create a larger park of over 3 square miles (7.8 km2) to the east of Bedford, which will be called Bedford River Valley Park.

The Forest Centre and Millennium Country Park is easy to find and just minutes from Milton Keynes and Bedford with easy parking and excellent access for all. The Park is always open and the Centre only closes for a few days around Christmas and New Year. The Forest Centre is different – a visitor centre in the middle of a spectacular park. Admission is free, there is an adventure playground, a wildlife garden, an exhibition, a licensed café & bar, a gift shop and a small gallery selling the work of local artists. There’s lots to do, with 8 kilometers of traffic-free, surfaced cycle paths and foot paths. No need to bring a bike, you can hire one from the Forest Centre. 4 kilometers of purpose-built horse trails and plenty of room to box and un-box your horse in our large car park. Explore the wonderful wetland nature reserve on the wetland trail (a charge applies) and enjoy the wealth of birdlife from the hides. Relax in our fully licensed Lakeside Café - enjoy our fresh coffee or a glass of wine with delicious food prepared in our own kitchen.

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