Sunday, February 22, 2009

TREE PLANTING EVENT MARKS 120 YEARS OF BEDFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL





WILSTEAD P3 WALKING GROUP





Last Sunday 1,000 trees were planted by staff and councillors to celebrate 120 years of Bedfordshire County Council. In total 24,000 trees will be planted at the Forest of Marston Vale forming Legacy Thrift, a new Woodland to help regenerate the Marston Vale and celebrate the 120 years of Bedfordshire County Council from 1889 - 2009.

For too long the Marston Vale has been blighted by clay extraction, brick making and landfill. The aim is to bring local communities together and create new wildlife habitats and "green lungs" in an area where 20,000 new houses are planned, so that local residents can enjoy their leisure time in beautiful Bedfordshire countryside.

This Sunday I joined 10 members of the active Wilstead P3 Walking Group on a 6 mile walk in Holwell, Hertfordshire. We then enjoyed a well earned drink in the historic Motte & Bailey Pub in the village of Pirton where I lived for 15 years. Then I returned to Elstow for an excellent Sunday roast dinner in my local, The Swan Pub.

It was a nice change to get some fresh air after a busy week looking after 2 lively small grandchildren, sitting on a complex 3 day employment tribunal and attending an interesting conference in London on "Championing the Older Generations".

Variety is the spice of life.....

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dear Cllr Faulkner, thank you for this blog, as a Bedfordshire Conservation Volunteer myself, I was delighted to hear about the planting of all these new trees in the Marston Vale. I have been there many times with my family and we are delighted to have such a fantastic project on our doorsteps! Bedfordshire should be so proud of it!!

However, I am concerned that Bedford Borough Council opposed the planting of these trees, is this correct? I have read that the Mayor was completely opposed to these legacy initiatives, including the planting of 20,000 trees in the Marston.

Under the new unitary authority for Bedford Borough, will all the good work of the County in supporting the Marston Vale, have been in vain? Please do all you can to ensure that Bedford Borough lifts it eyes and supports this great initiative! Thank you for all your support in this area so far too.

Mrs Valerie Seymour.

Cllr Lynne Faulkner said...

Thank you for your kind comments and please read my latest Blog