Hello Summer – Hello Parklife

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 by the natural world and meet new pals at the same time.

Parents and guardians won’t be required to stay, but children will need to arrive dressed appropriately for the weather, and with a packed lunch – dig out that weatherproof mac and remember the cheese and pickle sandwiches!

Howe Park is proving quite the centre for summer activities; every Tuesday, Wednesday
and Thursday between July 25 and August 13 the on-site education centre will be open with nests, skulls and feathers found at local Parks Trust sites on display.

Nature-themed challenges and self-guided trails will occupy little minds too. It’s free to attend – just drop in at a time to suit between 9.30am and 12.30pm.

Over at Broughton Brook Magna Park, storyteller Red Phoenix will be back with a selection of summer tales suitable for all ages (July 29, pre-booking essential. One ticket costs
£5 and covers a family of four).

Enjoy the local park while being regaled with tales linked to the season and the area. A series of free Parkland Play dates have also been arranged, which will deliver fun and
games with a variety of sporting activities, rideon cars, games and a baby and toddler area.

The sessions will visit Ashland Lakes (July 31), Waterhall Park (August 1), Whitehouse Park (August 2), Oakgrove (August 3) and Stony Stratford Millfield (August 4). Each Parkland Play event runs from 1pm to 3pm and children must be accompanied by an adult – so you can have some fun too!

For more event details, or to pre-book where applicable visit theparkstrust.com

Stanwick Lakes

Stanwick Lakes in Wellingborough has plenty of great things to take your attention through the long summer days.

engagement activities will run every Tuesday and every other Thursday, with youngsters invited to have a go at pond dipping and den building, and you can go on a mystery walk with one of the on-site rangers.

Other attractions include a new play tower and a summer trail, and work is continuing on Stanwick’s National Lottery Funded Heritage projects too, with the opportunity to discover the new roundhouse at the Iron Age settlement, watch the Bronze Age boat taking shape at the heritage hub and explore the new pathway around the Bronze Age Round Barrow.

Over in the Heritage Barn, the Northants Guild of Spinners – Weavers and Dyers – will be showcasing their work around ancient textiles every Wednesday. There might even be
some outdoor natural dyeing taking place with plants from the Heritage Garden.

Heritage Trail leaflets can be collected from the Visitor Centre which will lead you on a wonderful tour of the history of the site of Stanwick Lakes.

For more information and prices visit stanwicklakes.org.uk