Ranger Diaries: Winter in the Forest (Part 3) February 1st 2025 Winter is in full force, and the Forest of Marston Vale Ranger team is geared up for their busiest season of the year! Across our 13 sites 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! Sunrise on a frosty morning in Rectory Wood. In the third part of our blog series, Ranger Tony Crofts takes us on a journey through his many years with the Forest of Marston Vale Trust, sharing how he went from a volunteer to a full-time ranger. Tony first joined the team in 2006 as a seasonal volunteer, and his passion for nature and practical skills quickly propelled him into maintenance roles. With a background in engineering and woodworking, Tony’s knowledge of land management - developed through growing up in a farming family - fit perfectly with the work needed to maintain and grow the Forest. His technical expertise and love for the outdoors soon led to a permanent role as a ranger, where he has become an invaluable part of the team. Tony Crofts over the years What has Tony been up to in the winter months? As a member of the team with a plethora of knowledge, Tony shares his week between working with our Facilities Manager, Jon to keep the Forest Centre in top shape, alongside forest management projects with his ranger colleagues. Tony is involved in a variety of activities throughout the season, from felling trees - a key task in woodland management - to maintenance and construction activities at the Forest Centre, Millennium Country Park and throughout our 13 community woodlands. His role is a perfect balance of technical skills and a passion for nature. During the winter months you can usually find Tony repairing anything from benches, bird hides, platforms and paths throughout the Forest that support both the wildlife and visitors. He loves seeing the immediate results of this work, particularly with construction projects like building platforms or clearing pathways. Tony has been actively involved in building new bird viewing screens, offering a clear view over the islands and Pillinge in our Wetlands Nature Reserve. He has contributed to the design, material selection, and construction of the screens, which are specifically designed to allow bird watchers to observe without disturbing the birds, minimising any impact on their behaviour. Alongside this, Tony has also been working on repairing and maintaining existing hides, benches and platforms to ensure they can continue to be used by our visitors. "These tasks provide a sense of accomplishment for me, knowing that the Forest will be safer and more enjoyable for the community" - Tony Crofts Tony has also been involved in the rebuild of the fishing platform at The Grange, Willington. After years of wear and tear, the platform needed a complete overhaul. Maintaining structures like the fishing platform offers visitors a chance to enjoy the beauty of the Forest from a unique vantage point. Photos from left to right: new birding viewing screen in the Wetlands Nature Reserve and board walk up to the Tower Hide. Why are structural projects important to the Forest? Building new structures – such as bird viewing screens – and maintaining them play a big role in how we care for the Forest, especially since we’re a forest serving our local communities. For Tony and the rest of the ranger team, that means lots of planning and hard work. It’s not just about making a spot where you can watch wildlife or enjoy nature - it’s about making sure everything is safe and accessible for everyone, from wheelchair users to families with little ones. Every project we take on shows how much our ranger team cares about making the forest a safe, accessible, and welcoming place for all. 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 Manage Cookie Preferences