On February 10, 2026, The Parks Trust announced that, from March 1, 2026, dog owners will be asked to keep their pets on leads year‑round when visiting three of Milton Keynes’ ancient woodlands: Howe Park Wood, Linford Wood and Shenley Wood. The change is intended to reduce disturbance to wildlife and protect sensitive habitats.
The change affects Howe Park Wood, Linford Wood and Shenley Wood — long‑established green spaces in the city. Previously, Linford Wood and Shenley Wood were subject to seasonal lead restrictions during the spring and summer nesting season (typically 1 March–30 September), while Howe Park Wood already required dogs to be kept on leads all year. The Parks Trust says the new approach extends year‑round lead requirements across all three sites because rising visitor numbers increase the risk of disturbance.
A Trust spokesperson said research shows dogs off lead are perceived by wildlife as predators. The Trust’s biodiversity teams have warned this can disturb ground‑nesting birds and other species (including dormice and badgers), causing stress that may force animals to stop feeding or abandon nests. The permanent lead policy aims to give these species a safer environment in which to live and breed.
Separately, The Parks Trust has reminded visitors that dogs must be kept on leads in Campbell Park while sheep are grazing as part of winter conservation work; the grazing typically runs through January–March and the Trust asks owners to keep pets on leads while livestock are present to avoid worrying the flock.
The Trust says it will update on‑site signage, share guidance via social media and use Park Rangers and volunteers to speak with visitors about the changes. The measures are intended to help preserve Milton Keynes’ ancient woodlands — some sites, such as Linford Wood, are around 700 years old, while others have origins recorded as far back as the Domesday Book — for future generations.
For further detail, contact The Parks Trust or see the Trust’s dog‑walking guidance .
About this article: This story was put together with the help of AI tools and checked by a real person on our team. We're a small crew trying to cover as much of the UK as we can on a limited budget. We're getting better every day - but we're not perfect yet. If something looks off, let us know. You're part of the process.
