The management of the Woburn Sands Garden Centre have announced they intend to close down.
In an update on social media, the Garden Centre said that they will cease trading, with the remaining inventory in the location to be sold off in a closing down sale.
The statement confirming the closure blamed several years of challenging trading conditions, highlighting the affects of reduced customer spending, rising costs and increased business taxes.
Woburn Sands Garden Centre’s decision shuts down a business that had operated as an independent business since 2019, taking over the operations of a business previously run as a Wyevale garden centre.
The statement read, “We want to share an important update regarding the future of our garden centre.
“After several years of extremely challenging trading conditions, we have made the very difficult decision to close the business. Recent government policies have made it almost impossible for businesses to survive. This has led to sustained financial losses, reduced customer spending, rising costs and extra tax pressures meaning the business is no longer viable.
“This is not a decision that has been taken lightly and it is one we make with real sadness. The garden centre has traded since 2019, and during that time we invested significant time and financial resources in an attempt to build a successful and sustainable operation.
“We explored every reasonable option to stabilise the business and sought further financial support where possible. Unfortunately, despite these efforts, continuing to trade is no longer possible.
“We are acutely aware of the impact this will have on our team and want to sincerely thank our staff, customers, and suppliers for their support over the years. This is not the outcome we wanted, but it is the difficult reality we now face.
“Our closing down sale commences tomorrow morning (Friday 9th January 2026). Further updates will be shared in due course.”
Milton Keynes City Council have announced they are hosting an event to raise awareness of educational psychology as a career path.
The free to attend event is happening at the City Council’s Civic office on Thursday 22 January between 4pm and 5:30pm. Visitors will have the chance to meet some of the City Council’s specialist team, ask questions and learn about the work they do.
MK City Council stated that their educational psychology service works with local children and young people aged 0 to 25 years who have a range of different communication, learning, social-emotional, and physical needs.
In the past year, the team has assessed over 500 children and young people, as part of the Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) assessment. They then provide ideas and strategies to support inclusive practice, helping these children progress at school and at home. As well as creating individual tools and resources for children with specific challenges (such as emotionally based school avoidance), the team provides training and support to educational settings and other professionals.
The event will cover all aspects of working in this important field, how to apply for roles, and the support available. To register your interest in attending, please email [email protected]
Councillor Joe Hearnshaw, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said, “Our Educational Psychology team continues to play a vital role in supporting children and young people across Milton Keynes. They help to ensure that some of our most vulnerable young people are not left behind – that they are included and have the best opportunities to learn.
If you are passionate about psychology and want to use your knowledge to help improve lives, this event is for you. Our assistant role remains an excellent pathway for those looking to progress into training and ultimately achieve full qualification.”
MK Dons have announced the signing of midfielder Ben Wiles, who joins the club from Huddersfield Town for an undisclosed fee.
The 26-year-old is the Dons’ first signing of the January transfer window, with the midfielder signing a contract of undisclosed length at Stadium MK.
Wiles reunites with his former Rotherham boss Paul Warne, having come through the Millers’ youth academy and made close to 200 appearances for the Millers.
The midfielder made 28 appearances in all competitions for Huddersfield so far this season, having previously joined the Terriers in August 2023. But with his contract due to expire at the end of the current season, Lee Grant’s side have opted to offload Wiles, with the midfielder making the move to Stadium MK to link up with Warne once more.
In an arrival interview, Wiles said he was excited to make the move to Milton Keynes.
He said, “I’m really happy that it’s got done. Obviously, people know that I’ve worked with the gaffer before, and when this opportunity came around, it was something I was really eager to get sorted. It was a bit of a quick turnaround, but that’s football, and I’m glad now I’ve got it sorted!”
Warne talked up his new recruit, saying he was excited to work with him once more.
He said, “He’s played a lot of games in the Championship, and played over about 300 games already, so he ticks a lot of boxes as an all-round player.
“He’s got two powerful feet, he’s aggressive and loves the game of football, and obviously, I’ve had him before, so there’s less risk to the culture.
“He’s a young man with good pace and an eye for a goal, I think he’s not dissimilar to the captain (Alex Gilbey), really. I think that’s probably the best way to put it!
“It was an absolute no-brainer for us when we knew that potentially he could be available.”
Midsummer Place shopping centre in Milton Keynes have announced they will be holding a bingo competition through January.
Taking place every Saturday throughout January, starting 10 January at 12pm, the centre will host Balloon Bingo at the Bandstand in the Boulevard, an exciting giveaway event with £1,000 worth of prizes up for grabs.
Each Saturday, 100 balloons – each with a unique number – will be handed out from 12pm and until they have gone – on a first come first served basis.
Then at 1pm, one of MKFM’s presenters will start the Balloon Bingo and at the point when numbers are called, participants can receive their prizes.
Lucky winners will receive a £25 voucher to spend at a retailer within Midsummer Place. Prizes will be selected via a fun lucky dip, with vouchers available for a range of popular stores including LEGO, Hollister, Levi’s, Zara, Waterstone’s, Five Guys and more.
Kirsty McGiff, Marketing Manager at Midsummer Place, said, “January can feel like a long month for many people, so we wanted to create something fun, uplifting and genuinely rewarding for our visitors. Balloon Bingo at Midsummer Place is all about spreading positivity, bringing people together and giving shoppers a little extra reason to look forward to their weekends at Midsummer Place.”
Balloon Bingo is free to take part in and open to all visitors, with balloons available on a first-come, first-served basis each Saturday at 12pm.
For more information about upcoming events and news from Midsummer Place, visit:
https://midsummerplace.co.uk/
MK Dons and Oxford United have jointly announced plans to support the George Baldock Foundation ahead of their upcoming FA Cup meeting.
The announcement came ahead of their meeting at Stadium MK on Friday (09/01), in what will be the first meeting of the Dons and the U’s since the tragic loss of Baldock, who represented both clubs but who passed away in October 2024.
Baldock played 125 times for MK Dons and 47 times for Oxford United in a playing career that also included a spell with Sheffield United.
Both MK Dons and Oxford United will warm up in shirts bearing the George Baldock Foundation logo, in a bid to raise awareness of the foundation and encourage supporters to donate.
QR codes will also be displayed on the big screens at the stadium, giving those in attendance the chance to help raise funds to support football community charities running camps for disadvantaged children.
This includes Milton Keynes Dons Community Trust and the Sheffield United Community Foundation, giving children from disadvantaged backgrounds the chance to discover the positive impact of football in two cities that George loved.
MK Dons also confirmed that the Baldock family will be in attendance at the game as guests in the Directors’ Box.
In November, MK Dons hosted the George Baldock Foundation Dinner at Stadium MK, with the event helping raise significant funds to support football community charities running camps for disadvantaged children in George’s name.
George’s older brother Sam Baldock, who like George also played for both sides, said that he was honoured at the two clubs raising awareness of the foundation.
He said, “We are honoured that MK Dons and Oxford United, two clubs close to the family’s heart, are raising awareness for The George Baldock Foundation.
“Both clubs have been supportive over the past couple of years, and we are very grateful.
“The foundation was launched in November with a charity ball and is raising funds for football community charities running holiday camps with lunch, in memory of George Baldock.
“These camps will offer a safe, sociable environment where children can build confidence, form new friendships and engage in physical activity.
“We wish to create a legacy in George’s name that has a positive impact on children in his local communities through the sport he loved.”
