Our story We’re the Forest of Marston Vale Trust, a charity leading the environmental, social and economic regeneration of 61 square miles between Bedford and Milton Keynes through the creation of the Forest of Marston Vale.Donate now We are proud to be one of England’s Community Forests, 15 organisations that together form England’s largest environmentally-led regeneration project. By planting trees, creating and managing diverse habitats, we’re transforming this area from a landscape scarred by industry to one where people want to live, work, invest and spend time. Because when nature thrives, we all do – very simply, trees make life better, for people for nature and for the planet. How the Forest began Creation of the Forest began in the early 1990s, when the area looked very different. As home to the brick making industry, the air was polluted with smog from more than 100 industrial chimneys and the landscape deeply scarred by clay pits, which then became landfill sites. The Marston Vale was a blighted area, full of pollution and unpleasant smells – with little space for nature. Tree cover in the area was just 3.6% - around a third of the national average at the time. Over the last thirty years, we’ve pulled together local communities, national partners, volunteers, businesses and landowners to transform the area. Working together, we’ve planted a staggering 2.75 million trees and shrubs, in and around the Forest, increasing tree cover to 16.9%. Creating the Forest is having a wide-reaching impact There are now pockets of accessible woodland on people’s doorsteps, connecting communities with nature, giving them green space to enjoy, and benefitting their physical and mental well-being. The Forest is more than just trees and woodlands – it’s a mosaic of vital habitats, including grasslands, hedgerows and wetlands. It provides safe havens for nature, is increasing local biodiversity and helping to fight the effects of climate change. A transformed landscape and nature-rich environment changes perceptions of the area, improving its economic prospects. It becomes a place that people want to visit, where they are proud to live and work and where businesses want to invest. Kate Humble visits the Forest In spring 2025, we were delighted to welcome TV presenter and writer Kate Humble to the Forest of Marston Vale to film a special video about our story - from the Vale’s industrial roots to the thriving Community Forest it’s becoming today. Kate joined our team for tree planting in the Millennium Country Park, wildlife watching in the Wetlands Nature Reserve, and a visit to Rectory Wood in Cranfield to see how our woodlands are benefitting local communities. Kate’s visit was made possible by our Corporate Friends of the Forest, Carbon Neutral Britain, who commissioned her visit and the production of the video through Elastic Pie Productions - a huge thank you to everyone involved for making it happen!Read more about Kate’s visit Planting trees is just the beginning We manage the diverse habitats within the Forest to ensure that they continue to thrive. Our work with schools and local community groups means that every year, more people get closer to nature, and though our volunteer programmes we give people, of all ages and abilities, the opportunity to come together, share knowledge and gain new skills. But there is so much more we still need to do This area will continue to be developed. More businesses will locate here, more houses will be built, making the green spaces and habitats we create even more vital in maintaining the balance between the environmental, social and economic needs of the Marston Vale and beyond. We have a vision; to put trees at the very heart of our communities. We are on a journey to reach 30% tree cover by 2050 and that means planting another five million trees, to unlock even greater benefits for people and nature. Our Forest Plan sets out this long-term vision for the future of the Forest, outlining our ambitions and priorities through to 2050. Discover the full story behind our work – explore the facts, figures and achievements in our latest Progress and Impacts study.Read the full study View the Forest Plan We can’t do this alone. We’ll keep uniting local communities, businesses, landowners and decision makers to help grow the Forest. Whether you can plant a tree, offer land for planting, have time to volunteer or can donate or fundraise for the Forest – we need your help. Every contribution makes a difference. Because trees make life better, for people, for nature and for the planet. Get involved Manage Cookie Preferences