Accessibility at the Forest Centre Expand There is step free access throughout the building, with automatic doors into Reception and a baby changing facility/ disabled toilet. There is also a lift if you are using the upstairs spaces. We have a range of adapted bikes available for hire, from a wheelchair carrier to a quad. If you have any questions about your visit, please call 01234 767037 or click here to email us.
Accessibility in the Millennium Country Park Expand There is 8km of level, surfaced track around the Park, including the Wetlands Trail (though we don’t allow bikes in the Wetlands). The Forest Centre is fully accessible, with step-free access and a baby changing facility/disabled toilet. Some areas of path are uneven and therefore may not be ideal for buggies or wheelchairs – click here to see a map of the Park. If you have any questions about your visit, please call 01234 767037 or email us.
Bike Hire at the Forest Centre Expand Our Bike Hire is open all year round and has a range of bikes for all ages, with tricycles, buggies and a range of adapted bikes. If you are after something specific, we recommend calling 01234 767037 to let us know in advance so that we can make sure it is available. Click here for Bike Hire Prices and more info.
Bikes, horses and walkers Expand You can hire a bike from the Forest Centre, or bring your own and follow 8km of level, surfaced track, or even join Route 51. Please note, no bikes are allowed on the Callow Mounds or on the Wetlands Trail. We have over 4km of bridlepaths in the Park, and plenty of space for horse boxes in our car park. Walkers can pick up the Timberland Trail and other popular routes from the Park – for more details and other walks that you can start at the Forest Centre & Millennium Country Park, check out Walks and Routes.
Car parking Expand We now charge for parking at the Forest Centre & Millennium Country Park (see the charges below): Up to 1 hour £1 Up to 3 hours £2 Over 3 hours £3 Over night £5 Please note - there is a 15 minute grace period for drop offs/collections/using the bottle banks. Become a Friend of the Forest for free parking On arrival, enter your registration and the length of time you'd like to stay on the payment machines - there is no need to display the ticket as it's automatic number plate recognition. The machines accept cash or cards (chip and pin and contactless) - unfortunately these machines do not give change. You can also pay on the Pay By Phone website or app (Location: Marston Vale, Bedford Number: 800979). The car park closes promptly at 5pm unless there is an evening event on, in which case the gate will close after the last guest leaves. However, the Park is accessible 24/7, 365 days a year on foot, for horse riders and cyclists. Please note: if your car is locked in the Centre’s car park overnight you can collect it the following morning - to arrange release before the car park reopens, please call 07966 000326. A £25 release fee is payable to the member of staff upon their arrival.
Coach parties and groups Expand We are happy for large groups or coach parties to visit the Forest Centre & Millennium Country Park, but please let us know in advance that you are attending, so that we can make sure we are ready to accommodate your group. Call 01234 767037 or email us.
Dog owners Expand Dogs must be in sight and under close control at all times, if off the lead. Please pick up after your dog, and use the dog bins provided (or take it home!) No dogs are allowed in the Wetlands Nature Reserve. If you would like to use the Lakeside Café, the outside seating is suitable for dog owners and water bowls are provided both at the front and back of the Forest Centre. There is plenty of useful info for dog owners on the Government's website: Controlling your dog in publicDog Fouling
Food and drink Expand The Lakeside Café serves a range of hot food, kids’ meals, cakes and drinks throughout the year, with daily and seasonal specials! Ice creams are also available at Reception. Keep an eye out on our news page for our seasonal specials! Menu (Autumn 2017) Vegetarian and Vegan Menu (Autumn 2017)
Hiring the Forest Centre Expand You can hire the Forest Centre for a party, wedding, or any special events. Browse the Venue Hire section of the site, call 01234 767037 or email us for more information.
Management Plans and Drone Policy Expand Management Plans Here are the current management plans, appendices and 5 year action plan for the Millennium Country Park. Management Plan - setting out the aims, objectives and priorities for the successful management and development of the Park. Appendices to Management Plan - Supporting documentation (e.g. maps, species lists, etc) 5 Year Action Plan Woodland Management Plan If you have any further questions about these documents, please contact our Head Ranger Anna on 01234 762614 or send her an email. Drone Policy We recognise the recent increase in the popularity of flying drones (unmanned aerial vehicles or UAVs) as a recreational activity. We are also seeing concerns expressed by visitors to our sites, where the flying of drones is causing nuisance and disturbance to others. Drones also have potential to disturb birds and other wildlife (particularly during the breeding season). Few non-commercial users have sufficient training or permission to operate drones, and should a drone cause damage or harm, pilots generally do not have the correct insurance to compensate those affected. For the safety and enjoyment of other people and to protect wildlife, drone flying is not allowed from or over Forest of Marston Vale Trust land except by contractors commissioned by the Trust for a specific purpose, who satisfy stringent Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) criteria and have the correct insurance. For further information on flying drones, and how to do so safely, please consult the Civil Aviation Authority guidelines and Dronesafe.
Opening times and map Expand The Park is open 365 days a year, 24/7 but the main gate is locked when the Forest Centre is not open. Don’t worry though, as there is some out of hours parking at different entry points around the Park – click here to see a map.
The Lakeside Cafe At the Forest Centre & Millennium Country Park Expand The Lakeside Cafe serves a range of hot meals, kids' meals, cakes and drinks, all year round. With daily specials...
Things to do at the Forest Centre Expand As well as our Bike Hire, we have a Gift Shop selling a variety of gifts, toys and books and an outdoor play area right next to the picnic area of the Lakeside Café. We also have a whole host of events and activities running throughout the year, from nature walks to tribute concerts - if you're interested in hosting an event at the Forest Centre, call 01234 767037 or email us.
Things to see in the Millennium Country Park Expand Explore our Sensory Garden – find the dinosaur eggs and sit in the wooden throne overlooking the pond; walk over the bridge onto the meadow and have a kick about or fly a kite; go a bit deeper into the woods and find the willow huts; take in the sights of Stewartby Lake…there’s loads to see and do in the Park. For more inspiration or to start planning your adventure, check out our Map.
What's the Wetlands Nature Reserve? Expand Prices Adults £2.50Concessions £1.75 The Wetlands Trail takes you around our Wetlands Nature Reserve – the home of our bird hides, sand martin wall and Tower Hide and Woodland Walkway. This part of the Park is a haven for wildlife so no dogs or bikes are allowed. Click here for some more information, including kids' activities to do on your way around the Wetlands Trail and seasonal maps showing what wildlife and plant life you can expect to see at different times of year.
Who manages the site? Expand The Forest Centre & Millennium Country Park are run by the Forest of Marston Vale Trust (Registered Charity No. 1069229) as a social enterprise. This basically means that all money spent or donated at the Forest Centre goes towards the running of the charity, and our overall mission to plant another 5 million trees in the Forest. We do not get funding from the government or local councils as we once did, so all donations are vital to help us keep the Forest growing and thriving, and for the management of our existing woodlands. The good part is that every penny you spend at the Centre goes towards planting trees and managing woodlands - every cup of tea, every gift from the shop and every slice of cake. Your money grows further at the Forest Centre! Please select a donation amount: * £3 Buys one tree identification guide for a school visit £5 Buys the sand for approx. 5 sand martins to build their nests, in our sand martin wall in the Wetlands £10 Builds a home for bats to roost in £20 Buys a litter picker to keep the Forest free from rubbish £100 Buys one signpost to help visitors find their way around one of our woodlands Other Set up a regular payment Donate