Jackson Coles, Mercedes-Benz of Milton Keynes, Parkway Construction, RBS Commercial Banking (Milton Keynes and Luton), Smith Construction and Taylor Wimpey South Midlands will be entertaining their business partners and customers in style at this family friendly classical concert in the park. 

The Parks Trust and Milton Keynes City Orchestra have joined forces to present an uplifting and inspiring celebration of stirring classical favourites, and are inviting local businesses and organisations to be a part of the city’s popular Proms. 

The open-air concert will be performed by Milton Keynes City Orchestra, conducted by Hilary Davan Wetton and followed by a spectacular firework display. Corporate hospitality packages are available for small and large numbers of guests and a number of sponsoring companies are sought for part or overall sponsorship. 

Julie Dawes, Events Coordinator at The Parks Trust, said:  “We’re thrilled that these six companies have confirmed their support for the 2013 Proms in the Park.  This event promises to be one of the highlights of the summer season and shows why Milton Keynes is a great place to live and to do business.” 

Tickets for Proms in the Park cost £10 each for adults, £5 each for children or £25 for a family ticket (admits two adults and two children).  Book online here  or through Milton Keynes City Orchestra. 

For further details on corporate hospitality and sponsorship opportunities please contact Marian Livingstone 07836583505 info@livingstonewhite.co.uk or Julie Dawes 01908 233600 j.dawes@theparkstrust.com.

The Environment Agency has confirmed that Blue-green algae is present within the pond next to the car park at Stony Stratford Nature Reserve. Algal blooms can be harmful to both people and animals. Blue-green algae produces toxins and anyone coming into contact with the blue-green algae should seek medical advice.

Dog walkers are advised to keep their dogs out of the water. As a precautionary measure notices have been posted at the pond warning that contact with the algal scum is to be avoided.

Blue-green algae occurs naturally in rivers, lakes, ponds, estuaries and the sea. Excess nutrients cause the algal blooms when the rapid increase in the number of algae leads it to rise to the surface of the water. Blooms can look like paint, jelly or form small clumps and may be blue-green, grey-green, greenish-brown or reddish brown in colour. Blooms can occur over a matter of days or weeks and are often dispersed by a change in weather conditions.

For further information visit the Environment Agency website www.environment-agency.gov.uk

Park rangers will be at North Willen Lake on Thursday 30 May, between 10am – 12pm, to help you build your own flying machine and to catch the wind.

Kites will be built out of re-cyclable materials and you’re welcome to bring your own kites to fly too. There will also be the opportunity to build your own windsock and test the direction and strength of the wind before your kite takes to the skies.

Booking is a must as this half-term event is very popular. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Each event costs £3.00/child. Book online, call 01908 255379 or email events@theparkstrust.com to secure your place.

Research shows that 44% of people are now viewing websites on their smartphones and with smartphone use increasing all the time we want to ensure that you have the best possible experience when using our website.

Saturday 17 August is Monster Day and our amazing film line-up is Shrek, Jurassic Park and Avengers Assemble.  On Sunday 18 August we’ve got a musical extravaganza with The Lion King, The Muppets and summer singalong favourite Mamma Mia.

Almost 7,000 people cast their votes so we’d like to say a big thank you to you all.  This year the Open Air Film Festival will be moving to the Campbell Park amphitheatre.  You can find full programme details here.

The wooden boardwalk, located by the pond near the H10, is on a popular walking route through to Walnut Tree and had been showing its age.  Now, it has been completely replaced with a smart new boardwalk built by the Trust’s contractors EM Plant. 

Mark Colton, Area Landscape Manager at The Parks Trust, said:  “The new boardwalk took around three weeks to build and we’d like to thank residents for their patience while this work was happening.  We hope they will enjoy using this great new facility.” 

The Parks Trust is an entirely self-funding charity that cares for 5,000 acres of Milton Keynes’ parks and green spaces.

Every year the Partnership sends postcards out to schools and puts posters up around the city. Now we’d like you to come up with an exciting, engaging and imaginative poster and postcard campaign which will inspire people to think about water safety for the next three years.

Our junior winner will receive free family entry to Emberton Park plus a free swim at their nearest local leisure centre.

The senior winner will receive one week’s work experience with leading graphic design and marketing agency Visual Identity.  You’ll be able to find out how a busy design agency works, learn some essential skills and work towards building your own portfolio.

Find out more about the competition and how to enter here.

Martin Kincaid, Biodiversity Officer at The Parks Trust, said:  “Walton Lake is one of the richest spots in Milton Keynes to enjoy wildlife and over the years our volunteers and contractors have worked really hard to preserve this precious habitat.  It’s very upsetting for us all as this is the second bird hide that has been destroyed at this location.”

The Trust is appealing for anyone with information to call Thames Valley Police on 101 quoting the crime reference number DF4242921/13.

Greg Smith, Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service's Service Delivery Manager for Milton Keynes, said: "We’re lucky to have facilities like this in Milton Keynes, and it’s very disappointing that someone has done this.

“The fact that this fire was in a remote location made access for firefighters difficult. It also put a strain on the resources of the organisations who had to deal with it.”

Walton Lake was originally built as a balancing lake for the River Ouzel.  It was no longer needed to absorb floodwater once Willen and Caldecotte Lakes were created so was allowed to fill with reeds, creating a very different habitat from the open waters of most of the city's other lakes.  It is now the most substantial reedbed in Milton Keynes.

It is the combination of habitats that makes Walton Lake so rich in wildlife. Surrounding the reedbed are ponds and open water, ancient hedgerows and hay meadow, plus the River Ouzel running nearby.

As part of Make A Difference Day, the Trust encouraged volunteers last October to plant 10,000 daffodil bulbs at nine different sites. All ages and family groups turned out to help make their local park a more colourful place to be.

Bulb planting took place at Tattenhoe Park, Campbell Park, Woolstone Green, Ashland, Broughton Gate, Oxley Park, Kingsmead, Monkston Park, Great Holm and Shenley Wood.

Briony Serginson, Head of Community Engagement, said: “After a long hard winter our daffodils are a real welcome burst of colour. Each year in the planting season The Parks Trust carefully chooses a wide variety of trees, shrubs and plants to provide colour and interest to Milton Keynes’ parks and grid roads, as well as to attract and feed insects, mammals and birds.”

For the best places to see a host of golden daffodils try Campbell Park, Willen Lake, Furzton Lake or appreciate the new blooms of wildflowers, wood anemones and early bluebells, at Shenley, Howe Park and Linford Wood.

The Parks Trust and Milton Keynes City Orchestra have joined forces to present an uplifting and inspiring celebration of stirring classical favourites, and are inviting local businesses and organisations to be a part of the city’s popular Proms.

The open-air concert will be performed by Milton Keynes City Orchestra, conducted by Hilary Davan Wetton and followed by a spectacular firework display. Corporate hospitality packages are available for small and large numbers of guests and a number of sponsoring companies are sought for part or overall sponsorship.

Derek Bell, Branch Manager of Handelsbanken, said “Handelsbanken is delighted to be the first to confirm support for the 2013 Proms in the Park. Following the great success of last year's event, the Proms will be the highlight of the city's events this summer. A professional orchestra performing music we know and love in the Campbell Park ampitheatre is a fantastic experience for all to enjoy. We are extremely honoured and pleased to be able to support this event and the two great charities involved, The Parks Trust and Milton Keynes City Orchestra.”

For further details on corporate hospitality and sponsorship opportunities please contact Marian Livingstone 07836583505 infor@livingstonewhite.co.uk or Julie Dawes 01908 233600 j.dawes@theparkstrust.com.

This fun packed festival is free and includes traditional maypole dancing, morris-dancing a variety of folk musicians, children’s entertainment, craft stalls and the opportunity to try maypole dancing yourself.

Set next to the Grand Union Canal amidst the ponds and beautiful landscape of Campbell Park you can bring a picnic, feed the ducks and watch the colourful display of narrowboats.

The May Day Festival also includes a variety of fete games, fairground rides, boat trips, and a fancydress parade. The Trust is encouraging children to come and make crowns and flags and join in a May Day parade.

The event and car parking for the event is free. For further information and a programme of activities click here.

The successful applicant will have an enthusiasm for and knowledge of outdoor and sporting activities and must be willing to gain experience of events organisation.  You’ll be a passionate individual with the drive to assist in delivering high quality outdoor events.  It’s important that you enjoy dealing with members of the public and can ensure that they have a safe experience within our parks. A flexible approach is necessary as hours may vary, and will include weekend and evening work.

If you're available from June to September and want to know more click here.

To help raise awareness of the problems of litter The Parks Trust has launched a campaign to ask everyone who uses the parks to show they love them by taking their rubbish home. 

Parks, such as Willen Lake, Campbell Park, Linford Wood, Furzton Lake and Caldecotte Lake are popular places to visit, especially in the holidays, but often the clean-up after the holidays is very challenging. The Trust’s message is simple – “Love Your Parks – Please Take Your Litter Home. It’s easy and it’s the right thing to do!”  The Trust is asking for people to sign up on-line to pledge to take their litter home and share this message with their friends, family and colleagues.  

David Foster, Chief Executive of The Parks Trust, the self-financing charity that cares for Milton Keynes’ parks and green spaces said: “We love to see people having a great time in our parks – but we want people to love them and care for them too. 

We spend a great deal of money collecting litter, around £250,000 each year, and we’d much rather spend this money on providing exciting events, more flowers and trees, working with schools or providing more facilities in the parks.” 

The Parks Trust is confident that people really do love their parks and is hoping that people will sign up to its pledge and help to keep them litter free so that everyone can enjoy visiting them again and again. 

Help the Trust to spread the word by signing up to our pledge online and sharing your pledge with your friends and family via Facebook or Twitter.

Follow the trail to find the clues and eggs left by the Easter Bunny and receive your chocolate Easter egg. Make your own bunny ears and Easter basket to help you collect your eggs.

Organised by rangers from The Parks Trust, the Big Easter Egg-travaganza hunt takes place between 11am – 2pm on Sat 6 April 2013. It costs £5 per family. 

Children must be accompanied by an adult. 

For further information click here or call 01908 233600.

The Parks Trust and Milton Keynes City Orchestra have joined forces to present an uplifting and inspiring celebration of stirring classical favourites, including some surprise first-half guests. The open-air concert will be performed by Milton Keynes City Orchestra, conducted by Hilary Davan Wetton and followed by a spectacular firework display. 

David Foster, Chief Executive at The Parks Trust, said:  “Presenting our own Proms in the Park concert with Milton Keynes City Orchestra is a fantastic addition to the summer season.  This family-friendly event is certain to be a real crowd pleaser so please make sure to book your tickets early.” 

Marian Livingstone, Chairman of Milton Keynes City Orchestra, said:  “We’re working on an exciting Proms programme to bring everyone the classics they love to hear performed by our own professional orchestra. There will be a great flag waving party atmosphere and Hilary is delighted to be coming back and conducting this concert in partnership with The Parks Trust.” 

Tickets for Proms in the Park cost £10 each for adults, £5 each for children or £25 for a family ticket (admits two adults and two children).  Book online here or visit www.mkco.org.

The closing date for tender submissions is Tuesday 2nd April. 

If you would like any further information, or would like to request a tender pack, please contact Briony Serginson on 01908 255374 or email b.serginson@theparkstrust.com.

This adult education session takes place at Campbell Park Pavilion from 10am - 4pm on Saturday 27 April and costs just £15 per person.  Bring a packed lunch, outdoor wear and sensible footwear as the group will be going out into the park.

So if you'd like to find out more about snakes, lizards and frogs or discover why the slow worm can be the gardeners' friend book your tickets here or for more information call 01908 255379.

Sign up here to be part of this fantastic draw.

Winners will be notified by email or phone on Friday 22 March.

Good luck!

If you have any queries please call 01908 233600 or email landscape@theparkstrust.com.