Her Royal Highness dedicated the Forest of Marston Vale to The Queen's Commonwealth Canopy.
On 30th July 2019, The Princess Royal dedicated the Forest of Marston Vale to The Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy (QCC). The Forest of Marston Vale covers 15,799 hectares and is one of England’s 12 Community Forests. A tree-planting project in the Forest has a target to increase woodland cover to 30%.
Her Royal Highness unveiled a plaque in the new Forest Shelter and planted a tree to mark the Forest of Marston Vale’s participation in the QCC. The tree was planted alongside a tree planted a few years ago, by HM Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire Helen Nellis, for the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.
The Princess Royal also met with members of the Forest Team and Volunteers, and explored the Millennium Country Park, to see the Sensory Garden and Sand Martin Hide.
Photo: June Essex
The Forest of Marston Vale Trust was formed in 1997 as an independent environmental charity and social enterprise, to deliver the creation of the Forest of Marston Vale. As a charity, the Trust has a ‘Forest Plan’, to deliver social, economic and social improvement; key to which is the planting of trees and sustainable woodland management. It does this by brokering partnerships with the public, private sectors and charitable organisations.
Through environmentally led regeneration, the project aims to transform the landscape and the perception of the area, making it somewhere people want to live, work and enjoy their leisure time. It aims to use trees to increase the environmental quality of landscapes, and therefore stimulate economic and social regeneration.