Trees

Trees in Milton Keynes

“Marvellous MK” by Brian Smithson (Old Geordie) is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Milton Keynes has about 22 million trees, many of which are managed by the Parks Trust. The Trust favours native varieties, but does use others because the number of species that are suitable for our local soil is limited. The Trust uses a variety of mechanisms to manage its stock, including the 1000 year old coppicing method for the ancient woods at Howe and Linford.

Milton Keynes Tree Planting Project

Site of planting after Storm Bella

Transition Town member, Greg Fairley, is leading a project, started last year, to plant 10,000 trees in 10 years. The project is already ahead of schedule as it has acquired 2,800 trees of which 1,800 have been planted around MK and 1,000 are held in its nursery ready for planting out next season. It is financed by donations and grants for the trees.

Taking advice on biodiversity from the Woodland Trust and Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT), the planting project uses only British native trees:

  • Apple trees
  • Damson trees
  • Crab apple
  • Hazel
  • Guelder rose
  • Field maple
  • Spindle
  • Common oak
  • Hawthorn
  • Rowan
  • Blackthorn
  • Silver birch
  • Hornbeam
  • Wild cherry
  • Downy birch
  • Aspen
  • Common Alder
  • Beech
  • Common dogwood
  • Dog rose
  • Goat willow

So far, the project has planted in the orchard in Coffee Hall, the roadside in Oak Grove and Middleton Park. There are schemes to work with local councils to plant in Newport Pagnell, West Bletchley, Wolverton and Woughton.

Here is the Parks Trust post on the current work by this project in Middleton

All activities are currently on-hold due to COVID, but planting is due to restart in late autumn 2021.

More information from Community Trees:MK: greg@communitytreesmk.org