1st March 2025

Whether wet or frosty, winter continues to blanket our woodlands, which means our ranger team are spending their days maintaining our Community Woodlands within the Forest of Marston Vale. Across our 13 sites nestled between Milton Keynes and Bedford, the rangers are hard at work, ensuring your 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 incredible work our rangers do and the hidden wonders of the Forest during the colder seasons!

 

We’re at the finishing line of this series with our Ranger Diaries: Winter in the Forest, and this month we are delving into the work of our Senior Ranger, Nicola Ceconi. Nicola has been with the Forest of Marston Vale Trust for just over 6 years. With a career driven by a love for wildlife conservation, Nicolas’s work has revolved around creating and managing habitats while monitoring the species that call these spaces home. Species surveys, including great crested newts, and habitat management take centre stage in her role, whether it’s clearing scrub, managing meadows, or building hibernacula. These tasks aren’t just day-to-day responsibilities - they’re a testament to Nicola’s dedication to fostering biodiversity. Watching habitats flourish and observing the wildlife that thrives within them makes this work deeply rewarding.

One of the standout projects Nicola has undertaken over the last year is the revitalisation of the Sensory Wildlife Garden. Over two decades old, the garden had started showing signs of wear, with many features deteriorating over time. Taking charge of this transformation, Nicola has been coordinating contractors and volunteers to breathe new life into the garden, ensuring it remains a vibrant space for visitors and wildlife alike. You can find out more and donate to help complete this project here.

Another key initiative has been the tree guard collection and recycling programme run alongside Tubex. By rallying volunteers and corporate groups, Nicola has overseen the careful removal and recycling of these guards, enhancing the health of the forests while reducing environmental impact. If you’d like to get involved in transforming our woodlands, volunteer today!

What is Nicola up to this winter?

This winter, Nicola’s key focus has been hedgelaying along the main track at the Forest Centre. Collaborating with other rangers and volunteers, Nicola has been coppicing hazel stools to craft stakes and binders before turning their attention to the hedges themselves.

What is hedgelaying and why is it an important practice for our woodlands?

Hedgelaying is a  traditional skill  that transforms sparse, overgrown hedgerows into thriving wildlife havens. While originally used to create stock-proof barriers for farming, modern fencing has largely replaced its practical necessity. However, its ecological benefits make it an invaluable technique for supporting biodiversity.

 

Without management, hedges often become tall and leggy, with bare bases that offer little protection for small mammals and birds. These gaps leave wildlife vulnerable to predators and make it harder for animals to move safely between habitats.

By laying a hedge, new growth is encouraged at the base, creating dense, bushy cover that provides essential shelter. Birds can safely nest within its branches, while small mammals use the hedge as a corridor to navigate the landscape. This simple but effective technique turns hedgerows into vital lifelines for wildlife, offering protection and connectivity.

---

At the Forest of Marston Vale Trust, our rangers are an important part of 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