Total Audio Length: loading...
We're planting trees and using woodlands to make life better for people and wildlife in the Marston Vale
The Forest of Marston Vale covers 61 square miles between Bedford and Milton Keynes which was a very different place before we came along. Massive pits had been dug throughout the countryside to supply Stewartby Brickworks with clay – many were then filled with waste and became landfill. Tree cover was a pitiful 3% - a third of the national average at the time.
There was smog from the chimneys; there were smells from the landfill. If you were driving through on the old A421, you’d do your car windows up.
The Park is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to visitors on foot. With Bike Hire, events throughout the year, the Wetlands Nature Reserve and 18km of surfaced tracks to explore, there's something for everyone.
IMAGE 1 of 3: Forest of Marston Vale
DESCRIBING: Horizontal color, white and pale green, image
SYNOPSIS: An image of a tree comprised of a man holding up the crown of the tree.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: Drawing of a white silhouette of a man, with pale green background, standing with hands outstretched overhead in a Y-shape. The man is shown as the trunk of the tree with hands reaching upwards to the crown of the tree. The crown is comprised of 3 sections of slanted white scribbles each being drawn in a half oblong-type shape that resembles a person’s eyebrow. There are 4 smaller scribble eyebrows directly above the man’s outstretched hands, 1 larger scribble eyebrow in the middle section positioned to the right, and 1 larger scribble eyebrow in the top section positioned in the center.
To the right of the tree is the text, “Forest of Marston Vale” with the word Forest being slightly larger than the rest of the text.
IMAGE 2 of 3: Trees Make Life Better
DESCRIBING: Horizontal color, white and pale green, image
SYNOPSIS: The horizontal image is angled slightly up as it proceeds from left to right, is outlined by white rectangle against a pale green background, with the inside text of, "TREES MAKE LIFE BETTER" in which all letters are capitalized.
IMAGE 3 of 3: Autumn Leaf
DESCRIBING: Horizontal color image
SYNOPSIS: A vibrant colored autumn leaf is shown angled from the stalk extending from the bottom right to the point of the leaf to the left.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: The image shows what looks like an autumn, red maple leaf, serrated and an uneven jagged around the edge. The leaf has three lobes shown, rusty-red on the outside going to a more burnt, rusty orange in the middle. One vein proceeds out to the center of each lobe with each vein being a pale-yellow color. From the 3 main veins, there are a number of smaller light-colored veins that go all the way to the jagged edge of the leaf. There are a few darker freckle-like spots near the veins. The stalk is a dark red.
DESCRIBING: A small horizontal rectangular colour photo
SYNOPSIS:
Three trees are evenly spaced apart, on a two-toned coloured background of pink and green. They have a full canopy of leaves in green. Some patches are lighter, others are darker where the leaves overlap. The trunk appears a lighter colour - grey or yellow in tone with no visible texture to the bark.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION:
At 9 o'clock of the image, a large deciduous tree with a full green canopy of leaves is visible. It has a slightly oval but spreading shape to it with the odd branch full of leaves which sticks out and is slightly separated from the other sections of the tree. The overall shape is uneven and resembles shape of a broccoli. There are no branches visible. The leaves are various tones of green, some lighter and some darker with some almost black in shadow from overlapping leaves. The tree has a relatively smooth trunk which takes up a third of the size of the whole tree. It appears to be slightly paler in colour than the leaves, with more yellow tones to it. Some variations in the colour to grey are noted. this could be the pattern of the bark or shadows.
In the centre of the image an identical tree is visible. a small gap between the last tree and this one is observed, there is no overlap. The tree is the same, size in height and stature, shape, oval spreading with a full canopy of varying green tone leaves.
At 3 o'clock of the image the third and final identical tree is visible. Again, a small gap between the middle and last tree is observed, no overlap is present. This tree also has the same size, shape and stature as the other two trees.
The trunk of all three trees are level and appear to be in a straight line. At the very base of the trunk, a slight flare is visible where the trunk is slightly thicker and the tree roots go into the ground. Behind the leafy green canopy of all three trees is a bright lime green colour. There is a pale raspberry colour behind the trunk section of the image.
RELATED TEXT:
Trees make life better for all of us - for people, for wildlife, for the planet. They help to cool and clean our air, lock up carbon, reduce flooding, provide sustainable raw materials and are our best hope in combatting the climate crisis.
Since we started creating the Forest, we've planted over 2 million trees which has not only made the area a better place to live, work and spend leisure time but the work we've done to create new woodlands (and bring woodlands into management) has created jobs, brought millions in investment to the area and actually saved the NHS money.
IMAGE 1 of 2:
DESCRIBING: A small colour computerised 2D image.
SYNOPSIS: An orange circle is backed by a lime green rectangle. Within the circle, a darker orange cartoon style outline of a car is visible.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: A warm and vibrant orange coloured circle is placed in the middle of a bright lime green, rectangular background. Within the circle is a darker, almost burnt orange coloured shape which resembles a simple cartoon style outline of a car, face on. The shape has a square roof with slightly rounded edges, there is a square which is lighter in colour, it resembles a windscreen and the lighter more vibrant colour of the circle is visible.
Below the roof is a wider but flatter rectangle shape in burnt orange. Within this rectangle are two small circular shapes. These are evenly spaced apart, towards either side of the main body of the car. They are the lighter colour orange.
Beneath this are two 'U' shaped sections. they are quite thin and are evenly spaced apart, they resemble or wheels of a car. They each sit underneath each of the circular shapes above it.
CAPTION: They remove 4,917 tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere every year. That's the equivalent of the annual CO2 emissions of 2000 family cars.
IMAGE 2 of 2:
DESCRIBING: Small colour 2D computerised image.
SYNOPSIS: A simple cartoon style image in tones of orange and yellow, of a Doctors stethoscope.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION:
At the top of the image at approximately 1 o'clock is a burnt orange rhombus is slightly wonky and looks like a flower pot on its side. A burgundy dark red thin candy cane shape comes off the back of the first shape. This then leads into a burnt orange tubular section which makes an open slightly indented square shape. It resembles the shape of a basket. This moves into another thin, burgundy red candy cane shape and sideways flower pot shape on the left hand side of the image Both sides of this section are symmetrical in size, shape and colour but is slightly wonky, with the right hand side being higher up.
A burnt orange square shape is visible, leading from the tubular shape above. It is central. From this an orange 'U' shape line with a tail on it's left hand side hangs down. At 8 o'clock of the image and on the end of the tubular 'U' shape is a smaller deep burgundy red circle inside a larger dark, burgundy red circle. Separating the two circles is a thin white hollow circle. This represents the stethascope head.
CAPTION: The value of the physical health benefits provided by the Forest is estimated at €4.95 million a year.
DESCRIBING: A small portrait colour photograph.
SYNOPSIS: What appears to be a family, two adults and two children are walking a pale long haired dog on a woodland path. It has a green border with yellow shapes on each side.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: A women, aged in her 30's with shoulder length, straight blonde hair is walking wearing a short waist length black tailored jacket - this could be leather, the jacket is open and she is wearing a loose fitted white t-shirt and has a dark maroon or deep burgundy red looped but loosely draped knitted scarf around her neck which is hanging down in front of her chest, mid-wash denim jeans and black ankle boots. She has her arms bent backwards with her hands in her back pockets of her jeans. She is walking next to a man aged also in his 30's, has dark cropped hair with a slightly receding hairline. He is wearing a light grey hoodie underneath a light khaki green colour utility style jacket which is open. He has dark charcoal grey coloured cargo pants which are loose fitting and pale almost white shoes on. He has both of his hands in his front pockets and appears to be smiling slightly.
In front of the adults, also walking is a young boy aged approximately 7 years old. He is wearing a dark charcoal grey wooly hat - no hair is visible under the hat, he has a light lime green coloured padded jacket on which is zipped up all the way to the top, a light grey scarf is worn around his neck in a double loop and is pulled through in front of his chest. A pocket is visible horizontally on his left breast and another diagonally on his right side. His legs are not visible as they're obscured by another object. Next to him on his right hand side is a young girl aged approximately 10 years old. She is wearing a stone grey knitted hat which has a beige faux fur bobble on the top. She has mousey blonde hair which is long and drapes past her shoulders. She is wearing a blue padded outdoor coat which is zipped up almost to the top. A grey coloured scarf or large neck of a hoodie is visible. She has a pair of pale grey trousers on which are tucked into her dark coloured, almost black wellington boots. she has a wide smile on her face and is walking with quite a wide stride. One of her arms is placed in front of her and she is holding a blue (a similar colour to her coat) dog lead in her hand. Her other arm is stretched out further, holding the lead a third of the way down, she is wearing a dove grey glove on this hand only. Walking between the two children but slightly ahead of them is a juvenile aged pale long haired dog which appears to be a golden retriever type. The dog looks like it is excited and is pulling on the lead slightly. They have a wide stride.
They are all walking on a woodland path which appears to be covered in fallen autumn leaves. The floor appears to be a golden brown and burnt orange colour. Around the path are some darker green coloured fern like plants boarding the path. Beyond this, a large tree trunk and other slimmer tree trunks are present, some of the smaller sapling trees have very vivid burnt orange foliage on them, and others - evergreen trees have dark green foliage. There appears to be a slight haze or mist in the air behind the people and beyond into the woods behind them although it is light and sun rays shine through in parts.
The image is boarded by a leafy green mount with four asymmetrical yellow triangles that are off centre. In the left bottom corner of the image, is part of a rhombus shaped map with jagged edges. This is mainly white, with a bright magenta border. To the left hand side of this shape some soft sage green map detail is visible.
RELATED TEXT: We're planting trees and using woodlands to make life better for people and wildlife in the Marston Vale.
The Forest of Marston Vale is a Community Forest, covering 61 square miles between Bedford and Milton Keynes, When we began in the early 1990s, Stewartby Brickworks and numerous landfill sites dominated the area and we had a pitiful 3% free cover (a third of the national average at the time).
DESCRIBING: A small horizontal rectangular colour photo
SYNOPSIS: Two young girls planting a small tree in an open meadow
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: Two girls, both about 8 years old, have cleared the debris from the meadow floor and have dug a hole about 30 cm deep. They are crouching down to plant a whip (small bare-root tree) in the hole. The whip, possibly Ash, is about 50cm high.
The girl on the left has blond, frizzy hair pulled back on her head. She has blue eyes and a wide smile – clearly enjoying what she is doing. She is wearing a light blue fleece (open) over a white T-shirt. Navy blue tights and wellington boots with horizontal white and dark blue stripes. There are small blue and white bows on the sides of her boots and the edge of the soles are decorated in a repeating motif of white daisies with yellow centres. On the inside of her left wrist is written the word ‘Tip’ in red marker pen. She has a handful of soil in her left hand ready to start filling the hole. On the ground behind her is the wooden stake (about 4 cm square and probably about 1 metre long) that will be used to support the tree once planted.
The girl on the right has long, straight blond hair falling loosely over her face. She also has blue eyes and a happy smile. She is wearing an open, bright magenta fleece over a dark coloured T-shirt. Black tights and magenta wellington boots to match her fleece. She has taken off her anorak (also magenta and dark blue) and this is resting on the ground behind her. She is holding the whip in both hands, pressing it down into the hole ready for her companion to start the filling.
In the background of the picture there are two people standing (only their legs visible) next to two trees that have been secured with stakes and protected with a tree guards (collars of mesh about 60cm tall that will protect the young trees from predation).
RELATED TEXT:
Our ultimate goal is 30% tree cover (we're now at 15.4%) but it's about much more than that. So far, we've planted nearly half a million trees on land we've acquired and planted nearly 1.5 million with other land owners. We want the Forest to be a place defined by trees and woodlands - where communities, businesses and the environment thrive alongside each other in a sustainable, balanced way, and where people are proud to live, work and play!
In order to achieve 30% tree cover, we need to plant another 5 million. Trees are our best hope to combat the climate crisis - help us plant more.
DESCRIBING:
Colour map
SYNOPSIS:
A section of a white map on a green background with a bright pink boundary line highlighting the 61 square mile Bedfordshire community forest showing villages, towns, water bodies, woodlands, roads and points of interest. The shape of the map looks like a right hand crab claw, with the smaller pincer on the left and the larger on the right. The map edges are uneven and jagged. It is wider on the left hand side, with a defined flat line on the bottom left side which shows the M1. The furthest boundary point is at the top on the right hand side which is currently incomplete.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION:
The description of the map will be sectioned into three parts.
The first section of the map, on the left had side is mainly white with a pink outline along the outer edge at the top, bottom and side. There is a flat yellow line along the bottom edge which represents the M1 motorway. This yellow line continues beyond the pink boundary line. There is a small thin yellow line marked off the map from the M1 which could represent the continuation of a smaller A road towards Milton Keynes. The right-hand side is sectioned off to the rest of the map by a thinner yellow line which represents the A421, a major dual carriageway – the thin yellow line ends at the bottom of the map joining junction 13 of the M1 motorway.
The majority of this section is white, there are green patches which represent land covered in woodland, some patches are a lighter sage green (representing other woodlands) and others are darker mint green (representing our woodlands). Moving from top to bottom right, there is a long thin light green patch at the very top of the map which is separated by a smaller B road. Under this is a smaller light green patch of woodland surrounded by unclassified road. Across to the right-hand side are five distinct linear green patches representing land with woodland on it.
Under the last area of woodland, towards the A421 theres a peach-coloured area marked ‘Woolton’. This is the second largest town on the map but has not been marked with any defining areas of interest.
Below Woolton, there is an unmarked road which leads to Upper Shelton which has sections of woodland on either side of the road, encompassing a large area of fragmented light sage green areas of woodland. To the right-hand side and linked by road Lower Shelton is below Upper Shelton and runs adjacent to the A421.
At the lower half of the map several unnamed roads are visible with a large peach coloured patch in the middle section which is marked ‘Cranfield’. Cranfield divides this section of the map with a few large areas of woodland on the right-hand side, the largest of these areas of woodland is divided equally with light sage green and dark mint green areas. A small body of water is visible before reaching the main A421. There is a smaller peach coloured area to the left. There are two symbols, a mortar board hat which could represent a university and a blue aeroplane which could represent an airfield.
Another area of forest is visible in the bottom left-hand corner, an unnamed road arches from the M1 at the bottom corner on the left to Salford and onto Hulcote before reaching the main A421. The words Milton Keynes in white lettering on a green background is visible below the M1.
The next section of the map has the pink outline at the bottom and the top but is defined by the A421 on the left-hand side and the A6 on the right-hand side. This section of map is divided from top to bottom by the B530.
Starting at the bottom, there is a small town marked Brogborough which has a symbol denoting there is a railway station. From the railway station there is a grey dashed line heading to the top of the map representing a railway line.
Following this line, you reach another town called Lidlington which also has a station symbol. Lidlington separates the largest body of water on the map and the largest fragmented area of woodland spanning as far as Milbrook. To the right of Milbrook is another grey dashed line running vertically to the top of the map and parallel to the dashed line from Brogborough. Next to this line and before the B530 there are small areas of woodland and a dark grey monument like symbol.
Heading up the B530 there is a large peach coloured area called Stewartby with a prominent stack like symbol which could represent the Stewartby Brickworks. Below Stewartby there are three bodies of water of varying sizes. Where Stewartby and the largest body of water meets there is another symbol denoting a railway station.
To the left and below the railway station symbol there is the largest area on the map, this is made up of both fragmented water areas and woodland. The biggest section of water in this area is at the top. There is a white wind turbine symbol in the middle of this area which could denote the location of Millennium Park. There is a railway station symbol at the bottom right-hand side of this area with the grey dashed line between the top and bottom.
The largest peach patch on the map is to the left of the woodland and water areas and is a town called Marston Moretaine.
Above Stewartsby there is the grey dashed line with a small piece of woodland on the left which meets the parallel grey dashed line.
Sitting in between the parallel grey dashed lines there is an area of fragmented bodies of water that runs along side the B530. To the left of these water bodies is an unnamed road that goes to Kempston Hardwick, this small town also has a railway symbol.
Both parallel lines end at the pink outline edge at the top of the map. Bedford is written in white on a green background outside of the map. There is a blue meandering line, that could represent a river, above the word Bedford.
In the area between the B530 and the A6 from the top, there is a small peach patch denoting a town called Wixams. Wixams has five small bodies of water above the town and fragmented woodland areas to the left and below the town.
Towards the bottom of the map there are two unnamed road that cross at a peach patch with a town called Houghton Conquest. There are various very small areas of woodland to the right and around the town.
Below Houghton Conquest there is a large area of woodland which is equally split with light sage green and dark mint green colours. To the left of the dark mint green area there is a brown building symbol which could represent a stately home. This is at the bottom of the map and leads to the pink boundary line and along to the A6.
The final section of the map goes from the thick yellow line which represents the A6 to just beyond the last thick yellow line which represents the A603 with a thinner yellow line denoting the A600 dividing this section in two.
Starting from the bottom pink boundary line to the right there is a medium sized light sage green area of woodland. Above this woodland there is a peach patch with a town called Wilstead. A thin yellow horizontal line leaves Wilstead travelling to the right to meet the A600, this could represent an unnamed road. Between the unnamed road and the yellow line, which could denote the A603, before the top pink boundary line there is a medium size dark mint green area of woodland. Beyond the woodland area there is a peach patch with a town called Shortstown.
Above the yellow line there is a small peach patch area which goes to the top pink boundary with a light brown building symbol.
From the A600 to the A603 there is a mainly white area with two unnamed roads going from top to bottom with one horizonal unnamed road connecting the vertical roads. Below this horizontal road there is a small light sage green area of woodland and a symbol showing two dark and light khaki-coloured elongated buildings, which could represent military hangers.
Halfway down this area is a very small peach patch that denotes a town called Cotton End. Below Cotton End there is a light sage green area of woodland.
Across from Cotton End and beyond the thin yellow line, there is a small blue patch which could represent a small body of water. As well as the small blue patch there is nine very small patches of light sage green woodland areas. Above this is the word Cardington and a small peach patch representing a town.
To the right of this there is a unnamed road and the word Cople. As the bottom pink boundary line sweeps up and to the left there is a large area of light sage green to represent woodland.
The pink border line continues to meet the A603, halfway along this road there is a small town called Willington with fragmented light sage green woodland to the left of Willington and below the A603.
The final part of the map from the A603 to the top of the pink boundary shows three unnamed roads which lead to a significant area of dark mint green woodland. In the centre of this woodland area is a light brown building symbol, which could represent a monument.
CAPTION: WE'VE PLANTED: 22,00 trees in Lidlington; 134,000 trees in and around Cranfield; 25,000 trees in Marston Moretaine; 12,000 trees in Houghton Conquest; 82,000 trees between Shortstown and Cotten End; 8,300 trees near Wilstead; 28,000 trees in WIllington
RELATED TEXT:
The Forest Centre is in our Green Flag Award winning Millennium Country Park at Marston Moretaine. The Park is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to visitors on foot. With Bike Hire, events throughout the year, the Wetlands Nature Reserve and 18km of surfaced tracks to explore, there's something for everyone. The best thing is, whenever you visit the Forest Centre, any money you spend helps us plant more trees and look after our woodlands.
DESCRIBING: A small colour photograph
SYNOPSIS: The colour photograph is of a small baby bird. The bird is round and fluffy, with a white and grey chest, mostly black head, with an oblong patch of white in the centre of the head. It is perched on a twig, with its head facing the right of the image.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION:- A small round juvenile bird has its 2 feet tightly wrapped around a thin branch of a tree. The bird has very fluffy feathers so it must be a youngster, likely just left the nest - a fledgling. The bird has a distinctive black ‘mask’ around its eyes and a light grey ‘cap’ on its mostly-brown head. Some black adult tail feathers are visible, but the rest of the feathers are a greyish white and a chocolate brown. A little ball of fluff, almost mouse-like, with a greyish white tummy. Its wing feathers are brown and its tail feathers black with flashes of white. Its beady black eye circled with red, is looking at us with curiosity. It’s black beak has a yellow trim, still having the bright yellow gape of a baby bird telling mum and dad to come and feed me!
RELATED TEXT:
Our goal is to plant another 5 million trees, and you can help us - make a donation, become a Friend of the Forest, organise a fundraising event, Dedicate a Tree, visit the Forest Centre & Millennium Country Park or volunteer for us. Visit marstonvale.org to find out how you can make a difference.
DESCRIBING: A square colour logo
SYNOPSIS: A square light green box, with a logo of darker green leaf shapes positioned like a fan above text which reads "The Queen's Commonwealth Canopy" in black.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTIO: There are 5 larger, dark green leaf shapes, arranged above the words as if on a clock face at 9 o'clock, 10.30 o'clock, 12 o'clock, 1.30 o'clock and 3 o'clock. 4 smaller, lighter green leaf shapes sit above these at the times 10 o'clock, 11.30 o'clock, 1 o'clock and 2.30 o'clock.
CAPTION: The Queen's Commonwealth Canopy
RELATED TEXT:
Visit marstonvale.org and sign up to our newsletter to help us plant more trees.
Or contact us:
The Forest of Marston Vale
The Forest Centre
Station Road
Marston Moretaine
Bedfordshire MK43 0PR
Telephone: 01234 767037
Email: info@marstonvale.org
Registered Charity No. 1069229