MK Digest – City of Culture, Green Flags and A5 Closures

Here’s what’s worth knowing in Milton Keynes this week.

More than 2,500 people have contributed ideas to Milton Keynes’ bid to become UK City of Culture 2029.

A total of 2,593 residents, business leaders and representatives from local organisations took part through 173 workshops, pop-up activities, school events, interviews and drop-in sessions, alongside an online survey for people unable to attend in person.

The engagement included creative activities such as collages, maps and a travelling “Book of Ideas”, which visited neighbourhoods and events across Milton Keynes. Conversations were also held during a drum and bass bike ride through the city.

Suggestions gathered through the programme included creating more cultural opportunities for young people, supporting local artists and grassroots organisations, and broadening the definition of culture to include areas such as food and sport.

Milton Keynes is one of nine places longlisted for the 2029 title. The city’s final bid, built around the theme “We’re Just Getting Started”, will be submitted to judges in August. Four places are expected to reach the shortlist later this year, with the winning city due to be announced in early 2027.

More information →

The Open University and partner organisations have launched a free online tool designed to help councils, charities and community groups plan urban tree planting with stronger local support.

Called Tree Value Visions, the tool aims to help decision-makers understand how people value trees in towns and cities, looking beyond their environmental benefits alone.

Milton Keynes residents contributed to the development of the tool, while The Parks Trust took part through a series of Branching Beyond workshops exploring how local people value and experience trees across the city.

The project also involved residents in York, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Camden, and considered how urban trees can help towns and cities respond to hotter summers, improve biodiversity and support community wellbeing.

The Open University says the tool is intended to help cash-strapped local authorities and community organisations make better use of available resources without needing to commission expensive consultancy work.

The research has been published in the peer-reviewed journal npj Urban Sustainability, with free training available through The Open University.

More information →

Families across Milton Keynes can now access a wider range of support for babies and children aged five and under through the city’s ten Family Centres.

The expansion forms part of the Government’s Best Start in Life programme and is intended to make advice, healthcare and other early-years services easier to access locally.

New Best Start in Life Practitioners will work across all ten centres, providing additional help with child development, school readiness, Special Educational Needs and Disability, speech and language, and healthcare.

The number of midwife sessions held at Family Centres has doubled over the past four years. Additional midwifery appointments and postnatal drop-in sessions are also being introduced this month, providing advice and support around pregnancy, birth and newborn care.

The council is also helping eligible families access its Time for Twos scheme, which provides up to 15 hours of funded early-years education each week at an approved nursery, pre-school or childminder. Government figures cited by the council show that 84% of eligible two-year-olds in Milton Keynes are taking up a funded place.

Read the Council announcement →

Find your nearest Family Centre →

Milton Keynes’ parks have received a Green Flag Award for the tenth consecutive year, recognising the management of the city’s parks, woodlands, lakes and landscapes.

The award covers The Parks Trust’s city-wide network of more than 6,000 acres and recognises the work of its staff, contractors and more than 240 volunteers. The charity says it is the only organisation in the country to hold a single Green Flag Award covering an entire city-wide network of parks.

Great Linford Manor Park has also received Green Heritage Site Accreditation for the management and promotion of its historic features. The accreditation recognises places of historic interest where work has been carried out to preserve and share their history with visitors.

Hannah Bodley, Deputy Chief Executive at The Parks Trust, said the tenth consecutive award demonstrated the dedication of the charity’s team, volunteers and contractors.

“We’ll continue to ensure that the green spaces are protected and enjoyable for Milton Keynes’ residents, visitors and wildlife for now, and forever,” she said.

The Green Flag Award scheme is managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy and recognises well-managed parks and green spaces. This year’s announcement also falls shortly before Love Parks Week, which runs from 24 Jul to 2 Aug.

More information →

Drivers using the A5 through Milton Keynes face further overnight closures as National Highways continues replacing beams and posts between Old Stratford Roundabout and Kelly’s Kitchen Roundabout.

The work is scheduled to take place on weeknights between 8pm and 6am.

As the newsletter week begins, the A5 southbound from Redmoor Roundabout to Kelly’s Kitchen Roundabout is included in a closure phase running from 23 to 28 Jul. Southbound traffic is being diverted along V6 Grafton Street, V4 Watling Street and Bletcham Way before rejoining the A5 at Kelly’s Kitchen Roundabout.

The next phase runs from 28 Jul to 8 Aug, when the A5 northbound from Kelly’s Kitchen Roundabout to Redmoor Roundabout is scheduled to close overnight. Northbound drivers are directed along V4 Watling Street and Bletcham Way before continuing along the signed diversion route to Redmoor Roundabout.

National Highways warns that closures can change at short notice, so drivers should check the latest information before travelling.

More information →

🕒 Until 31 Aug:

🌲 Half-price children’s Treetop Extreme tickets
Buy one full-price adult Treetop Extreme ticket and receive 50% off up to two children’s tickets. The discount is applied automatically at checkout, with no promotional code required.
📍 Willen Lake
🎟 Standard age, height and participation requirements apply
More information and booking →

Looking for something to do locally? Here are a few ideas for the week ahead:

🕒 Mon 27 Jul, from 7pm:

Quiz Night in Support of Willen Hospice
Join a friendly weekly pub quiz, with teams organised before the quiz begins at 7.30pm. Entry costs £2, with all proceeds donated to Willen Hospice, followed by a raffle.
📍 The Old Beams, Shenley Lodge
🎟 £2
More information →

🕒 Wed 29 Jul, 12pm–2pm:

Relaxed midweek coffee and lunch catch-up
Meet members of the Brighten Your Life Social Group for an informal get-together in Bletchley. New members are welcome, and the organiser offers to meet nervous first-time attendees outside and introduce them to the group.
📍 Captain Ridley’s Shooting Party, Queensway, Bletchley
🎟 Free to attend; buy your own food and drinks; ages 18+
More information →

🕒 Thu 30 Jul, 11am–12pm:

English Conversation Club
Practise conversational English for everyday life, study or employment at this volunteer-led library session. Everyone is welcome, and there is no need to register.
📍 Central Library, Silbury Boulevard
🎟 Free drop-in
More information →

🕒 Fri 31 Jul, 6pm–7.30pm:

Play Chess
MK Chess Club welcomes players of all ages and abilities to this social session. Newcomers can simply turn up; under-16s must attend with an adult.
📍 Community Hall, Unity Place
🎟 First session free; membership then costs £3.50 per month
More information →

🕒 Wed 29 Jul, 11am:

Audio Described Tour: Jacques Henri Lartigue
Visitors who are blind or partially sighted can explore selected works from Jacques Henri Lartigue: Life in Colour through detailed descriptions and hand-held touch elements.
📍 MK Gallery, Midsummer Boulevard
🎟 £7; one accompanying carer can attend free
More information →

🕒 Thu 30 Jul, 11am–2pm:

Archaeology Day at Bradwell Abbey
Discover archaeological finds, meet a Viking re-enactor and take part in family activities including finds trays and an osteology workshop. Visitors can also explore the Chapel of St Mary and a pop-up exhibition about Bradwell Abbey.
📍 Milton Keynes City Discovery Centre, Bradwell Abbey
🎟 Free
More information →

🕒 Fri 31 Jul, 10.30am and 2pm:

Summer Replay family cinema
MK Gallery’s affordable family-film programme includes Goat at 10.30am and Wicked: For Good at 2pm. Both films are rated PG.
📍 MK Gallery, Midsummer Boulevard
🎟 Adults £5; children £4; accompanying carers free
Goat →
Wicked: For Good →

🕒 Throughout the week:

Elmer’s Art Parade
Follow a free trail of 12 decorated Elmer sculptures around Milton Keynes City Centre, complete the quiz and collect a certificate. The route is expected to take around 40–50 minutes.
📍 Milton Keynes City Centre
🎟 Free
More information →

🕒 Sat 1 and Sun 2 Aug, from 3pm:

UK’s Strongest Man 2026
Watch leading strongmen compete in a series of strength events at Planet Ice. The programme also includes free face painting, merchandise stalls and food options.
📍 Planet Ice Milton Keynes
🎟 Single-day tickets from £16.69; two-day tickets from £54.49 via Eventbrite
More information →

🕒 Tue 28 Jul, 10.30am–11.30am:

Social Scrabble at Bletchley Library
A free, informal Scrabble session for adults, with no booking required.
📍 Bletchley Library
More information →

🕒 Sat 1 Aug, 10am–12pm:

Lego/Duplo Club at Central Library
A free drop-in Lego and Duplo session for all ages, with bricks provided. Children must remain with a parent or carer.
📍 Central Library
More information →

Explore more local events on Eventbrite and Destination Milton Keynes.

What kinds of local events would you like to see more of in MK Digest?

Just contact me at [email protected] – I read every message.

See you next issue.

Toby
MK Digest