The Forest of Marston Vale
Home - Our Work - Forest Centre - Whats Going On - News - Conferences - Partners - Taking Part - Contact

Walks

Out and About

Events

Events Diary

Woodworks!

Information

Publications

Newsletter

Press Cuttings

Events                 Key to Events:

Green: Practical Conservation volunteer projects Conservation

Orange: Guided walks for health and to explore the park

Blue: Guided walks for wildlife

Pink: Kids' events

Black: All other events                                                                                                                     

Health Walks              Walk 4 HEalth logo                                 

Throughout the Year.  Health walks, in the company of a trained leader take place every Wednesday at 10.30am. (Most walks start at Forest Centre Reception but  some start elsewhere -  see notice board or ring 01234 767037 to confirm). Walks are free and open to everyone.                

Walking could change your life! Walk at your own pace under the guidance of a trained health walk leader and enjoy the many benefits that walking can bring. Our regular walks are part of a county-wide walking scheme - Walk 4 Health in Bedfordshire, run from the Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity offices in Tebworth. To find out if there is a walk happening near where you are, contact Mike Fayers, the Healthy Walking Manager on 01767 626453 or email mikef@bedsrcc.org.uk

Or visit the web site www.walk4health.org

 

Clay Creatures
At the Forest Centre
Friday 20th August   2010  10am — 12.45pm

Fun, facts and messy craft!  Event aimed at 4-10 year olds but materials provided for younger kids to draw.

3 Sessions: 10am, 11am and Noon - 30 children per session.  All materials provided.  £2 per child.  

When booking please specify names and ages of children, name of adult attending and contact phone number in case there are any changes.

Ring 01234 767037 or email info@marstonvale.org for more details or to book your place. 

 

Conservation Task

Saturday 21 August at 10.15am                  

Wetland island working.

Join our volunteer team to do something for the environment, get some exercise and have fun. We carry out a variety of practical projects throughout the Vale. Wear old clothes and bring lunch.   We will be taking the boats out to the wetland islands to cut back vegetation and make space for nesting birds.  You must be able to swim to attend this task.

Meet at the Forest Centre - finishes about 4.15pm.

For further details contact stephen.gascoyne@marstonvale.org  or 01234 762614.

 

The festival of woodland, wood products and roots music!

11am to 5pm

Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th September 2010

lumberjacks, falconry, basket weaving, wood turning, live music and much more!

 

Sunday Stroll

5 September at 10.30am
A Gentle Sunday Walk

Come and join us in the Country Park for a gentle walk to hear how the Park was set up and a little about the surrounding area.

The walk will keep to hard surfaced tracks in the Park which are mostly level but have short sections of gradient up to 1:9.

Call 01234 767037 for more details.
Cost £1, payable on the day - no need to book. Meet at reception. Walks last approximately 2 hours.                              

Why not finish the morning off with lunch in our Forest Centre Restaurant? Call 01234 767037 for details.

 

ROOTS, SHOOTS, FLOWERS & FROOTS

Froots!

Sunday 12th September

2pm to 4.30pm

Herbal medicine talk and guided walk, the forth of four walks

Led by Maggie Haworth, Medical Herbalist. 

Meeting at 2pm in the Forest Centre Café for a short introduction to Herbal Medicine - what to collect when etc - i.e. collecting shoots during the & then on a walk (actual walking time 1 1/2 hours) collect wild fruits and work with what is collected.

The aim is that people learn which plants they can use to make herbal medicines, the right time for harvesting & how to make simple herbal remedies.

£5 per person  (£2.50 goes as a donation to the forest of Marston Vale)  Children can attend for free. 

Maximum of 20 people so please book early to avoid disappointment.   Please call reception to book your place.  01234 767 037

 

Conservation Task

Sunday 19th September at 10.15am                  

Hay raking

Join our volunteer team to do something for the environment, get some exercise and have fun. We carry out a variety of practical projects throughout the Vale. Wear old clothes and bring lunch.   Working in little meadow and bramble meadow to encourage wildflowers.

Meet at the Forest Centre - finishes about 4.15pm.

For further details contact stephen.gascoyne@marstonvale.org  or 01234 762614.

 

Sunday Stroll

3 October at 10.30am
A Gentle Sunday Walk

Come and join us in the Country Park for a gentle walk to hear how the Park was set up and a little about the surrounding area.

The walk will keep to hard surfaced tracks in the Park which are mostly level but have short sections of gradient up to 1:9.

Call 01234 767037 for more details.
Cost £1, payable on the day - no need to book. Meet at reception. Walks last approximately 2 hours.                              

Why not finish the morning off with lunch in our Forest Centre Restaurant? Call 01234 767037 for details.

Fungal Foray

Sunday 10th October

10am to 12.30pm Or 1.30pm to 3.30pm

Alan Outen, County Recorder for Fungi, will be leading these two fungal forays.  No prior knowledge is necessary but sturdy boots and outdoor clothing is recommended.  Meeting at the Forest Centre reception.  Places are free but limited to 25 people per walk.  Please sign up at reception.  In partnership with the Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire Fungi Group and the Bedfordshire Natural History Society.

To book call 01234 767037 or email stephen.gascoyne@marstonvale.org 

 

Conservation Task

Saturday 23 October at 10.15am                  

Dead hedging round Stewartby Lake

Join our volunteer team to do something for the environment, get some exercise and have fun. We carry out a variety of practical projects throughout the Vale. Wear old clothes and bring lunch.  Learn how to weave branches together to make a woven dead hedge and open up the footpath around Stewartby Lake

Meet at the Forest Centre - finishes about 4.15pm.

For further details contact stephen.gascoyne@marstonvale.org  or 01234 762614.

Bananas about Bats
At the Forest Centre
Friday 29th October 2010  10am — 12.45pm

Fun, facts and craft.  Event aimed at 4-10 year olds but materials provided for younger kids to draw.

3 Sessions: 10am, 11am and Noon - 30 children per session.  All materials provided.  £2 per child.  

When booking please specify names and ages of children, name of adult attending and contact phone number in case there are any changes.

Ring 01234 767037 or email info@marstonvale.org for more details or to book your place. 

 

Sunday Stroll

7 November at 10.30am
A Gentle Sunday Walk

Come and join us in the Country Park for a gentle walk to hear how the Park was set up and a little about the surrounding area.

The walk will keep to hard surfaced tracks in the Park which are mostly level but have short sections of gradient up to 1:9.

Call 01234 767037 for more details.
Cost £1, payable on the day - no need to book. Meet at reception. Walks last approximately 2 hours.                              

Why not finish the morning off with lunch in our Forest Centre Restaurant? Call 01234 767037 for details.

 

Conservation Task

Sunday 21 November at 10.15am                  

Creating Hazel Coppice

Join our volunteer team to do something for the environment, get some exercise and have fun. We carry out a variety of practical projects throughout the Vale. Wear old clothes and bring lunch.   Working in eleven oaks glade to clear areas and create more light for the ground flora, also planting hazel whips to create our own hazel coppice.

Meet at the Forest Centre - finishes about 4.15pm.

For further details contact stephen.gascoyne@marstonvale.org  or 01234 762614.

 

Sunday Stroll

5 December at 10.30am
A Gentle Sunday Walk

Come and join us in the Country Park for a gentle walk to hear how the Park was set up and a little about the surrounding area.

The walk will keep to hard surfaced tracks in the Park which are mostly level but have short sections of gradient up to 1:9.

Call 01234 767037 for more details.
Cost £1, payable on the day - no need to book. Meet at reception. Walks last approximately 2 hours.                              

Why not finish the morning off with lunch in our Forest Centre Restaurant? Call 01234 767037 for details.

 

Conservation Task

Saturday 11 December at 10.15am                  

Cutting and burning Hawthorn Scrub

Join our volunteer team to do something for the environment, get some exercise and have fun. We carry out a variety of practical projects throughout the Vale. Wear old clothes and bring lunch.   Working on our county wildlife site by the edge of Stewartby lake, cutting back and burning hawthorn to encourage flowers for the dingy skipper butterfly.

Meet at the Forest Centre - finishes about 4.15pm.

For further details contact stephen.gascoyne@marstonvale.org  or 01234 762614.

 

Christmas Robins
At the Forest Centre
Monday 20th December   2010  10am — 12.45pm

Fun, facts and craft.  Event aimed at 4-10 year olds but materials provided for younger kids to draw.

3 Sessions: 10am, 11am and Noon - 30 children per session.  All materials provided.  £2 per child.  

When booking please specify names and ages of children, name of adult attending and contact phone number in case there are any changes.

Ring 01234 767037 or email info@marstonvale.org for more details or to book your place.