Little Whittling

Teach your toddler some woodworking skills safely. See if they can make a powerful wizard’s wand!

What you will need:

A vegetable peeler (Y shaped is best for little hands)
Colourful yarn or pipe cleaners

How to:

Have a wander around for a wand-sized stick - one that will fit nicely into your toddlers hand.
Help them peel the bark off the bottom 1/3 of the stick with the vegetable peeler. This has become the handle of the wand.
Decorate by wrapping around bits of yarn or pipe cleaners if you’d like!
Make sure both you and your toddler have a wand, now you can play a fun version of hide and seek casting spells on one another once you’ve been found!

Don't forget to let us know how you get on via social media on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram @theparkstrust.

Discover our parks

Howe Park Wood
Facilities:
Howe Park is probably the woodland mentioned in the Domesday Survey of 1086. Parts of it may be rare surviving fragments of the 'wildwood' that covered the whole of lowland Britain after the last Ice Age, 6-11,000 years ago.
Refreshments
There is a Café at Howe Park Wood ran by Grounds. The café is operating a takeaway only service until further notice.
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Willen Lake South
Facilities:
Willen Lake is Milton Keynes’ most popular park. Visitors take part in watersports activities, go cycling, enjoy the playground, try the high ropes course or simply picnic along Willen’s shores. It’s a great place to entertain all ages of family and friends, whether it’s a visit to the café or restaurant, a stroll, trying a beginners’ course in sailing or hiring a pedalo or bike.
Refreshments
The one4six café and The Lakeside Pub operated by Greene King.
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Linford Wood
Facilities:
Enclosed in the year 1264 by Baron Von Pippard, the original owner of the Linford Manor estate, Linford Wood is the largest and oldest of the Trust's three ancient woodlands. Despite its location close to the city centre, Linford Wood provides a tranquil haven for wildlife and people. Find out more about how we manage Linford Wood by clicking here.
Refreshments
There are no facilities within the wood but hot and cold drinks and other refreshments are available from the BP garage on the west side of the wood.
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Ashland Lakes
Facilities:
Formerly known as the Simpson balancing reservoir these lakes were formed in around 2006 to provide a more attractive and interesting area of parkland for the adjoining housing development at Ashland. The site comprises a chain of connected lakes and an ornamental pond with a fountain. Ashland Lakes still serve as a balancing reservoir to accommodate excessive rainfall so please note that the lakes can overflow from time to time.
Refreshments
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Great Linford Manor Park
Facilities:
Great Linford Manor Park is a special, heritage-rich park set within the old village of Great Linford. It contains features that were first laid out centuries ago, including ponds and a Wilderness Garden which represent the English Landscape style of garden design that became popular for country estates during the 18th Century.
Refreshments
Refreshments and food can be found nearby at The Black Horse and the Nag’s Head which are open for lunch and supper. Milton Keynes Arts Centre has a small café where drinks can be purchased.
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