Arts & Exhibitions

The Parks Trust A celebration of the natural world will take place in the ancient woodland of Howe Park Wood in Milton Keynes on July 1 and is sure to get little minds all fired up to help our wildlife. Love Nature Day is an all-ages event giving you the opportunity to meet volunteers who are passionate about moths, swifts and bats.The free session – running between 11am and 4pm – will have opportunities to go bug hunting and pond dipping, and Parks Trust rangers will offer guided walks. The woodland boasts more than 200 plant species and is home to 30 different species of butterfly. On July 4, Howe Park Wood will host a Discover Nature Day tailored to those aged 11 to 13 years old. The five hour session (from 10am, £22.50) will include wildlife identification, biology, bushcraft and more. Participants get to learn new skills, be inspired..

The Parks Trust, the self-financing charity that looks after more than 6,000 acres of parkland in Milton Keynes, has joined forces with local nature groups to celebrate Milton Keynes’ natural world - and everyone is invited! Love Nature Day returns to Howe Park Wood on Saturday 1 July from 11am until 4pm. Aiming to bring local people closer to nature, there will be lots of fun things to do inside the Education and Visitor Centre and plenty to explore outside in the stunning local woodland too. What’s in store: Bug-hunting to find minibeasts Guided walks around the ancient woodland Bird-ringing demonstrations and talks Specimens from the Natural History Museum at Tring All-things flying mammals with North Bucks Bat Group The chance to observe honeybees at work in their hive Caribbean sounds of Steel Pantasy There’ll be story-telling and outdoor games too, as well as special guests from Wolverton Swifts Group,..

You better hurry because Father's Day is fast approaching! We here at MK Pulse know that Milton Keynes is a truly vibrant city – it is host to a plethora of fantastic independent businesses, shops and sellers. From delicious meals, drinks and discounted experiences, this year's local Father's Day offers are not to be missed. We’ll walk you through some of the best deals, ensuring that your Dad has a Father's Day to remember! Experiences The Shack MK Home to all things BBQ, the Shack MK is a fantastic Father’s Day find; hosting a variety of day-classes, treat the special man in your life to lessons in over-the-fire cooking. Check out the Shack MK’s future classes here: https://buyabbq.com/collections/bbq-class. Alternatively, you could always pick up some grill-based goodies from their shop! Find out more on their website https://buyabbq.com/ D Pizza Guy Hosting a variety of pop-up supper clubs in the Hanslope..

The art of conversation is sometimes lost in the 21st century, so this special event is an opportunity to stop and hear from the wild and wonderful people of Milton Keynes. Leave your smart phone in your pocket and take a journey into the lives of others. For one morning only, visitors will be invited to engage in a speed-learning event with fascinating thought leaders, experts and mavericks drawn from or who have a strong connection to our City. People from a wide range of life experiences and fields of expertise will gather on the morning of Saturday 29th July to share their passions, thoughts, insights and revelations - working with our Knowledge Partner The Open University to promote lifelong learning. After the audience have been plied with good coffee and a pastry, they are invited to lucky-dip for four 20 minute conversations. Within The Stables Spiegeltent, a bell marks..

Willen Hospice are inviting the people of Milton Keynes to come together for a Eurovision Party at the exclusive venue, The Marshall Studio in Bletchley. This fun event takes place on Saturday 13th May, with doors opening at 6:30pm. The popular song contest will be live-streamed on a large screen, with plenty of entertainment to keep guests busy in-between rounds, including a Silent Disco, Eurovision quiz, games and bar. Guests are encouraged to dress up as their favourite Eurovision star with a prize going to the best fancy dress! Tickets cost £20 which includes light snacks. The money raised from this event will help Willen Hospice to continue caring for local people affected by life limiting illnesses and support for their families. Nikki Poole, Willen Hospice Events and Community Fundraising Manager, said: “This is going to be a great event and one not to be missed by any Eurovision fans!..

It’s never normally good to admit that you look down on others, but Chris Read is the exception. His pastime has helped him in a personal capacity and is giving pleasure to city residents who are seeing things quite differently, too. It’s fair to say that things are well and truly on the up, as he told Pulse’s Sammy Jones. There was a time not so long ago when a mention of the word drone would conjure up images of male honey bees, and it was our under threat pollinators who influenced the naming of the UAVs (unmanned aircraft systems) that we are all now very familiar with. Once associated with military use, over the past decade or so they have become useful tools, assisting with everything from surveillance and traffic monitoring to firefighting. They are even employed to make deliveries! Earlier this year, we looked up to find one..

T&K Home Improvements are leading the way with their approach to offer customers environmentally sourced and produced products. A forward-thinking approach to increasing sustainability is at the heart of an ongoing mission at T&K Home Improvements to be a leading competitor in their industry. This approach to business means while products and services are still affordable, it is not at the expense of the environment. The business, which celebrates its 44th anniversary in 2023, works hard to find innovative solutions and build partnerships with other companies who share similar ethics to ensure sustainability for their products and customers for many years to come. A lot of hard work and determination means the business can now boast CHAS, SMAS & Constructionline Gold Accreditations. In addition, the highly coveted Environmental Management System Standards, ISO 14001 has been awarded year after year. These standards reflect the importance the business puts on health and..

As we welcome in yet another new year, we pack away our decorations and recently made memories from the festive period. The first months of the year can often feel longer than the others, dragging on with bleak weather and the continuation of short days without the relief of festive cheer; it can feel an age until we notice the lighter evenings, first buds of spring, lambs in the field and the temperatures beginning to rise towards summertime again. The almost primordial temptation to hunker down and hibernate through these months can be overwhelming, juxtaposed with the desire to see this new year as a boundless opportunity for change, growth and reinvention, of ourselves as well as our surroundings. Just as the curves of our bodies after an indulgent festive period should be celebrated, so should curves within the home! No longer should our interiors feel austere, straight and sparse,..

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is coming to Milton Keynes Theatre this January. Think of it as a new year pick-me-up about taking risks, finding love and making the most of second chances, no matter where you are in life. Hayley Mills is among the stellar cast doing justice to the stage adaptation of the Sunday Times Bestseller, turned smash hit film. She spoke with Pulse Magazine’s Sammy Jones. “It’s a lovely, lovely show,” Hayley says with conviction, “It’s very positive, the people are real. It’s life affirming, and that’s why I really wanted to do it. “I felt we need to be reminded about human beings and our resilience... and how you never really, until the day you die, stop discovering things about life and about yourself, and I mean good and positive things. “However old you are, as I say in the show, whether you are 18 or..

It’s certainly hard to believe, but the year will soon be coming to an end – yes, really! It seems to me like just yesterday we were saying hello to the summer sun but we’re now saying hello to 2023. Yes, there are the obvious ways to bring in the New Year – heading out to party until the early hours may be the choice for some but, if you’re anything like me, all of the celebrations surrounding Christmastime mean that NY seems like the perfect time for something a little different! Here are some unique ideas you could use to ring in the start of the next 12 months around the sun. Murder Mystery Night Whether you want to party Gatsby-style or throw a James Bond themed soirée, a classic ‘whodunnit’ murder mystery is a great alternative way to bring in the New Year with friends or family. I..

Countdown the magic of Christmas the stylish way and join Midsummer Place for a festive extravaganza this year, all starting with the MyMiltonKeynes Christmas Light Switch On on Saturday 12 November. MyMiltonKeynes has announced they will be making this year a celebration to remember, as Milton Keyne’s first as a city! The afternoon-to-evening will include guest DJs, local dance groups, explosive fireworks and the Big Man himself, Father Christmas! The completely free event to attend is location outside near Hollister and is one the biggest family celebrations of the year. Entertainment on the main stage starts from 4pm however we invite the public to join us for an exclusive performance from the Rebecca Marie Academy of Dance, where their students will put on a magical display of contemporary, street and ballet dances. This will begin at 3.30pm at Oak Court in Midsummer Place. The Midsummer Place Christmas Tree Festival will..

Cascading poppies are being projected from the roof of Milton Keynes Theatre to commemorate Remembrance weekend, honouring the men and women who have served, and continue to serve, during times of war and conflict. MyMiltonKeynes, who have organised the unique spectacle, are encouraging people to ‘look up’ and enjoy the projection while remembering the sacrifices made by so many. The projected poppies will float down from the roof of the theatre and create a curtain before diffusing around the image of a soldier and a message of reflection. Fittingly, Milton Keynes Theatre overlooks the MK Rose memorial in Campbell Park which will once again be the focal point for the city’s Armistice Day parade and wreath-laying ceremony on Remembrance Sunday. Melanie Beck MBE, CEO of MyMiltonKeynes, comments: “For many years we have wanted to create a projection of poppies which would visually appeal to everyone across our communities and provide an outlet..

Celebrating the first festive season as an official city, Milton Keynes Christmas lights are set to be switched on in spectacular fashion by MyMiltonKeynes on Saturday 12th November. The stage will be set outside Midsummer Place Shopping Centre from 3pm for an afternoon of free festive fun, before the sky above is illuminated with fireworks, lasers and snow, along with the official Christmas light switch on. MKFM’s DJ Hurley will kick-start the event with music, and from 4pm the crowds will be entertained with a fun-packed schedule of activities, including family competitions, and a parade of the city’s well-loved mascots. Local dance groups EM Dance Coaching, Romeo Dance Academy and Dancebox Studios are set to wow the crowds with their live performances, while the voices of local school choir singers will ring through the air. All of this will take place before the biggest star of the evening takes to..

Ready to kick your November off with a BOOM? With less than a month to go until Bonfire Night, it’s time to start making some plans. Get prepared to don those warm winter hats and scarves – here is your handy guide to ten of the best Bucks fireworks bonanzas being held in and around Milton Keynes this year. __ Blackpit Brewery’s Bonfire Night Fired by the same team that man London’s NYE fireworks extravaganza, Blackpit’s Bonfire and Fireworks event is sure to be a great one. Taking place on Saturday 5th November from 3pm, Blackpit Brewery is out to impress this year. Set in their vast green space surrounded by a stunning lake and ancient woodland, this open-air event will be home to a hand-crafted bonfire sculpture, mind-blowing performances, some of the finest street food in Buckinghamshire and plenty more for the whole family to enjoy. Find out more..

MK Gallery is hosting an open evening on Tuesday 25 October, between 5-7pm, and invites people from local communities to come and see what volunteering opportunities are available at the Gallery. Anyone who is interested in feeling valued, involving themselves in the Gallery, in front and behind the scenes, is welcome to pop in. Potential newcomers will be able to join an afterhours, volunteer-led tour of the galleries and building while learning about the role of a gallery assistant. They can visit the Sky Room, which houses the Gallery’s in-house cinema, so that those who are interested in film can see how volunteers facilitate the screenings – and get to watch them. The open evening will be held in the Gallery café. It’s a friendly place where existing volunteers often enjoy a catch-up with each other before or after their sessions. Potential new recruits can meet and chat with current..