Parks Trust looks back on remarkable year of outdoor life in Milton Keynes
The Parks Trust has looked back with pride on a year of outdoor fun in MK.
The charitable Trust cares for over 6,000 acres of green space in Milton Keynes including river valleys, ancient woodlands, lakes, parks and landscaped areas along the city’s grid roads.
Its staff and volunteers work hard to support local wildlife and biodiversity, provide valuable facilities for park users, deliver extensive education programmes and connect communities with events and activities.
This week The Parks Trust bosses published their reflections on 2025 and thanked their large band of volunteers that help with the enormous task of caring for the green spaces and the wildlife they contain.
in a special statement, they said: “From landmark celebrations and thousands of events to accessibility improvements and environmental projects, we're proud to provide residents with vibrant spaces to connect with nature, community, and wellbeing.
“This year marked 20 years of MK Health Walks, with 572 walks helping more than 9,000 people to get active any day of the week. The parks hosted over 1,800 events (including 20 inclusive events) which attracted 113,000+ attendees through the year. Plus, our outdoor learning programme engaged 16,500 students from local schools to learn about the environment.
“Accessibility remained a key focus, with 20 inclusive events across the year, including Wheelchair Rambles, Inclusive Strolls, and BSL guided walks. To further improve access, nine wheelchair-friendly gates were installed in Ouzel Valley Park, ensuring that everyone can enjoy the green spaces.
“The quality of Milton Keynes’ parkland recognised in prestigious Green Flag Awards for the 9th consecutive year, with the charity remaining the only organisation in the country to achieve a single Green Flag Award for a whole city-wide network of parks.
“Environmental stewardship continued to be at the heart of our work. Our 2-year Wetland Arc project sees a £213,000 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund enable us to develop a transformative masterplan to restore and enhance the River Great Ouse Valley landscape for both people and nature. And, a DEFRA grant from The Tree Council’s Trees Outside Woodland Fund will see 13,000 new trees planted across the city.
“Campbell Wharf Marina was recognised with a double accolade: 5 Gold Anchor status and Clean Marina accreditation, highlighting outstanding facilities and operational standards.”
The statement added: “This year marked a major milestone - 40 years of Campbell Park being the city's central green space. To commemorate this, we introduced a new interactive trail designed to immerse visitors in the park’s rich history from its original concepts to art installations, events, and ongoing care. This initiative was support by MK City Council and MK Community Foundation.”
It concluded: “Finally, we'd like to extend a huge and heartfelt thanks to our 240 volunteers. Their dedication and hard work have been invaluable as ever. Their contribution underscores the spirit of community that makes Milton Keynes’ parkland truly special.
Established as a charity in 1992 The Parks Trust has grown as the city has expanded. Each year, it takes on new green spaces and endowments from developers and ensures that all new areas of the city benefit from the same quality of inspiring, connected landscape.