News
Forest Volunteers’ AGM
The Forest Volunteers’ AGM took place on Tuesday 7 May. The first part of the evening was devoted to reports, accounts and elections – the boring but essential acts of a democratic organisation.
Following a short break, Volunteers were rewarded with a real treat – photographer (and Volunteer) Barrie Mason had brought along his slide show “The Splendours of the Ouse”. Barrie gave us a wonderful photographic representation of the Great Ouse from Roxton to Turvey – flora, fauna, buildings and landscape, at all four seasons of the year. It was great fun trying to identify the locations. Many were well-known spots but Barrie often managed to fool us by cunningly finding a way to photograph them from an unusual position. And don’t we all wish we could get the wildlife close-ups that Barrie does!
The evening finished up with beer and sandwiches (kindly supplied by the Trustees) during which Barrie regaled us with some stories of amusing incidents that had happened to him in the course of his photographic endeavours.
A good time was had by all. We volunteers know how to live!
Andy – Volunteer
Another birding success
As my friend Holly was a keen bird watcher, I suggested she join me on the Bird Walk. We arrived just before 7 to meet about 10 others and the brilliant Bird Experts – Bob …
Bittern news
Thanks to Mark King who is either extremely lucky or (more likely), a brilliant photographer, we are able to share this amazing image of a bittern taken in the wetlands last Saturday afternoon.
Mark photographed a bittern …
Up with the Lark
Well actually, earlier than the lark. My alarm went off at 3.45 am and I was wondering, not for the first time, whether I was in my right mind! As I drove to the Forest …
Hedgehog Awareness Week – 5th to 11th May
Hedgehog awareness week is when gardeners are being encouraged to make their gardens more hedgehog friendly. Hedgehog numbers continue to decline around Britain so anything you can do to help reverse the trend would be …
Lakeside Café discount for train passengers
The 10% discount for Marston Vale line passengers on tea, coffee and cake is back! It’s valid until 30 September (except 7 & 8 September).
This is the perfect excuse to jump on a train …
Forest Volunteers’ AGM Tuesday 7 May
Calling all Forest Volunteers – the Annual General Meeting of the Marston Vale Volunteers’ Co-ordinating Group (MVVCOG) will take place at the Forest Centre, Marston Moretaine at 7pm on Tuesday 7 May. This is a …
Cuckoo and Turtle Dove in serious decline
This year the Bedfordshire Bird Club are collecting all cuckoo and turtle dove records. These species are in serious decline and we aim to map all records during the course of the year.
So whether it’s …
Barbados – Green Monkeys and Green Possibilities.
I just got back from Barbados – a country of beautiful beaches and Green Monkeys, aptly named (given where I work) after a tree. Originally named Los Barbados (Bearded Fig Tree) by the Portuguese after it’s colonisation, …
International Dawn Chorus Day
International Dawn Chorus Day I hear you ask? Yes, it’s on Sunday, 5th May. So why not get up with the lark, so to speak, and enjoy the wonderful sounds of early morning bird song. …
Buzzards moving in?
Twenty five years ago this would have caused such a stir! Buzzards then were birds of the uplands, seen fairly commonly over moorland of Wales and Devon, Yorkshire and Cumbria, but not in Bedfordshire. How …
New arrival – Firewood processor!
It’s British Summertime now…so it’s time to get the log fire started! This week in our brand new barn we welcomed our firewood and kindling processing machinery – Japa and Kindlet (these aren’t affectionate nicknames, …
Bluebell Wood Children’s Activity
Another rainy day and another successful children’s event at the Forest Centre! Using cardboard, paper bluebells and a lot of stickers and imagination, the children managed to create some pretty impressive mini bluebell woods and …
Spectrum Recruitment – 25 years young!
Years ago I got my first ever job with Spectrum – and my second in fact. Last year I went back to ask about charity jobs and they very helpfully pointed me in the direction …
Early migrants – or not!
I turned up at the Forest Centre early on Saturday morning to join a group of eager bird watchers. We were hoping to see some early migrants but, because of the unseasonably chilly weather of late, …
Froggy Fun at the Forest Centre
There were frogs aplenty at the Forest Centre on Thursday as Jane and her band of volunteer helpers organised another successful Kids’ Event. This time, the theme was frogs and each child made one of …
Egg-cellent Easter Trail!
Almost 400 eager children (and lots of mums, dads, grandparents, etc.) enjoyed the Easter Trail over the weekend. They braved a chilling wind to complete the trail and answer the nature-related questions, using the information …
New play area – the most funnest thing!
A select group of local ambassadors opened a new play area at the Forest Centre at Marston Moretaine,
today. The VIPs, a group of thirty pupils from Church End Lower School, gave the new play
equipment an …
Elm project well underway
Forest Volunteers began construction of a raised bed tree ‘nursery’ here at the Forest Centre last week. The nursery, together with a rabbit-fenced enclosure is now complete and the first training session for volunteers on basic …
The Great Indoors this Easter
With this Easter turning more and more into a Winter Wonderland we are making sure we have plenty of indoor activities for families to do over the holidays – starting this weekend. Treat yourselves after …


