The Parks Trust
The Parks Trust is an independent UK charity (est. 1992) that perpetually manages Milton Keynes' 6,000-acre green estate of parks, woodlands, and lakes, serving local residents, schools, and visitors through free park access, ~500 annual events, schools programmes, and commercial property, event licensing, and modest activity-fee revenue streams.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1992
- HeadquartersMilton Keynes, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Parks Trust does
The Parks Trust is an independent registered charity (Milton Keynes Parks Trust Limited; Charity No. 1007183; Company No. 02519659), established in 1992 to provide perpetual stewardship of Milton Keynes' parks, woodlands, lakes, and green spaces. It manages a 6,000-acre estate encompassing more than 40 parks, ancient woodlands, river valleys, 355 hectares of wetland along the River Great Ouse (the Wetland Arc), 80 miles of grid-road landscaping, 30+ pieces of public art, and heritage sites such as Great Linford Manor Park and the Bancroft Roman Villa. Its core product is the maintained and publicly accessible green estate, supplemented by an Events and Activities Programme of approximately 500 events per year, schools and youth programmes (Junior Park Rangers, Youth Explorers), community volunteering, contractor landscape services, and accessibility-led visitor services developed in partnership with AccessAble.
The business model is hybrid. Free public park access drives community engagement; ancillary commercial revenue streams include a diversified property portfolio (office and industrial lettings), event licensing fees (concerts, festivals, commercial filming and photography, with hourly and annual licences priced at £140-£280+VAT and £150+VAT respectively), modest activity fees (£1-£5 per session for Tree Tots, bat walks, Woof Walks, nature crafts), retail-style firewood sales, external landscape contracting, and corporate sponsorship (e.g., Urban&Civic). Income is rounded out by donations, legacy giving, and grant funding (notably a £213,000 National Lottery Heritage Fund grant for the Wetland Arc). Distribution is regional, through direct park access, the Digitickets online platform, and partnership marketing with local community organisations. There are no technology platforms, APIs, or AI/ML capabilities disclosed; the operating edge is grounded in physical estate, specialist staff (101-250 employees), and an embedded volunteer ecosystem.
The Parks Trust firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Parks Trust
- Legal name
- Milton Keynes Parks Trust Limited
- Website
- https://theparkstrust.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1992
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- The Parks Trust is an independent UK charity (est. 1992) that perpetually manages Milton Keynes' 6,000-acre green estate of parks, woodlands, and lakes, serving local residents, schools, and visitors through free park access, ~500 annual events, schools programmes, and commercial property, event licensing, and modest activity-fee revenue streams.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Parks Trust industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Urban Park Management and Green Space Stewardship
- NAICS
- Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Historical Sites (712120), Landscaping Services (561730)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Forestry (800)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC)
Keywords
Where The Parks Trust is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Milton Keynes
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Parks Trust business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations, corporate donations, and legacy giving programs. The organization relies on public support to fund park maintenance and improvements.
- Corporate Support and Sponsorship: Partnerships with businesses such as Urban&Civic for events and activities, providing both funding and in-kind support.
- Event Licenses and Hosting: Revenue from licensing parks for third-party events, concerts, and festivals. Commercial filming and photography also generates income.
- Property Portfolio: Office and industrial space rentals that help fund core charitable work. Income from commercial property tenants.
- Activity Fees: Modest fees for specific activities including Tree Tots sessions, Woof Walk dog walking events, bat walks, workshops, and nature crafts. Pricing ranges from £1-5 per activity.
- Firewood Sales: Seasoned log sales in netted bags from Campbell Park reception, supporting landscape management operations.
- Landscape Management Contracting: Contractor services for tree planting, thinning, pollarding, construction, and park maintenance work.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Per session | Tree Tots - Under 5s Nature Play Sessions |
| Unit Pricing | Per event | Woof Walk Dog Walking Events |
| Unit Pricing | Per event | Family Bat Walks |
| Unit Pricing | Per event | Adult Bat Walks |
| Unit Pricing | Per session | Nature Craft Sessions |
| Unit Pricing | Per booking | Commercial Filming/Photography |
| Subscription | Annual | Annual Commercial Photography License |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels8 records
The Parks Trust product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Parks Trust is an independent charity that maintains and develops 6,000 acres of parks, woodlands, lakes, river valleys and landscaped corridors across Milton Keynes. Its core deliverable is free public access to these green spaces for recreation and wellbeing, supplemented by an annual programme of around 500 events, community education (Junior Park Rangers, Youth Explorers, school visits), event venue licensing, commercial filming permits, firewood sales, and a commercial property portfolio whose rental income funds the charitable work.
Product overview
The Parks Trust operates as a single integrated offering focused on the stewardship and management of Milton Keynes' green estate. Their portfolio comprises Property Portfolio (commercial office and industrial space funding their operations), Firewood sales, Event Licencing services, and direct park access/recreation across 6,000 acres. They complement these with an Events and Activities Programme hosting ~500 events annually, Community Engagement Services including youth programmes and volunteering, Contractor Services for landscape management, and the Wetland Arc Project - a Heritage Lottery-funded initiative. The organization is structured as a unified charity service rather than a modular platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Park Access and Recreation
Quantifiable outcome
- Trees and shrubs planted annually across 6,000 acres of managed green space
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use The Parks Trust
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The Parks Trust technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Parks Trust partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Urban&CivicminorMaster Developer for Whitehouse and Fairfields communities, sponsoring the Whitehouse Pop-up Play event. Responsible for delivering green spaces and community facilities.
- Whitehouse Community CouncilminorLocal community council partnering on Whitehouse area events and community engagement.
- Whitehouse Community PlayminorCommunity organization collaborating on play events in the Whitehouse area.
- Community Action: MKminorLocal community organization supporting Whitehouse Pop-up Play event.
- AccessAblecoreWorld leader in accessibility information, collaborating with The Parks Trust to create detailed access guides for parks, helping visitors with disabilities plan their visits.
- Milton Keynes MuseumminorPartner for joint events including Discover Bancroft Roman Villa walks, combining museum artifacts with on-site heritage interpretation.
- Milton Keynes Arts CentreminorArts organization collaborating on Wetlands and Weaving Workshop as part of Heritage Open Days.
- Westbury Arts CentreminorPartner for Heritage Open Days events including Ancient Woodland Wander at Shenley Wood.
- Mid Shires Orchard GroupminorOrchard conservation group partnering on Heritage Open Days Orchard Foraging Walk and Woughton Community Orchard activities.
- Riverside Parks GroupminorCommunity group that supported establishment of Stony Stratford Nature Reserve in 2008.
- South Midlands Orienteering Club (SMOC)minorOrienteering club hosting regular events at Howe Park Wood, providing outdoor adventure sport opportunities.
- Woughton Community CouncilminorLocal council partnering on community events at Peartree Bridge including Triceratops sculpture activities.
- Woughton on the Green Community OrchardminorCommunity orchard celebrating 50th anniversary in 2026, supported by The Parks Trust through planting and maintenance.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Parks Trust competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Canal & River Trust: UK charity caring for 2,000 miles of waterways and the surrounding towpath green corridors. Directly comparable as a heritage-environment charity managing a linear network of public green space with volunteering, events, and community engagement programmes.
- City of London Corporation (Open Spaces): Manages Hampstead Heath, Epping Forest, Burnham Beeches and other open spaces around London. Comparable role as a public-interest steward of urban and peri-urban natural assets, with property income cross-subsidising conservation.
- The Royal Parks: UK charity managing London's eight royal parks (Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, Richmond Park, etc.). Closely comparable model — independent charity stewarding major urban green estates with events, education, and commercial activities — though at much larger London-based scale.
Broad incumbents
- Forestry England: Public body managing England's public forests, including ancient woodlands and visitor facilities. Comparable stewardship of large woodland estates with events, recreation, and biodiversity focus, though government-funded rather than charity-structured.
- The Wildlife Trusts: Federation of 46 local wildlife trusts covering the UK. Comparable conservation mandate around biodiversity and nature reserves, with overlapping educational and volunteering programmes, though typically focused on wilder habitats rather than urban parks.
- The National Trust: The UK's largest conservation charity, managing heritage properties, gardens, coastline, and countryside. Overlapping mission on parks and green-space stewardship, but operates at national scale across a much broader and more tourism-oriented portfolio.
Emerging players
- Groundwork UK: Federation of charities delivering environmental and regeneration projects including parks, green spaces, and community engagement. Comparable mission around urban green space and community programmes, though operating through local trusts across multiple regions.
- Fields in Trust: UK charity protecting parks and green spaces in perpetuity. Highly comparable legal/charitable structure dedicated to safeguarding outdoor recreational space for communities — though focused on advocacy and legal protection rather than direct operational management.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Parks Trust social profiles
Digital presenceThe Parks Trust financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Parks Trust leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
The Parks Trust funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Parks Trust M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Parks Trust
What does The Parks Trust do?
The Parks Trust is an independent charity that maintains and develops 6,000 acres of parks, woodlands, lakes, river valleys and landscaped corridors across Milton Keynes. Its core deliverable is free public access to these green spaces for recreation and wellbeing, supplemented by an annual programme of around 500 events, community education (Junior Park Rangers, Youth Explorers, school visits), event venue licensing, commercial filming permits, firewood sales, and a commercial property portfolio whose rental income funds the charitable work.
Is The Parks Trust a public or private company?
The Parks Trust is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Parks Trust founded?
The Parks Trust was founded in 1992. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is The Parks Trust based?
The Parks Trust is headquartered in Milton Keynes, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does The Parks Trust make money?
Seven revenue lines are on record. Donations and Fundraising is the primary driver. The others are corporate Support and Sponsorship, event Licenses and Hosting, property Portfolio, activity Fees, firewood Sales and landscape Management Contracting.
Who are The Parks Trust's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Canal & River Trust, City of London Corporation (Open Spaces) and The Royal Parks. Broad incumbents are Forestry England, The Wildlife Trusts and The National Trust. Emerging players are Groundwork UK and Fields in Trust.
Does The Parks Trust have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Parks Trust.
What industry is The Parks Trust in?
The Parks Trust's product category is Urban Park Management and Green Space Stewardship. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAGAC, Land Trusts & Protected Areas. Its NAICS code is 71219 and its SIC code is 7900.