New Woodlands in the Forest of Marston Vale

Bedfordshire's Green Gateway is a major initiative started in 2000, by the Forest of Marston Vale to create a swathe of woodland and green space between the expanding communities of Wootton and Kempston. The five new woodlands of Buttons Ramsey, The Kill, Ridgeway Wood, Wiles Wood and Van Diemen's Land are linked by public footpaths and surfaced tracks.

Always open.

Conquest Wood - Houghton Conquest

Conquest Wood is an 8 hectare area of new community woodland, planted over the winter of 2004/5 by the Forest of Marston Vale together with local people. It's here for everyone to enjoy.

The entrance is currently off London Lane. A new entrance will be opened during the summer of 2009.

Always open.

Forest Centre & Millennium Country Park - Marston Moretaine

The Forest Centre and Millennium Country Park are initiatives of the Forest of Marston Vale.

A great place to enjoy the wonders of the countryside for families and children of all ages. There's lots more about the Centre and Park elsewhere on this site, but the Park's walks and rides are included on Let's Go!

The Park is open to pedestrians all the time. The car park and Forest Centre are open 10am to 6pm (March - September) and 10am - 4pm (October - March).

Rectory Wood - Cranfield

Rectory Wood is 70 hectares (173 acres) of former arable farmland covering the slopes between Cranfield village and the ancient woodland of Marston Thrift. This farmland was purchased in 2002 by the Marston Vale Trust using funds raised from many sources, including the local community. It is now an important natural space for the growing population in this part of the County to enjoy. Tartletts Close and Strawberry Hill were planted between 2003 and 2005 and The Brickfield in 2007/08.

In January 2007 the Marston Vale Trust made a successful bid to WREN for a Landfill Communities Fund grant of over £190,000 to enable woodland to be created in the third phase of Rectory Wood. The Forest Team talked to local people about the design of the whole of Rectory Wood during the summer of 2007. The third phase, now known as Brickfields was planted between December 07 and February 08.

For the results of the consultation, please click here (220kb pdf).

Legacy Thrift, the fourth phase. will be completed by the end of March 2009. This phase of Rectory Wood has been named by Bedfordshire County Council to mark their large financial contribution and to commemorate 120 years of the Council's work.

The last part, Plunders Hill, will be planted when funds allow.

For a map of the whole of Rectory Wood click here (200kb pdf)

Always open.

Shocott Spring - Eastcotts

Shocott Spring is 52 hectares (128 acres) of former arable farmland between the communities of Shortstown and Cotton End. It was purchased in 2005 by the Marston Vale Trust for creating new community woodland. In 2005/6 the first 25ha was planted, and in 2007/8 phase II (14ha) was completed with funds from People's Millions. The millionth tree was also planted as part of this project.

Read the winning entries of the competition -

20 Words:20,000 Trees

Always open.