Parks in Milton Keynes
Milton Keynes is built around its parks. From the city centre heartland of Campbell Park to three river valley parks and the ancient woodlands, the greenery permeates the local landscape. Visitors are often surprised to discover the degree of environmental sensitivity with which MK has been developed.
Milton Keynes was designed according to the garden city movement principles, having an integrated landscape which permeates throughout the city. Milton Keynes Council is responsible for the management of the majority of urban local parks, recreation grounds, open spaces and verges throughout the city.
Whatever the weather, The Parks Trust has always got an event on to get you out in our lovely parks.
Campbell Park is well known for many big annual festivals, but year round it offers a mix of gardens, woodland, open countryside and features.
Over one million visitors come to South Willen Lake each year to play, eat, sail, jog and attend events.
North Willen Lake is the home of one of Milton Keynes' best known landmarks, the Peace Pagoda.
Caldecotte Lake is the southern most lake in central Milton Keynes.
Furzton Lake sits on the edge of Loughton Valley Park, neighboured by The National Bowl , Bletchley, Emerson Valley and Shenley Lodge.
The Ouse Valley Park lies in the floodplain of the river Great Ouse, which flows from north Oxfordshire to The Wash at Kings Lynn.
Alongside the river the park has a spacious, open atmosphere, with long views, scattered trees and overgrown hedges.
Footpaths provide walks and cycle rides of differing lengths throughout the park with connections to the Ouse Valley Park in the north.
Linford Wood is a real woodland, rich in wildlife - an island of semi-natural habitat in a sea of modern development.
The tranquil setting of Manor Park gives a taste of the style of the elegant, landscaped parkland that was fashionable in the 17th and 18th centuries.
The beautiful Waterhall Park sits alone in the string of lakes and parks that scatter through Milton Keynes.
There's plenty of wildlife along the four lakes for visitors to enjoy, which Teardrop Lakes an interesting place for a leisurely stroll.
Walton Lake is situated between Walton Hall, Walton, Simpson, Netherfield and Woughton on the Green.
Shenley Wood is one of three ancient woodlands situated between Shenley Brook End, Shenley Church End, Medbourne and Woodhill.
Broughton Brook is on the east of Milton Keynes, running from Kingston through Broughton to Pineham, bordered by Middleton to the west.
Like Caldecotte Lake, Lodge Lake is a balancing lake, designed to hold excess floodwater that will slowly be released into Loughton Brook.
There are some amazing views around Hazely Wood thanks to large grassed areas, which may one day become part of the grid system or cycleways.
Howe Park Wood is believed to be an ancient woodland so you might be walking amongst wood that covered Britain 6-11,000 years ago!
MK Council is responsible for the management of the majority of local parks, recreation grounds and open spaces throughout the city.
The planning of Milton Keynes allowed for extensive green space and this means that a corresponding large number of trees have been planted.
Milton Keynes has much for the wildlife enthusiast as well as the casual visitor.
Badgers belong to the same family as stoats, weasels and otters. These are all animals with musk bearing scent glands under their tails.
Of all our native mammals, the red fox is probably the most adaptable, a real survivor in the modern world. They are so versatile that they can live almost anywhere in the country.
Mary Poppins sang about it, adults and children are enthusiastic about it, and Milton Keynes has wonderful venue for Kite-flying in Campbell Park.
Find out about the Parks Trust initiative, Parkland Produce.Hear about it on Radio 4 or visit their website.
Milton Keynes Parks Trust has been responsible for its parks and parkways since 1992. Visit the website at www.theparkstrust.com
Read our interesting facts and Figures about Milton Keynes' wildlife.
