Ever wanted to learn more about trees? Join our team in Campbell Park for a range of family-friendly activities designed to teach both adults and children more about British trees. We will look at what trees are, how they grow, and how to identify some common species.

This workshop on Tuesday 28th May is suitable for families with children over 5 years old. Booking is required at £2.00 per child (supervising adults free). Please note that one supervising adult must be present per 3 children. Please come dressed appropriately for the weather as all activities will be taking place outdoors. Activities will be located at different stops around a short walking route. This route takes place mostly on a woodland path, which will be bumpy in places and may be muddy, so please consider suitable footwear. There are some benches on this route and toilet facilities are available at the Campbell Park Pavilion. A hearing loop is available on request. Please contact us on outdoorlearning@theparkstrust.com for any further accessibility information or support.

Please note: children must be supervised by an adult at all times.

ParkID:1639 Categories:1866,2384,2383 Age:Adults with accompanied children over 5

Floodplain Forest Nature Reserve provides a unique and rich habitat for wetland birds. Join us on Tuesday 10th September for a guided walk around the reserve with a focus on the birds that call this park home. Learn about the different species of birds that live here, how to identify them and tips and tricks on birdwatching. 

This walk will be along paths at a medium pace, with stops along the way. Please wear suitable footwear and clothing as this event will go ahead in poor weather conditions. There are also no toilets on site. A hearing loop is available on request, please contact us if you require any further accessibility support.

Booking is essential.

Join our team on this introductory walk at one of our most unique parks - Stonepit Field. Known for its distinctive soil, summer brings a spectacular display of wildflowers unlike anywhere else in Milton Keynes. On this walk you will learn about the history and ecology of the site, get the chance to practise your skills in wildflower identification, and be introduced to some new species.

This Walk & Talk taking place on Tuesday 11th June is ideal for anyone looking to learn more about Stonepit Field, with an interest in nature and plant identification. The walk will be lead at a leisurely pace. Most of the route at Stonepit Field is accessible, with a hard natural path and occasional gentle undulations. Some of the activities may take place slightly off of the path, but the ground is still hardened. There are no benches on the route or toilets at this park. A hearing loop is available on request. Please contact us on outdoorlearning@theparkstrust.com for any further accessibility information or support.

This walk & talk is suitable for adults and children over 12 years. All under 18s must be accompanied by a paying adult. Booking is essential.

ParkID:1931 Categories:1857,2384,2383,2382 Age:Adults and accompanied children over 12

Join us on Friday 11th October to immerse yourelf in the tranquility of woodland habitats at one of our three ancient woodland sites in Milton Keynes: Shenley Wood. Learn about the flora and fauna which call ancient woodlands home, and also how they are managed across Milton Keynes.

This walk will be along paths at a medium pace, with stops along the way. Please note this site, including the paths, can be muddy during wet conditions so please wear appropriate footwear. There will also be no toilets or refreshments on site.  A hearing loop is available on request, please contact us of you require any further accessibility support.

Booking essential.

Park ID:1928 Categories: 1857,2383,2382

Join the rangers for a stroll around one of the most iconic parks in Milton Keynes: Campbell Park on Monday 15th July. You will learn how to identify the trees in our parkland by their leaf, bark, bud and blossom.  You will also find out more about how and why we manage them, including tree removal and coppicing. This walk and talk is suitable for anyone who wants to learn the basics of Tree ID or just wants to find out more about the park. 

We will largely use the main paths, but may venture into the meadows so please wear suitable footwear. There are a few steep slopes but the walk will be leisurely. A hearing loop is available on request. Please note that there are no toilet facilities on site.

Booking is required.

ParkID:1639 Categories:1857 Age:Adults only

Join us in one of your local parks, Waterhall Park, this summer to find out about the wildlife that may be living right on your doorstep! This guided walk on Monday 12th August will enable you to learn and explore the many species that call Waterhall Park home, as well as ask any questions you may have about the park. 

The walk will be on paths at a medium pace, with stops along the way. Please dress appropriately for the weather conditions as this walk will go ahead in poor weather. Also, please note there will be no toilets on site. A hearing loop is available upon request. Please contact us if you have any accessibility concerns.

Booking is required.

ParkID:1948 Categories:1857 Age:Adults and accompanied children 12 years and over

Come and join us for a beginners session on Winter Tree ID on Tuesday 3rd December as part of National Tree Week. Trees are most commonly identified by their leaves, but once winter emerges this is less of an option. During this session you will learn other ways to identify trees in our parks during the winter. Discover different types of bark and tree profiles to become a more observant naturalist.

This walk and talk is suitable for anyone who wants to gain confidence in tree ID or just find out a little more about Campbell Park. We will largely use the main paths, but may venture into the meadows so please wear suitable footwear.  This is a leisurely walk with steep slopes in places. Please note that there are no toilet facilities or refreshments on site. A hearing loop is available on request. If you have any accessibility concerns, please contact us to find out more.

This event is hosted by The Parks Trust's Ranger team who help keep Milton Keynes' parks safe for visitors and wildlife.

ParkID:1639 Categories:1857 Age:Adults only

Would you like to know more about the incredible wildlife living right on your doorstep? During this exploratory walk on Wednesday 7th August you will get to learn about Magna Park and some of the fascinating flora and fauna that live there - particularly interesting given the park's location which is very close to the M1. There will be a chance to see some of the creatures living in, on or around the lake as well as asking any questions you may have. 

Please meet at the car park off Erwood Roundabout, What3Words: ///sweeper.lectured.famed. The free car park is very small and has only one accessible parking space so you may wish to arrive early to secure a spot. We will then walk around the lake and see which fascinating creatures live there. There are no toilets or refreshments available at this location.

The walk will last roughly 1.5 hours at a slow pace, and will cover approximately 0.75 miles. There are benches around the lake which can be used should you like a rest break. We will be using the main paths for this walk which are good all-weather surfaces with minimal slopes (max 2.2% gradient) and no gates. We would love to make these sessions enjoyable for all, so please do get in touch if you have any accessibility needs. A hearing loop is available on request.

Please dress appropriately for the weather as this walk will go ahead in poor weather conditions.

Spaces are limited, so if you are no longer able to join us please let us know in advance by emailing outdoorlearning@theparkstrust.com or calling 01908 233600.

ParkID:10732 Categories:1866 Age:Adults and accompanied children 12 years and over
 

Foraging is becoming increasingly popular in the UK as people look for new ways to connect with the outdoors. This beginner’s session at Caldecotte Lake on Saturday 14th September offers an introduction to locating and identifying common edible plants – particularly those that you can use in teas and tinctures as sources of vitamins and minerals. The session is designed to increase your confidence in identifying wild plants, berries and nuts. The walk will start at 10am and finish at 12pm.

Please be aware that we will not be eating or cooking on the session and the session is for beginners! We will mostly be using the main paths, but will be going into grassland to get up close to plants so please wear suitable footwear.

Please meet at the Windmill Pub car park at Caldecotte Lake, MK7 8HP, What3Words: ///loans.robe.pull. There is plenty of free parking available. There are no public toilets available at this location, but there is a pub with customer toilets and refreshments available should you wish to continue your visit after the walk.

The walk will last roughly 2 hours at a slow pace with regular stops to look at plants. There will be some slopes (without handrails) on this walk and we will be venturing into grassland to get close to the plants so some ground may be uneven. We would love to make these sessions enjoyable for all, so please do get in touch if you have any accessibility needs. A hearing loop is available on request.

Please dress appropriately for the weather as this walk will go ahead in poor weather conditions. Spaces are limited, so if you are no longer able to join us please let us know in advance by emailing outdoorlearning@theparkstrust.com or calling 01908 233600.

ParkID:1465 Categories:1857 Age:Adults and accompanied children 12 years and over

What are fungi? How do they grow? Which ones are poisonous? If you've ever had any of these questions, then this is the Walk & Talk for you! Join us on Saturday 5th October, when our resident expert will take you for a guided tour of a Milton Keynes fungus hotspot, introducing you to some basic identification features, and providing an intro to lifecycles and other biological functions.

Discover the incredible microworld of these fascinating taxa. Due to the nature of this topic and the level of information we will cover, this is recommended as an "intermediate" course. We may spot some edible fungi along the way, but please note that, due to their nature, we will not be encouraging anybody to pick or sample any fungi. This session is designed to teach you about the features of fungi, not to provide information for foraging.

The walk will last roughly 2 hours at a slow-moderate pace with regular stops to look at fungi. The paths are almost entirely flat and mostly hardstanding, although the 2 woodland rides can become boggy following wet weather. We will mostly be using the main paths but will be venturing into grassland/woodland to get closer to the fungi so please wear suitable footwear. Some ground may be uneven. We would love to make these sessions enjoyable for all, so please do get in touch if you have any accessibility needs. A hearing loop is available on request.

Please meet at the Enfield Chase car park off the V7 Saxon Street, MK14 6PB, What3Words: ///chats.region.perplexed. There is free parking available but spaces are limited so you may wish to arrive early to ensure a parking space. There are no public toilets available at this location, but there is a petrol station with customer toilets and refreshments available should you wish to continue your visit after the walk.

Please dress appropriately for the weather as this walk will go ahead in poor weather conditions. Spaces are limited, so if you are no longer able to join us please let us know in advance by emailing outdoorlearning@theparkstrust.com or calling 01908 233600.

ParkID:1912 Categories:1857 Age:Adults and accompanied children 12 years and over