Welcome to Essentially Local, your community magazine for the Milton Keynes area.

Image showing a picture of a newspaper and the words letting everyone know

Letting Everyone Know

After losing a loved one, the last thing you probably want to…
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image showing a man holding a white flower above a coffin in a graveyard as part of the article on the shocking cost of funerals

The Shocking Cost of Funerals

The cost of funerals can be shocking, and yes while you may want…
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Image showing poster promoting essential social networking for small businesses around Milton Keynes, Bucks and South Northants

Step into Slo-Mo at Essentially Social Networking

Sign up and join us at the July Essentially Social Networking…
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image showing the phrase mental health matters, for mental health awareness

Mental Health Problems in 80% Small Business Owners

Firstly small business owners suffered from the pandemic and…
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Image showing a damaged road where potholes are forming Report the potholeImage by Bill Kasman from Pixabay

Report the Pothole – Make a Claim

Potholes are worse than ever and while you might think you…
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image showing a little girl looking sad, sitting by a window cuddling her teddy. Looking sad as if she had a mental health problem

Local Mental Health For Young People

Mental Health problems for young people have steadily…
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Image showing an apple cake to give an example of a pudding fit for the Stony Stratford Jubilee Pudding Competition

Stony Stratford Platinum Jubilee Pudding Competition

For the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Big Lunch take part in the…
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Image showing picture of Susan Gorst of the new Moorgate Farm Shop

Moorgate Farm Shop Opens This Friday

Susan Gorst, of Moorgate Farm, Potterspury, is opening her new…
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Image showing mini strawberry cheesecakes that can be selected as part of the menu for Towcester Racecourse fine dining

Ever Been To a ‘Night at the Dogs’

Towcester Racecourse can offer everything from pizza…
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Image showing a cake created by Eva from Euthymia Cakes who is offering up 12 delicious cupcakes as a prize for the competition. It's a beautiful green coloured tall cake with drips of golden icing rolling down the side and lots of delicious chocolate pieces pilled on top, including a ferrero roche, lindor and others

WIN a Box of 12 Delicious Cupcakes

Enter this word search competition for a chance of winning…
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Image showing a picture of minnie the rabbit and the RSPCA Milton Keynes is desperately looking rehome rabbits like her as well as her

Call for Loving People to Rehome Rabbits

Lots of lovely animals at RSPCA Milton Keynes and North…
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Image showing a picture of cream colour small pet dog lying on its back with eyes looking lout

Making Lasting Memories for Your Pets

Losing your beloved pets is never easy, each one is a…
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image showing lawn with bowling balls on it, supporting Stony Bowling Club Open day

Fun, Exercise and Friendship at Stony Bowls Club

Stony Bowls Club Open Day 10.30am - 3.30am, Monday, 2 May 2022 From…
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Image showing poster of Stony Open Gardens planned opening in June 2022. It shows a beautiful garden full of deep green shrubs behind the main details with pink and white flowers to the right,

Put Stony Open Gardens 2022 in your Diary Today!

After a break of three years, we are delighted to announce that…
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Image showing dancers from Motus Dance on stage and performing

MÓTUS Dance Brings Hofesh Schecter Company to MK

MÓTUS Dance, the Milton Keynes based dance company is bringing…
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Image showing poster to advertise MKDT's Sleeping Beauty production

Bringing MKDT’s Sleeping Beauty to Life

Dancers are bringing MKDT's Sleeping Beauty to Life, If you…
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Image showing the Willen Hospice team preparing for the summer of moo with Flo the moo standing by Milton Keynes Concrete Cows.

The Summer of Moo is coming to MK!

Local charity, Willen Hospice, is delighted to launch the ‘Summer…
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Image showing paint swatch cards with pale muted colours from the beiges on the right working through green, blue purple and pink

Add Value To your home

The colour that you paint your home could add to its value but…
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image showing plastic waste for the big plastic countPhoto by tanvi sharma on Unsplash

The Big Plastic Count – Sign up

If you are anything like me, you'll have come to hate using plastic.…
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Image showing home made hot cross bun split open and covered in butter

Hot Cross Bun Recipe

I love this Paul Hollywood Hot Cross Bun recipe, I have tried…
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Image showing an emoji and words saying have your say, ask the question reminding everyone they should go to Stony Stratford Annual Meeting

Book 27 April – Stony Stratford Annual Town Meeting

The Stony Stratford Annual Town Meeting will be held on Wednesday,…
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Image showing one orange and one blue director's chairs which say time well spent and show the National Trust logo.Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

Local National Trust Events In Bucks and South Northants

 The National Trust Events in properties around Bucks and South…
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Image showing a night shot of the Menin Gate, one of the stop off points for the Wolverton Twinning Trip to Ploegert Belgium

Communities Forming Lasting Friendships

On alternate years, Wolverton and Ploegsteert, Belgium take turns…
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Bucks People and Landscapes

AMAZING NEW Discover Bucks Galleries is opening 11am, 2 April…
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Image showing Children standing next to a tree with a teddy bear up the tree by Willen Lake as part of Willen Teddy Bear Hunt

Join the Willen Hospice Easter Teddy Bear Hunt

Join the Willen Hospice Easter Teddy Bear Hunt over half term. 4-18…
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image showing the safety centre logo teaching hazards at home and outside

Don’t Let Your Child Become A Statistic

Every year, over 2 million children under the age of 15 experience…
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Image showing a boy holding Easter eggs in room in Milton Keynes Museum, promoting the Easter egg hunt

Egg-cellent Easter Egg Hunt at Milton Keynes Museum

The annual egg hunt is returning to bring an egg-cellent Easter…
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Image showing poster promoting essential social networking for small businesses around Milton Keynes, Bucks and South Northants

Calling All SMEs to Get Essentially Social!

Sign up and join us at the April Essentially Social @Brewery…
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IMage showing winners from Milton KEynes Business Achievement Awards 2022

Milton Keynes Business Achievement Award Winners

The Milton Keynes Business Achievement Awards took place this…
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Image showing masses of white cherry blossom tinged with pink for the National Trust Blossom WatchRosie Stokes, courtesy of National Trust

6 Beautiful Blossoms in Bucks, Berks and Oxon

This top guide to 6 beautiful blossoms and where to see them…
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Image showing the poster to promote the Older Persons Tea Party in Wolverton for the Queens Platinum Jubilee

Platinum Jubilee Party’s Are Announced in Wolverton

Wolverton and Greenley's Town Council are planning some fabulous…
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image showing poster for the musical Everybody is talking about jamie

Everybody’s Talking About Jamie Comes To MK

Everybody's Talking about Jamie is coming to Milton Keynes Theatre…
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Image showing think food logo

Job Opportunity – Think Food Wolverton

Think Food Café in the heart of Wolverton has just announced…
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Image showing land around Furtho Pit that is to be developed following a truthful planning application being slipped through without

When Apparent Truthful Statements are Misleading

When someone uses truthful statements to mislead you they are…
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image showing carbon monoxide / fire alarm for use in the home

The Hidden Danger that is Carbon Monoxide

We're celebrating Science Week and here are a few interesting…
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Poster showing Leighton buzzard Fiver Fest

Fiver Fest Comes to Town

Leighton Buzzard's locals and visitors are in for a treat! Yes,…
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Image showing hand saying no to a cigarette as part of National No Smoking Day

10 Ways to Help you Stop Smoking – No Smoking Day

It's that time of year again! And, will National No Smoking…
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Ginger and white family cat licking itself. the importance of getting your loved cat micro-chipped

When Micro-Chips Are Good For You

I bet you didn't know that chips can be good for you?  Well…
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black and white image of woman with tears in her eyes representing a domestic violence situation

Prevent Domestic Abuse Now

Domestic abuse is a criminal act and we must all do more to prevent…
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Picture showing Phil Willoughby from Cycle Tech MK servicing my bike

Give Your Bike A Service

Spring is in the air, if you are anything like me, you'll be…
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Image showing a cream coloured cockapoo puppy representing Crufts

Barking Bags Heads to Crufts 2022

Crufts, the world's most famous dog show is back for…
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Tiered display of Artea Room Afternoon tea

A Special Mother’s Day Treat

Whether, you are a mother or not, sometimes we…
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Image showing Alchemy Therapy logo and beauty treatments including hot stone massage

WIN a 30 Minute Massage

What could be better than winning a 30 minute massage…
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picture showing a wood burner burning wood to link to the article to keep your house warm and consider if you could insulate better

Insulate Your Home to Save Money and the Climate

The increased energy prices mean the average house could be paying…
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Image showing architecture from Stowe House, Buckingham part of the National Trust

Invitation to join MK National Trust Association

MK National Trust Association may be the answer to your interest…
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Image showing Stony In Bloom Volunteers planting trees over winter

Winter for Stony in Bloom

Winter for Stony in Bloom volunteers didn't stop them as they…
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Image showing poster to promote Harry's Rainbow Wonderland Ball

Harry’s Rainbow Wonderland Ball Announced

Harry’s Rainbow announce their 10th Birthday ball to celebrate…
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Image showing poster from Stop Loan Sharks, advising what to do with a loan shark

Not Sure What Are Loan Sharks?

Obviously, loan sharks will make life worse. And as National…
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Image showing a young girl in a red teeshirt holding a round red tomato to her nose for Red Nose Day

Save The Date – Red Nose Day 2022

March 18, 2022 sees the 33rd Comic Relief Red Nose Day! Like…
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Image showing coffee beans on a wooden board representing one of the items that can be bought for Fairtrade

Will You Support Fairtrade Fortnight?

At the end of February, Fairtrade Fortnight supporters…
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Image showing Mary Sarre planting a tree for Stony in Bloom

Commemorating Mary Sarre 1945-2021

Stony in Bloom is a completely voluntarily run group that is…
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Image of cat showing benefits of owning a pet

Our Top 10 Reasons for Owning A Pet

We are not alone in knowing the benefits of owning a pet.  Since…
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Real Bread Campaign

Treat yourself to Real Bread

Treat yourself to a loaf of real bread. I mean, what is not to…
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image showing garden green waste

Should we Pay for Garden Green Waste Removal?

Around 65% of councils around the country are charging additional…
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image showing a delivery driver at a door delivering a parcel to support what to do when a delivery goes wrong

When Delivery Goes Wrong

When a delivery goes wrong, it is hard to know what action to…
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Image showing Thorton College Reception children helping the community for St Claudine Day

St Claudine Day of Celebration at Thornton College

Thornton students were inspired by the story of St Claudine,…
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Image showing three opened red roses and one red rose bud on a dark background

The Number of Roses to Show Your True Love

How will you find love this Valentine's Day with roses? If so,…
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Image showing hand holding a bar of the folly soap co turmeric soap

Pamper Yourself with The Folly Soap Co

Karen Norgett of The Folly Soap Co is passionate about her pampering…
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Woman standing on a beach holding a card that says kindness pass it on

What Random Acts of Kindness Will You Do?

Random Acts of Kindness bring recipients so much happiness.…
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image showing sports watch with all the apps

Are you going Naked Today?

It's World Naked Day and it got me thinking about what…
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Image showing Datis, Suzanne and Emma organising essentially social @BTH MK

Sign Up to Get Essentially Social @BTH?

Sign up and join us at the first Essentially Social @Brewery…
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Image showing a wedding cake created by Euythmia Cakes

Euthymia Cakes is a Winner

This January, couples voted for local business Euthymia…
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Image showing bicycle handlebars on parked on the side of a road, with reference to the changes to the UK Highway Code

Your Priority is Changing

Your priority is changing as the government is introducing changes…
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Image showing person carving wood to represent skills that can be learnt through apprenticeships

Apprenticeships – Have you Registered Your Interest?

Formal Education doesn't suit every young person. And…
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Image showing a beautiful Polynesian beach island and crystal blue sea with a fisher boat that travellers may want visit if they book an overseas holiday in 2022

2022 – Should you Book an Overseas Holiday?

Whether you are a BREXITER or not one of the great things about…
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Image showing no place like home

The Ultimate Guide to Moving Home

Many of us ponder whether we should consider moving home…
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Image showing Happy Bodies gym mat with Logoed towels and hand weights

Are Your Bored Of Feeling Unfit?

It's the New Year, 2022 and are you bored of feeling…
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Do You Understand Pet Vaccinations?

Pet vaccinations are as important for our fury friends…
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delicious chocolate spread recipe

Delicious Easy to Make Chocolate Spread Recipe

This delicious, easy-to-make chocolate spread recipe is perfect…
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stony lights

November What’s On Milton Keynes

The November What's On Calendar Around Milton Keynes and South…
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Anti-bullying week

Anti-Bullying Week 2021: One Kind Word

This November it is Anti-Bullying Week. The theme 'One Kind Word' is…
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Essentially Local Christmas Drawing Competition 2021

Shout-out – Christmas Drawing Competition 2021

It's our annual shout-out to Young Artists for the Christmas…
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Consumers be aware when selling goods through social media

Trading Standards in Milton Keynes is aware of a new scam that is affecting consumers and a drop shipper in the local area
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15 reasons to stay local

At Essentially Local we’ve always believed in supporting local and there are at least 15 reasons! Local brings economic, social, and environmental benefits to a community.
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Illegal dog breeders charged

Are you one of the thousands of people who have enjoyed the company of a new puppy during a lockdown? Sadly, many new owners discovered too late that their puppies were born as a result of horrendous and often illegal puppy breeding and selling.
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