A printable pdf file of this programme can be downloaded here.
Date and Time:
Sunday, 10 May 2026; 10.30am – 12.30pm
Location:
Linford Wood – Ancient woodland
Focus on Spring Flowers and Ancient Woodland Indicators (Bluebells, Orchids, Herb-paris)
Leader & Co-leader:
Carla Boswell and Di Parsons
Car Parking:
Meeting at Aerial Car Park, adjacent to the BP garage off the V7
What3Words location: chats.region.perplexed
Please car share where possible.
If Aerial Car Park is full, alternative on-street parking is located on Breckland:
What3Words location: ledge.sprinting.relaxing
Information about the location:
Mainly surfaced paths around the woodland; the bridleway has natural surface which is wet in winter. There will be some wandering off the paths into compartments to find the Herb-paris.
For more information about the site and access got to Linford Wood | The Parks Trust
Date and Time:
Sunday, 14 June 2026; 10.30am – 12.30pm
Location:
Stonepit Field
Now a designated County Wildlife Site
Calcareous Grassland Focus.
Taking a closer look at Daises/Composites (Asteraceae) and Legumes (Fabaceae)
This event will require access to a field guide and hand lens, ideally some familiarity with botanical terms. Further information will be sent to Plant Group members before the Event.
Leader & Co-leaders:
Charles Kessler, Joe Clinch, Jenny Mercer
Car Parking:
Meeting at the rear of the car park off Wolverton Road. Car sharing advised.
What3Words location: managed.bookings.reflect
Alternative parking and walk from The Black Horse Pub
Information about the location:
Unsurfaced mowed paths throughout the grassland meadow, a unique diverse habitat for Milton Keynes.
For more information on the site: Stonepit Field | The Parks Trust
Date and Time:
Sunday, 26 July 2026; 10.30am – 12.30pm
Location:
Blue Lagoon Local Nature Reserve
Mosaic of Scrub, Woodland and Grassland habitats around a reed gravel pit. Focus on those species not so common in Milton Keynes.
Leader & Co-leader:
Charles Kessler
Co-leader tbc
Car Parking:
Meeting in the Car park off Drayton Road, Bletchley
What3Words location: salon.cards.runner
Information about the location:
Former claypit brickworks,
unsurfaced pathways, for more information go to:
Date and Time:
Sunday, 13 September 2026; 10.30am – 12.30pm
Location:
Flitwick Moor, Beds
BCN Wildlife Trust site
SSSI status of peat bog, wet woodland, rough meadow and river edge supporting sphagnum moss, ferns, cotton grass and other uncommon species.
Focus: on uncommon species
Leader & Co-leader:
Jenny Mercer and Joe Clinch
Car Parking:
Meet at the normally closed Reserve Car Park courtesy of WTBCN which manages the Reserve. Located at end of narrow, bumpy track off Maulden Road at Folly Farm.
Details to be made available nearer the time, Car sharing strongly advised.
Information about the location:
Board walks with grass and woodland paths which can be muddy when wet.
More information from:
Flitwick Moor (& Folly Wood) | Wildlife Trust for Beds Cambs & Northants
| Date all 10.30 to 12.30 | Location | Habitat | Leader & Co-leader | Car Parking | Information about the location |
| Sunday 23 February 2025 | Howe Park Wood | Ancient Semi-natural Woodland | Joe Clinch Richard Schmidt | Meet in main car park for the Howe Park Wood Centre, off Chaffron Way, MK4 3GG. Car Park Grid reference SP 83040 34493. | Howe Park Wood is site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) managed by The Parks Trust. Starting the 2025 plant group programme with a Winter ID of trees and plants beginning to bud and flower. The site is very wet and muddy in winter, wellies are advised. For more information visit Howe Park Wood | The Parks Trust |
| Sunday 11th May | Rammamere Heath | Lowland Heathland with sandy acid soils | Di Parsons Charles Kessler | Rammamere Heath Car park – Brickhill Rd, Heath and Reach, Leighton Buzzard LU7 0BA Grid reference – SP 91736 29896 | Site Location Grid reference SP 920 294 Plants Species to focus on heather, bilberry, acid grasses, town hall clock, lily of the valley. For more information visit King’s Wood and Rammamere Heath | Wildlife Trust for Beds Cambs & Northants and |
| Sunday 13 July | Pilch Field | Wet wildflower meadows | Jenny Mercer Charles Kessler | Parking along the road verges of Pilch Lane. Grid ref: SP 749 321 What 3 words: https://what3words.com/obstruct.lateral.addingFor more information visit Pilch Field | Berks Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust | A 12 Ha site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) owned and managed by BBOWT with over 200 plants. It is grazed by cattle at relatively low density from 1st June to the end of November. Grasses and sedges, as well as wildflowers, will be examined on our visit, so hand lenses will be very useful (some spares are available and can be borrowed). The aim of this mid-summer visit is to make a comparison between the Stonepit Field habitats studied last mid- summer. |
| Sunday 12th October | Shenley Wood | Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland | Carla Boswell Jenny Mercer and/or Joe Clinch | Park and meet at Parks Trust Car Park, Off Merlewood Drive, Shenley Church End, MK5 6GG. | A return visit to this ancient woodland in the Autumn to cover fruiting trees, nuts and seeds with a focus on ferns. For more information visit Shenley Wood | The Parks Trust |
Please note that Clause 7 of the Society’s constitution reads: ‘The Society will exercise due care when arranging its meetings and activities for the benefit of members. Members taking part in any meeting or activity do so at their own risk.’
22.01.2025