Milton Keynes Natural History Society

23/08/2026

Last Friday we took part in Love Wetland Day, organised by The Parks Trust. Visitors had the chance to learn about the incredible Wetland Arc — a 355‑hectare network of wetlands, lakes and floodplain meadows that follows the River Great Ouse through the north of Milton Keynes.

These connected parks and nature reserves — from Stony Stratford and Floodplain Forest to Stanton Low and Linford Lakes — play a vital role in protecting local wildlife and shaping the future of our natural spaces.

A huge thank you to the organisers and our amazing MKNHS members who volunteered at our stand.

20/08/2026

A little throwback to one of our field meetings at Clophill Lakes.
Jenny captured a few snapshots from the day, and we’re pleased to share them.
Clophill Lakes, managed by the Greensand Country, is a beautiful mix of wetlands, meadows and historic features, offering a unique setting for our work on site.

📷 Jenny Mercer

19/08/2026

Last night’s bat walk at Ouzel Valley Park was a lovely way to spend the evening.
We strolled around Walton Lake and along the River Ouzel with detectors in hand, tuning in to MK’s night-time wildlife.

We picked up Noctule, Common Pipistrelle, and Soprano Pipistrelle — such incredible little creatures. The recording we captured is of a pipistrelle, likely soprano.

Find out more about MK bats on the Parks Trust website.https://www.theparkstrust.com/our-work/biodiversity/bats/

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16/08/2026

We’d love your help spreading the word about the Milton Keynes Natural History Society. If you enjoy nature — or know someone who does — please share this poster. Every share helps us reach more people who might enjoy our walks, talks, and friendly community of local naturalists.

Membership ➡️ https://mknhs.org.uk/membership/

13/08/2026

📣 MKHNS is excited to be part of Love Wetland Day!
Join us on 21 August 2026 at this brilliant event organised by The Parks Trust.
Our stall will be packed with natural history wonders, and our members will be on hand to share their knowledge, answer your questions, and show you how you can get involved in our activities.
Come say hello and celebrate the amazing wildlife of our wetlands.

12/08/2026

A lovely bonus on yesterday’s walk was spotting two classic urban‑habitat ferns growing on a brick wall: Maidenhair Spleenwort (Asplenium trichomanes) and Wall Rue (Asplenium ruta‑muraria).

Both of these hardy little ferns thrive in tough conditions — cracks in brickwork, old stone walls, and dry vertical surfaces where very little else survives. They’re perfectly adapted to urban life in Milton Keynes and can be found tucked into walls all across the city once you start looking.

Have you spotted these ferns around MK? Share your pictures in the comments.

11/08/2026

We enjoyed a relaxed walk this week, starting by Lodge Lake where we spotted plenty of birdlife, including herons, tufted ducks and little grebes.

We then followed Loughton Brook north towards Bradwell Abbey, enjoying the change in scenery. It’s always a great spot for kingfishers — even though we didn’t see one this time — and we were pleased to spot a little egret along the brook instead.

We’ve only got two walks left this season before we move on to our indoor talks in September. Everyone is welcome to join us for both walks and talks — non‑members included. Check out our programme and come along. https://mknhs.org.uk/programme-2/

02/08/2026

🦋Event report now available!
The full report from the Gordon Redford and George Higgs Memorial Moth Night at Linford Lakes Nature Reserve (25 July 2026) is now live.

Read the full write‑up, photos, and highlights here:

For the first time this annual event was held at Linford Lakes Nature Reserve, courtesy of The Parks Trust. That was the plan last year, but a horrible weather forecast forced cancellation. This ye…

30/07/2026

Our recent guided walk around Haversham Lake was a real treat. The members of Haversham Sailing Club welcomed us warmly and shared so much about the area’s history and wildlife.

As the club is normally open only to members, we were especially grateful for the invitation to explore the lakeside paths. It was a wonderful experience, and we truly appreciated their hospitality.

Check out our programme for more events: https://mknhs.org.uk/programme-2/

26/07/2026

Last night we held a very special George Higgs / Gordon Redford Mothing Night at Linford Lakes, together with the Bucks Invertebrate Group.
It was an evening dedicated to remembering two much‑loved members of our Society who inspired so many with their passion for moths and helped grow interest and knowledge across Milton Keynes.

With several moth traps provided by the Bucks Invertebrate Group, we enjoyed a fantastic night of discovery, learning, and shared enthusiasm.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us.

Check out our programme for more events ➡️ https://mknhs.org.uk/programme-2/
Non-members are welcome! No need to book, just turn up!