Trees for Climate

We have been creating woodland and growing the Forest of Marston Vale for nearly 30 years, and now -through Trees for Climate - we can offer our years of expertise and professional advice along with grants that can cover the costs of creating a new woodland.

Trees for climate is a five year, multi-million pound woodland creation programme that offers landowners and community groups the opportunity to transform their land into a new woodland, aided with financial support and long-term, bespoke advice from our Expert Forest Creation.

Whether you are a parish council looking to add some shade to a green space or a farmer looking to diversify income streams, we can help. Planting trees has never been easier.

Trees for Climate, where planting pays.

Launched in November 2020, Trees for Climate is part of the national Government-led Nature for Climate fund and is being delivered by England's Community Forests.

PRESS RELEASE: New 38-hectare Community Woodland as part of The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

Forest of Marston Vale Trust and Woodland Trust link up to plant a new 38-hectare Community Woodland as part of The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

A new 38-hectare woodland on a Community Forest in an historic Bedfordshire setting has been re-named “Queens Wood” and will help to serve as a fitting tribute for Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee.

Teams from the Forest of Marston Vale Trust and the Woodland Trust were joined by HM Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire Helen Nellis at a naming event on Wednesday, 20 April to mark the launch of the new Queens Wood Community Woodland as part of the Forest of Marston Vale, a Community Forest stretching between Bedford and Milton Keynes.

The site on the Ampthill and Houghton Conquest border has been planted with more than 35,000 native trees and shrubs in the past two years, and another 13,000 will go in the ground next winter to complete planting.

The name “Queens Wood” was first suggested by local residents as part of the public consultation process in 2019, to reflect the area’s historic connection to Catherine of Aragon and its location adjacent to Kings Wood ancient woodland and site of special scientific interest (SSSI).

With support from HM Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire Helen Nellis, the partnership has been granted permission to use the protected title “Queens Wood” by the Sovereign, acting on behalf of Her Ministers.

The new woodland is part of the Woodland Trust Platinum Jubilee Woods project to plant up to 70 woods of 70 acres UK-wide as a living tribute to Her Majesty, as part of the wider Queen’s Green Canopy initiative - a unique tree-planting initiative which is inviting people from across the UK to ‘Plant a Tree for the Jubilee’.

James Russell, Forest Director at the Forest of Marston Vale Trust, said:

This has been a fantastic site to work on and we’re proud to establish Queens Wood as part of the Community Forest.

The historic significance of the land was taken into consideration when we planned the site, and the scheme was designed to be sensitive to the area as well as providing huge environmental and social benefit to local people. It’s fantastic to have this reflected in its new name.

The land for Queens Wood was acquired by the Woodland Trust, with incredible help and support from The David Webster Charitable Trust, and is being planted and controlled via a 999-year lease to the Forest of Marston Vale Trust.

HM Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire Helen Nellis said:

The people of Bedfordshire have been very active and enthusiastic in planting thousands of trees in every parish to celebrate the Queen's Jubilee and to show their faith in the future.

The planting of Queens Wood in such an historic site of the county is a great way to pay tribute to Her Majesty's 70 years of dedicated service and as a Community Woodland, it will be enjoyed by many for years to come.

The new planting will see a combination of species including oak, hornbeam, wild cherry and alder. They were specifically chosen for their ability to tolerate and address increasing temperatures in the face of climate change and provide a resource for local people to enjoy by foot, bike or horse for generations to come.

The project is being delivered by the Forest of Marston Vale as part of their ‘Trees for Climate’ woodland creation programme, part of the Government-led Nature for Climate fund. The planting at Queens Wood has also been made possible with a generous donation from the Robert Steel Memorial Grant from The Steel Charitable Trust.

James Russell added:

We know that only 7% of our native woodlands are in good condition in the UK. Over time, the wildlife currently confined to the ancient woodland will be able to expand out and take up residence in the new woodland, helping improve the resilience of our woodlands and their wildlife to the impacts of climate change.

Woodland Trust Regional Director for Central England Toby Bancroft said:

At a time where urgent action is needed to start reversing the current twinned climate and nature crisis is, the role of trees and woods has never been so important, whilst also providing huge benefits for our health and well-being.

The Woodland Trust and the Forest of Marston Vale have a long history of working in partnership with each other, and Queens Wood is a great example of this, creating a new native woodland for both people and wildlife.

It’s fantastic that Queens Wood has been recognised as part of The Queens Green Canopy project.

For more information or to sign up for a press pack contact our Communications Officer.