January 1st 2025

Winter is in full force and the Forest of Marston Vale Ranger team are geared up for their busiest season of the year! Across our 13 woodlands nestled between Milton Keynes and Bedford, the rangers are hard at work, ensuring our Community Forest thrives even in the colder months. This winter, we’re inviting you to join us on our blog series, Ranger Diaries: Winter in the Forest where you can read about the exciting work our rangers do and the hidden wonders of the Forest during the colder seasons!

Read Part 1 here

Snowy day at Shocott Spring, Shortstown, winter 2022

For part 2 of our ‘Ranger Diaries: Winter in the Forest’ series, we join ranger Lottie Scoltock. As our newest member to the team, Lottie has now been with us for just over 2 years. Lottie enjoys the variety of wildlife surveys undertaken by the team, as they offer a chance to explore the diverse array of wildlife found throughout our sites. Over the spring and summer, Lottie joined Senior Ranger, Nicola Ceconi (more about Nicola in part 4 of our series) for our annual Newt Survey at dusk where they watched smooth newts gracefully suspended in the ponds under the glow of their torches, all while carefully avoiding the hordes of toads nearby. A consistent highlight of her experience has been working alongside our incredible volunteers, as the small ranger team relies heavily on their support to effectively manage the sites.

Photos from left to right: Great crested newt (Triturus cristatus) found on a newt survey, Dor beetle (Bolboceratidae), un-hathched Sand martin (Riparia riparia) eggs post breeding season.

Since joining the Forest team, Lottie has embraced a variety of rewarding projects, all while enjoying the beauty of the Forest. Lottie has led many successful projects. A favourite of hers is the removal of invasive Himalayan balsam at The Grange in Willington, clearing large piles of the plant that threatens native species and riverbanks. It’s a long-term project, but the progress made has already been a huge success.

Lottie has also organised reptile surveys at the Millennium Country Park, building a new hibernaculum and later managing habitats by clearing brambles and opening hawthorn areas to create basking spots for reptiles. For Lottie, there’s nothing better than working hands-on in the Forest, and with more projects ahead, she’s excited to continue making a lasting impact.

Photos from left to right: Lottie presenting a elephant hawk moth caterpillar (Deilephila elpenor), Lottie and a couple of volunteers out on a Volunteer Day ragwort pulling, Lottie and Senior Ranger Nicola Ceconi gleefully litter picking.

What is Lottie up to this winter?

Winter is a busy time for Lottie and her team, as they dive into important habitat management work at the Millennium Country Park. A significant part of the winter tasks includes tackling the clearing of encroaching willow and other invasive species from the Park’s reedbeds and islands within our Wetlands Nature Reserve. This crucial work involves not just cutting back the plants but also treating the stumps with herbicide to prevent regrowth.

But why is this winter work so important for the Forest’s ecosystem?

Reedbeds are a priority habitat in the UK, supporting a diverse range of wildlife. They’re home to some incredible species, including the bittern and marsh harrier - both of which have bred in our Wetlands Nature Reserve. However, reedbeds require active management to stay healthy. Left unchecked, they would naturally "succumb" to succession, slowly turning into scrub and eventually woodland, which isn’t ideal for the species that rely on the open, wetland environment. By removing invasive species like willow, Lottie and the team help maintain the reedbed habitat and prevent this shift.

Over the winter months, Lottie and her team can also be found clearing the islands within the reedbed and areas of the Pillinge from trees and dense scrub, leaving behind a mix of vegetation for diversity. Many bird species use these islands for nesting and roosting, and by removing tall trees, the team creates safer spaces for the birds - giving them a clear view of predators and, of course, improving birdwatching opportunities for visitors.

For Lottie, winter is a time of hands-on work that directly benefits the wildlife in the Park and wider woodlands, ensuring that these vital habitats stay healthy and vibrant for years to come.

At the Forest of Marston Vale Trust, our rangers are an important part our mission, driving the management and growth of our beautiful landscape. With winter being their busiest time of year, we’re calling on passionate individuals like you to join us for our Volunteer Days! This is your chance to make a tangible difference, working alongside our dedicated team to help nurture and expand the Forest. Together, we can create thriving habitats for wildlife and a vibrant space for the community. Do you want to take part in something extraordinary?

Join us and help grow the Forest!

Find out more