Your Parks

Atterbury is an interesting area of parkland that sits adjacent to the Broughton Brook linear park. With footpaths throughout it is a great place to visit as part of a wider exploration of the linear parks.

Formerly known as the Simpson balancing reservoir, Ashland Lakes were formed in 2006 to provide a more attractive and interesting area of parkland for the adjoining housing development.

Blackhorse Wood is located off Wolverton Road, close to Stonepit Field and Great Linford Manor Park. The woodland has developed over the past forty years or so on former paddocks that straddled the embankment of the old Wolverton to Newport Pagnell railway line, which ceased being used in the 1960s and now forms the Milton Keynes Railway Walk (adopted foot/horse/cycle path).

This park follows the Broughton Brook, from Magna Park near the M1 through Brooklands, Broughton Gate, Broughton and Pineham. It offers local residents an attractive and quiet place to escape into green space within the city. At Broughton Gate next to Southwold Crescent there is a popular children's play area, with another located at Kidderminster Walk.

Broughton Brook park is an area of parkland bordering the Magna Park industrial estate. We have recently taken over management of a section of attractive parkland off the Erwood roundabout, with plans to take over further areas in future.

While The Parks Trust maintains Brooklands Meadow Park it is not yet officially our land and is currently owned by Places for People. A modern, well thought out flood retention site with a dam structure, it ensures the surrounding houses don’t flood in times of heavy rain. As the area develops, there are plans for this park to link up with the other linear parks nearby.

This linear park follows the course of Caldecotte Brook from the city boundary at Wavendon Gate through Old Farm Park, Browns Wood to the Walnut Tree meeting place at Wadesmill Lane. At this point the brook flows into underground pipes on its way to be deposited into Caldecotte Lake.

Planning an outdoor adventure in Milton Keynes? Explore the beautiful location of Caldecotte Lake. Whether its watersports, bird watching or children’s activities, you’re sure to have a great family day out, with lots of space for little ones to run around, plus some tranquil corners to relax as well.

Located at the heart of Milton Keynes, Campbell Park hosts many of Milton Keynes’ major festivals and events. Its imaginative mix of formal gardens, water features, woodland and open pasture mean it’s an ideal spot to enjoy the changing seasons.

The Grand Union Canal enters Milton Keynes at the Ouse Valley Park at Old Wolverton and snakes in a dramatic arc right through the east of the city until it leaves Milton Keynes at Water Eaton in Bletchley.

Elfield Nature Park is the hidden gem of Milton Keynes’ parks. A mixed landscape of woodland, grassland, scrub, ponds and ditches, the site is not normally open to the public but is very rich in flora and fauna.

Furzton Lake’s open views make it a popular choice for joggers, cyclists and walkers. Created to act as a basin for floodwaters during rainy spells, the lake has matured into a peaceful oasis for local residents and wildlife to enjoy.

Set within Ouse Valley Park, the Floodplain Forest is the newest nature reserve in Milton Keynes and the most impressive wildlife habitat creation scheme in the city’s history.

The section of parkland in the Glebe Farm estate features wildflower areas, native woodland planting, open grass areas and a series of ponds.

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.

The BMX track is located at Pineham, with access off V11 Tongwell Street. The dedicated, professional level track is open to anyone who wishes to ride BMX bikes, and is the home of MK BMX Racing Club.

Contrary to what many believe, Milton Keynes does have its own cathedral. But like the city itself, this cathedral is unique - made from bark and leaves rather than bricks and mortar.

Hazeley Wood was planted by Milton Keynes Development Corporation in 1991. The long-term aim was to create a mature oak woodland for the new city. After many years of being a field of trees Hazeley is finally beginning to look and feel like a woodland. But there is still a long way to go: the wood will not finally reach maturity until 2141.

Howe Park Wood is an ancient woodland in the south west of Milton Keynes near Westcroft and Tattenhoe which boasts a rich variety of wildlife and fantastic on site facilities including toilets, a café and a small play area.

Kents Hill Park contains a small woodland which pre-dates Milton Keynes and is located on a hill in the area between Walton Hall and Crowborough Lane.

This is a small area of parkland and woodland, which connects the North Bucks Way into the parks system via Tattenhoe and Westcroft. It is an ideal place to visit if you live in one of the nearby residential areas.

The 37 hectare site is only open to permit holders. The reserve consists of a large lake, reedbeds, wet woodland and several small meadows interlaced with a number of smaller lakes and ponds. Four bird watching hides are located giving fine views of the wildlife and beautiful scenery.

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.

Lodge Lake is one of the city's ‘on-line’ balancing lakes. It was created in 1981 by building a dam across the Loughton Brook. This holds back water as flow rates in the brook increase, helping to prevent flooding in downstream areas. The lake is perfect for a short outing - a gentle walk around the lake edge takes about 30 minutes - with plenty of interest on and off the water year-round.

The Milton Keynes Rose located in our central city park Campbell Park, is a public space designed for commemoration, celebration and contemplation. Developed in partnership by The Parks Trust and the Cenotaph Trust, with support from Milton Keynes Council, the Milton Keynes Rose was created as a central civic space to host events significance and occasions of remembrance.

The Parks Trust looks after an area of informal meadows, long grass and ponds which is managed for wildlife. The land is located around the allotments which are owned by Broughton & Milton Keynes Parish Council. There is also a small community orchard next to the allotments.

Encircled by water, with the River Great Ouse on one side and the Millrace on the other, Millfield is a relatively small area of floodplain that connects to the Ouse Valley Park.

Newlands is an area of linear parkland between Willen Lake and Campbell Park, which also borders the canal. As of January 2021, an area of this park will be dedicated as a special place of remembrance.

This area of linear parkland runs from Blue Bridge at the Grand Union Canal down as far as Lodge Lake at Loughton Lodge. Its features include historical items and some world famous Milton Keynes icons!

The Ouse Valley Park lies in the floodplain of the Great Ouse which flows from Oxfordshire to the Wash. The park is the most rural of any found in Milton Keynes and is a great place to go to experience the feeling of the countryside without leaving the city. Old trees, hedgerows, meadows, and new plantations combine to provide excellent habitats for wildlife.

The Ouzel Valley Park meanders from Caldecotte Lake in the south to Willen Lake in the north. The park has a spacious, open atmosphere with long views. Much of the land is farmed by The Parks Trust rearing our own cattle and sheep, between the livestock you can still see the remnants of an old field system with the ridge and furrow still visible. Incorporating the historic villages of Woolstone and Woughton, the park is bordered on its western side by the Grand Union Canal.

The linear stretches of parkland at Oxley Park were created to serve the local housing development.

The Poplar Plantation was created during one of the city’s earliest plantation schemes, in 1971. Covering around six hectares it features a wide variety of different types of poplar as well as some cricket bat willows.

Shenley Wood is one of three ancient woodlands in Milton Keynes, a wonderful spot for a quiet walk and to enjoy the abundant wildlife.

Stanton Low Park lies to the north of Milton Keynes and offers attractive views across the valley of the River Great Ouse. Despite being one of the newer parks in Milton Keynes, the area is rich in heritage.

Stonepit Field is the location for many events including wildflower walks and fossil hunts. It is also a great place for dog walking.

In 2008 with support from the Riverside Parks Group, work began to re-establish Stony Stratford Nature Reserve as a major local wildlife park. Parties of volunteers have cleared islands of scrub allowing Wildfowl to nest. There are also renovated and painted bird hides and the ponds have been cleared of invasive vegetation as well as the restoration of a sand martin nest bank, which has enabled Kingfishers to nest successfully.

Tattenhoe Valley Park runs like a thread from Furzton Lake through Emerson Valley, Tattenhoe and Tattenhoe Park, following the meanderings of the Loughton Brook until it leaves Milton Keynes at Bottledump Roundabout.

Part of the Loughton Valley Park, the four Teardrop Lakes are also a destination in their own right, providing fishing waters and a peaceful escape for those working in nearby offices.

Tombs Meadow is an agricultural meadow that is regularly used for grazing sheep. It is joined with the Ouse Valley Park on its northern edge, and Millfield on its southern edge. You can walk through Tombs Meadow to both of these other areas of parkland.

Originally built as a 'balancing lake' for the River Ouzel, Walton Lake is one of the richest spots in Milton Keynes to enjoy wildlife due to its mature reed beds.

Hidden at the very southern corner of Milton Keynes, Waterhall Park is the perfect place to spot wildlife.

Willen Lake North is home to one of Milton Keynes’ best-known landmarks, the first Peace Pagoda to be built in the western world - and to a rich and varied bird population.

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.

Wolverton Mill is a pair of small balancing lakes which connects to the wider Ouse Valley Park. This area was previously agricultural land and the balancing lakes were created to help prevent flooding in nearby areas.