The creation, present and future of Marston Vale - Jo Roberts

Creation of the Forest of Marston Vale is the largest environmental regeneration project in Bedfordshire, covering 61 square miles between Milton Keynes and Bedford. 

This is ‘forest’ in a traditional sense; a patchwork of woodland and green space, mixed with farmland, villages and industry. It’s about using trees and woodlands to create a living, vibrant and dynamic area in which people want to live, work and enjoy their leisure time.

The Forest of Marston Vale Trust is an independent registered charity (No. 1069229). It is responsible for leading the creation of the Forest of Marston Vale, one of 12 Community Forests across England, designated in the 1990s to regenerate land around towns and cities, scarred by industrialisation. The Forest of Marston Vale is being created to address the effects of the brick making industry, which had flourished for over a hundred years.

With over 1 million trees planted and numerous woodlands created, the Forest of Marston Vale is already taking shape, with woodland cover trebled from 3% to around 10%. The target is to get to 30% by planting over 5 million more trees by 2031.

Whilst trees are vital to the creation of the Forest, they aren’t the whole story. It’s about extracting all the benefits possible from the new ‘forest’ landscape being created – improved leisure opportunities, transformed perceptions, increased wildlife, engaged local communities and revitalized economies, plus a future timber supply. So much more than just the trees.

http://marstonvale.org/