Summer Programme (April - August 2025)
For any forthcoming Society activity, each member who is planning to participate should assess his/her own risk and that of their household having regard to his/her own health and circumstances. This requirement is in accordance with the Society’s Constitution that states ‘Members taking part in any meeting or activity do so at their own risk.’
1 WILD ABOUT ASSAM
MKNHS member Di Parsons looks back at her trip to the NE Indian state of Assam and shares with us her images and memories of birds, mammals and dramatic landscapes.
8 THE OUZEL VALLEY
The River Ouzel rises in the Chilterns and passes through Greensand Trust country before reaching Milton Keynes, and joining the River Ouse. We will learn more from Jon Balaam, the Trust’s Director of Development.
15 SPRING FLOWERING TREES – PRACTICAL SESSION
In April, many of our native (and non-native) trees are in full flower. Our Plant Group will help is to look closely at these flowers, whose beauty is often overlooked, and to learn how they can be used in tree identification.
22 EASTER BREAK – No Meeting
29 OUTDOOR MEETING – LINFORD WOOD – Martin Kincaid & Carla Boswell
A visit to the largest of MK’s ancient woodland sites, in the heart of Milton Keynes. Spring flowers should be at their best including Herb-Paris and we may see bats later on.
Meet at the TV mast car park off Enfield Chase, Linford Wood. SP 844402 – tank.annotated.solder
6 BURY FIELD COMMON – Ann Jones & Carol Watts
A spring visit to the largest area of open land in Newport Pagnell, with a mix of habitats. Often a good site for owls and birds of prey in the evening. Meet at the public car park at the end of Queen’s Avenue MK16 8QT – SP 874439 ending.forklift.uproot
13 STONY STRATFORD NATURE RESERVE – Joe Clinch
A mixture of habitats including lakes, meadows and a section of the Great Ouse riverside park. With luck we will see Meadow Saxifrage in flower and some of the wading birds which breed on site. Meet at the reserve car park off Queen Eleanor Street. SP 791409 MK11 1DB irritable.reclaim.slipped
20 SALCEY FOREST – Richard Schmidt
A visit to this Forestry England site with excellent birdlife and an abundance of plants. Nightingale, Cuckoo and Grasshopper Warbler have been heard in the past. Park at the quieter, southern car park. SP 810508 plea.fell.commuted
27 COLLEGE WOOD – Charles Kessler and Tim Arnold
An earlier than usual visit to this Woodland Trust site on the edge of Milton Keynes. We know it for its moths later in the summer but what might we find here in late May? Be prepared for wet and boggy conditions underfoot. Car park off the Nash road. SP 786327 ambushed.couriers.marinated
3 SEWELL CUTTING – Matt Andrews
This old railway cutting near Dunstable is the closest area of chalk grassland to MK, with associated flora and invertebrate life.
Park at the industrial estate at end of French’s Avenue, Dunstable LU6 1EH TL 004226 hotels.cable.forced
Sat 7 KNOCKING HOE NNR – 10.30 am –Matt Andrews
A repeat visit to this outstanding area of chalk grassland in Bedfordshire. Its rare chalk plants include Burnt Tip Orchid and Pasqueflower. NOTE: Steep inclines and not easy walking.
Park on roadside by The View Inn, Pegsdon. SG5 3JX TL120303 shape.wove.oils
10 WICKEN WOOD – Adrian Cadman & Martin Kincaid
This site has been much altered in recent years with woodland management re-instated and much clearance undertaken. A later start time of 7.45pm with the option of staying late to look for Glow-worms if conditions are suitable.
Park at small car park on Lillingstone Lovell Road. SP 723403. drips.wonderful.setting
17 OXLEY MEAD SSSI – Professor David Gowing
Professor David Gowing of the OU’s Floodplain Meadows Partnership will lead us on a rare visit to this species-rich grassland SSSI, not usually open to the public. Please come prepared to record your sightings.
Meet at the local centre, Redgrave Drive, Oxley Park from where it is a 15-minute walk to the site. MK4 4TB SP821350 possibly.tall.reinvest
24 OU LIVING LAB + SWIFTS AT KENT’S HILL – Martin Ferns & Mike LeRoy
Hidden woodland and riverside trees and flora on the OU campus. Hear about the OU’s Living Lab project from Dr Kadmiel Maseyk. See how the riverside landscape is changing and how it is being monitored. River plants in flower, breeding Kingfisher, Heron fishing. Towards dusk a short drive to watch Swifts circling the top of Kent’s Hill.
Meet at Open University, Church Parking, off Walton Drive MK7 6AA SP 885369 hotels.soak.planet See campus map:
If OU campus entrance barrier down, press intercom button. Tell Security you are with MK Natural History Society visit.
1 STONEPIT FIELD – Joe Clinch
A popular location for summer visits. Limestone scrapes, large ponds and woodland plantations among other habitats. Stonepit Field has abundant plant and invertebrate life, much of which is rare in Milton Keynes.
Meet at the car park off Wolverton Road, Great Linford. SP 844422 coining.hazelnuts.copiers
Sat 5 WHITECROSS GREEN WOOD 2pm – Linda Murphy
A chance to visit this BBOWT nature reserve (on the Bucks/Oxon border) known for its butterfly and insect life, where Linda volunteers. 5 miles south of Bicester.
On Boarstall to Murcott road, quarter of a mile north of Arncott turning, take the track opposite the cottage and drive through second gate.
OX5 2RF SP 600150 gravy.belonged.upwardly
https://www.bbowt.org.uk/nature-reserves/whitecross-green-wood
8 STANTON LOW PARK – Martin Kincaid
One of the newer areas of parkland in MK. We will follow a stretch of the canal before looking at some pits with interesting limestone flora. The more open areas of Stanton Low are known for birds such as Cuckoo, Kestrel and Barn Owls.
Meet at the Parks Trust car park off Wolverton Road. SP 837417 lamppost.corded.rots
15 BRICKHILL WOODS – Joe Clinch & Mervyn Dobbin
An evening walk through this large area of mixed woodland on the Greensand. We may see a variety of flora and invertebrates rare elsewhere locally.
Meet at the car park by All Saints Church, Church Road, Bow Brickhill. MK17 9LQ (nearest) SP912343 fruit.lower.moved
22 NO MEETING
29 SIMPSON VILLAGE/OUZEL VALLEY – Peter Barnes & Phil Sarre
We will walk through meadows with views of the River Ouzel and Grand Union Canal, spending some time in the churchyard.
Park at the North Caldecotte Lake car park just east of where Simpson Road crosses the river. MK7 7HZ (nearest) SP 885360 transmitted.spill.stage.
5 OUZEL VALLEY PARK, WOUGHTON – Judy Collins & Derek Taylor
A visit to another section of Ouzel Valley Park. This should be a good time to see a variety of dragonflies and damselflies as well as other late summer insects. Park at the Olde Swan public house, Newport Road, Woughton-on-the-Green. MK6 3BS. SP 876375 match.apple.flame
12 NEWTON LEYS PARK – Charles Kessler & Mike LeRoy
One of the newest areas of greenspace in Milton Keynes and a site we have not visited as a group before. What plants and animals will we find here in late summer? Meet at the ASDA car park off Jersey Drive, Newton Leys. MK3 5QW SP871314 froth.local.split
19 WALTON LAKE & RIVERSIDE – Carla Boswell & Martin Kincaid
Our final summer trip will be to Walton Lake and south along the river. This is one of the best areas locally for a variety of bats and we will stay until after dusk to see which species we can find. Bring a bat detector if you have one. Park at the small car park off Newport Road, Woughton Park. SP 879370 dare.settle.oven
26 NO MEETING