Our mission is to provide beautiful parks, lakes, woods, and landscapes that will be loved by the people of Milton Keynes forever.
Unlike most UK cities the majority of Milton Keynes’ green spaces are cared for by an independent charity - The Parks Trust.
The Parks Trust expertly cares for over 6,000 acres of beautiful parks, ancient woodlands, lakes, river valleys and 80 miles of landscaped areas along the city’s grid roads.
The pioneering vision of Milton Keynes’ founders was to ensure that its green spaces would be protected forever by a charity that was separate from local government. Established in 1992, The Parks Trust was setup with a 999-year lease on 4,500 acres of parkland and given an endowment of properties valued at £20m.
To care for the green spaces costs The Parks Trust over £10 million a year which isn't funded by council tax. Returns on commercial properties and other investments provides the primary source of income required to fund the charity’s wide-ranging work today and forever. As an independent charity, it also relies on the generosity of supporters to keep these vital spaces thriving.
More than 100 full and part-time employees and 240 volunteers deliver its essential work from landscape maintenance and nature services to the provision of valuable recreation and leisure facilities. The Parks Trust connects communities at over 500 outdoor events and advances public education around wildlife, biodiversity and the environment.
As Milton Keynes grows, so does The Parks Trust. Each year, the charity takes on new green spaces with endowment funds from developers to cover costs in perpetuity. This approach ensures that all new areas of the city benefit from the same quality of inspiring, connected landscapes for the communities of Milton Keynes to enjoy forever.
Find out how we care for over 6,000 acres of green space including parks, ancient woodlands, lakes, river valleys and 80 miles of landscaped areas along the grid roads.
