Great to be finally back in my home county of Bedfordshire today at Millennium Country park, Forest of Marston Vale.

Forest of Marston Vale

I love to hear about sympathetic green projects returning once scared industrial landscapes in this case “Massive pits had been dug throughout the countryside to supply Stewartby Brickworks with clay” and converting the land with government approval into the Forest of Marston Vale that is 1 of 12 community forests in England.

The forest of Marston Vale aim is to cover 30% available area to them with trees that equates to planting 5 million extra saplings!

As everyone knows who follows me that I now plant a tree in my dad’s memory for every new parkrun event that I travel too and will now moving forward make all future donations to The Forest of Marston Vale appeal.

Fun Fact

I was told by Millennium Country was their 98th event with 49 taking place before the pandemic and 49 afterwards, so an equal split 🙂

It was great to bump into good friend John Tate from my home parkrun of Luton, Wardown and fellow tourist including Peter Brasted from High Wycombe picture below right wearing purple parkrun tee shirt!

Course

The course is a very simple out and back route around half of Stewartby Lake. There is very little elevation on this course and the surface is made up entirely of gravel trial path that are well maintained!

Points to note:

• Dogs are not allowed at this event
• The path is wide enough to allow for overtaking, but just take it easy if one of the runners is trying to overtake in the opposite direction on the way back!
• This is a bridal path so be wary if horses on the course and walk if instructed by the course marshals. To be fair I think the riders knowingly decide to stay away for the duration of this event!
• I have been told in wet weather the wooden footbridges could get a bit slippery so just take care around there

For me I feel like the parkrun weather gods were on my side with overcast conditions at the start, flat course to run and most of it was shaded with trees either side!

Facilities

There is paid car parking at this event that tariff is £2 for 3 hours and can be paid either by cash, card or phone app Sat Nav MK43 0PR

Always welcome before the start of any event there are toilets available outside the Forest Centre.

After the parkrun me and John retired to the Lakeside Cafe inside the Forest Centre for a well-earned cup of coffee and remember you get 10% off your bill on the production of your parkrun barcode, that is always a welcome bonus!

Conclusion

I would like to thank this week’s run director Verity and team of volunteers for making us all very welcome today and organising an excellent event!

So, if you like a fast flat parkrun to run with excellent facilities, then Millennium Country must be high on your list of events to visit!

Finally, I would like to wish them all the best on their 100th parkrun event in a couple of weeks’ time and I’m sure you will all have a great time 😊👍🏻

For me next week I’m back at Luton, Wardown for my running club Stopsley Striders beginners course graduation parkrun and I’m really looking forward to it 🙂

Best

Mark aka Silent Runner