AFTER CHRISTMAS everyone needs something to look forward to, so here are two exciting Valentine's treats. Read on and come and get involved!

THE GIFT THAT LASTS

Forgotten a present or can't think of anything orightal for the love of your life? 'Then we have the perfect answer -ADOPT A TREE.

Come and plant a tree and dedicate it to the one you love. What a gift I It will outlast you and your lover. But why stop there? ADOPT A TREE for anyone and for any occasion or reason - don't hold back.

Simply fill in the form available from the Forest Centre and write in your message. We will produce a special commemorative certificate for you or the recipient of your choice.

If you don't want to adopt a tree, you can help us with the planting. If you don't want to plant, you can ADOPT A TREE.

We are planting on Saturday 16 February, I 1am-3pm at a new and exciting site near Wootton called Van Diemans Land. We will provide spades, trees, tea, coffee and hot soup. All you need to bring is boots, warm dothes and loads of enthusiasm.

For more information see below or contact guy.lambourne@marstonvale.org

EDITOR'S COLUMN

2002 already, it doesn't seem long ago that we were getting used to the novelty of "the year 2000" - Happy New Year!

This CommenTree includes lots of things for you to do - all great fun and many are even good for you - providing some gentle exercise. I do hope you will come and join us.

The Forest continues to grow. Literally thousands of trees are being planted again this winter. It is such a shame that they take so long to grow, it is a long time to wait to see them in their full splendour. Take a walk at Reynold wood (a short way from Brogborough Picnic Site) to see trees planted just ten years ago and how tall they have already grown. it is now possible to imagine how lovely this area will be in another lo- 15 years - it really will be a proper woodland!

Download the Brogborough Walk from our web site at www.marstonvale.org and enjoy a great stroll with some lovely views of the Forest.

BEWITCHED- PLANTS & LOVERS' POTIONS FROM THE FOREST

If a gentle stroll, tales of ancient folklore and charms to secure a future love are your thing, you need to take part in this intriguing event at the Forest Centre on Sunday 17 February. A fabulous St Valentine's Day walk in the Country Park with a guided tour by the Vale Talers followed by a roast lunch - 11.30 to 1 pm (followed by lunch)

A light-hearted look at ancient love rites, herbal remedies and love potions of the British Countryside. Approximately one-hour stroll (one mile) followed by a traditional roast beef dinner with dessert and coffee (vegetarian option available). Find out:

• How to tame your partner with herbal tea
• What was used before Viagra
• How to make your dreams come true

Please wear sturdy shoes and warm clothes. Suitable for wheelchair users. Adults £10, children (under 12) £7. Places are limited - booking essential. Please call 01234 767037.

Winter thrushes - Redwings and Fieldfares are now devouring the berry crop in the Country Park. Fresh from Scandinavia and Russia, they can be very shy and tricky to see, but as winter progresses and food becomes scarce, they seem to loose their inhibitions. They proved very elusive during a recent bird walk. Eventually we nailed one down long enough for everyone to admire.

A fly over Short eared Owl, parties of Siskins and Redpolls, Mediterranean and Iceland gulls, up to ten species of duck including Pintail; Goldeneye and Wigeon plus a few Snipe, kept us birders entertained in the autumn.

Away from the Park, Brogborough Lake hosted two Red-breasted Mergansers; a type of sawbill. They have a long, toothed and hooked bill enabling them to grip their fish prey. There were also five Scaup, which are similar to a Tufted Duck. It is very unusual to find these inland as they prefer to spend winter diving for molluscs' at sea! At the gravel workings near Willington a rare Pectoral Sandpiper, Water and Rock Pipits were all discovered.

The Park year list is now up to 152 species. Us birders love our lists - life, world, county, patch, site, from the car, and would you believe - from the loo: we keep them all. Why not increase your list on our next bird walk in

January? Don't be put off by snow, frost or ice cold winds; the colder the better! The "walk" list now stands at 85 species.

And why is the Whiskered Tern so-called? Probably because when in breeding plumage the bird has a dark chin and throat as well as a black cap. The thin white cheek in between resembles a white whisker when in flight. Birders have vivid imaginations as well as sharp eyes!

Bob Rook (Volunteer)

WE ARE BECOMING a nation at great risk of suffering coronary heart disease and stroke. For people under 65, the UK rate of coronary heart disease is one of the highest in Europe and twice that of France. A sedentary lifestyle nearly doubles the risk for heart attack! All very alarming.

The good news is that you don't have to pump iron to make a significant impact on your health. Walking can be enough exercise to make a real difference. All you need is to walk for 30 minutes a day at a pace that makes you breathe a little faster, feel warmer and have a slightly faster heart beat. Walking is fun, sociable, free and gets you to some lovely places.

We hope to establish a 'Health Walks' group in the Marston Vale this year.

This will provide help, support and leadership for anyone wanting to walk to get healthy.

Would you like to join a healthy walking group based at the Forest Centre at Marston Moretaine? Are you keen enough to become a walk leader? Leaders should be willing to give up some time to be trained and then be able to lead walks regularly at the Millennium Country Park. Training will be high quality, free and could happen in March if there is enough interest.

Whether you are just interested in walking or if you would like to learn about leading walks, please give me a call at the Forest Centre, completely without obligation.

Guy Lambourne 01234 762608

TOP 10 REASONS TO PLANT TREES THIS WINTER...

1. Planting trees creates new woodlands for people and wildlife to enjoy in the future.
   
2. Trees absorb carbon dioxide, the main 'greenhouse gas' and contributor to global warming, and produce the oxygen we need to breathe.
3. Planting trees is a great way of marking a special occasion or event.
4. just being able to see trees can reduce your heart rate and general level of stress - researchers have found that patients with views of trees from their hospital beds recover far more quickly.
5. Trees make an area look more attractive.
6. Planting trees is one way in which you can reduce the impact that your day-to-day life has on the planet.
7. Trees provide us with wood, a renewable and environmentally sound resource for building and burning as fuel.
8. Trees are beautiful and an essential part of our magnificent English landscape.
9. The tree that you plant will grow to provide a massive number of homes for creatures, from bugs to birds that live on, in, under and off it - a single mature oak tree supports over 500 different types of wildlife.
10. Planting trees is good exercise, keeps you warm in winter and is good for the soul!

BIO-WHAT?

NO, NOT A NEW yoghurt or a washing powder but a series of events providing the opportunity to join others and find out more about Bedfordshire and Luton's biodiversity or wealth of wildlife.

For more information please contact

Michelle Edwards, Biodiversity Project Officer, Tel (01234) 364213

The Forest of Marston Vale is one of 12 Community Forests in England.

Community Forests were set up around towns and cities in the early 1990s, to improve land affected by industrial use in the past.

The Forest of Marston Vale covers 61 square miles of Bedfordshire between Ampthill, Milton Keynes and Bedford.

The Forest of Marston Vale is now in its 10th year, has a planned life of 40 years and in those 10 years...

...has planted around half a million trees

...over 50 km of hedgerow have been planted or restored

...created 75km of conservation field margins to benefit farm wildlife

...launched 6 Forest Trails

...300 hectares of existing woodland has been brought into management

...created numerous schemes to improve village environments

...and much more.

Like to learn more? Please call for a copy of our latest Annual Review or check out our web site

A GREENER WOOTON

THERE'S USUALLY LOTS going on in Wootton, and over the next year or so, the Recreation Ground on Church Road will become the centre of attention if the Greening Group and 55 Club get their way. We have been working hard over the last few months to find out what people want to happen in the village to make it an even better place to live. The Recreation Ground has really fired imaginations and there are 3 projects in the offing.

These are a "jubilee Garden" to celebrate the Queen's Golden jubilee next June. Second, the replacement of all the kissing gates around the Recreation Ground to improve access for parents with pushchairs as well as wheelchairs. And finally, the creation of a surfaced path around the outside of the Recreation Ground to link all the access points. Such a path would provide a safe route to school throughout the year, be an excellent place for walking for health as well as somewhere for children to get to grips with cycling safely. if you would like to know more about these plans or want to get involved, please contact Guy at the Forest Centre.

HOW TO FIND VAN DIEMANS LAND

Van Diemans land is about a 15-minute walk from Bedford Road, Wootton, along Potters Cross. just follow the signs from Bedford Road.

Drivers - please park elsewhere in the village, not in
Potters Cross.

THE GIFT THAT LASTS
ONLY £10 PER TREE

Simply fill in the details on the coupon available from the Forest Centre and if you can, come out to Wootton and plant some trees yourself.

You will receive a commemorative certificate which can be collected on the 16th or posted to you. If you would like your certificate posted to someone else, please let us know on the coupon.

Notes
Trees will NOT be individually marked.

Your certificate(s) may be collected from the planting site at Van Diemans Land on 16 February or we will send it to the address of your choice.

We must receive your form with payment in full by 11 February to ensure your certificate will be ready for collection on 16 February.

All tress in the wood will be planted and maintained using established forestry practice. This requires active future management, including coppicing and thinning to create a diverse woodland. In any plantation, some trees die naturally, please bear in mind that not all trees in the wood will grow on to reach maturity. For more information please call 01234 762617.