Photo above: Magna Park lake, seen from the west on a sunny afternoon, mid-July (photo © Martin Ferns)
On a warm sunny evening, 13 members enjoyed visiting one of the least well-known of Milton Keynes parks – the small lake in Magna Park. 10 of us met at Brooklands Community Sports Pavilion car park, and walked from there through the parkland alongside Broughton Brook, meeting the others by the bridge where Fen Street crosses the brook.
First by the Pavilion, we saw a box hedge, in the final stages of defoliation by the Box-tree moth[1] caterpillar, of which several were still in evidence. The path to the lake is between the brook and drainage ponds with abundant Bulrush (also known as Common Club-rush Scirpus lacustris, Greater Reedmace Typha latifolia and other water plants which we did not get near enough to identify. Near the bridge, White Melilot was seen, as well as a white flowering plant in the pea family, identified as Goat’s Rue – a first for most of the group. Goat’s Rue was also seen later, with mauve flowers: it can be either colour, or both.
The lake itself is situated somewhat improbably alongside the brook, surrounded on 3 sides by some of the largest distribution warehouses in the country. Despite this environment, it is a tranquil place, rich in wildlife – with a good variety of wildflowers, flowering shrubs and trees.
Five herons were seen from the bridge, including adults and young, in the field that is fenced off as a wilderness area. This ‘wilderness’ area is used earlier in the year by breeding Skylark, and Chinese water-deer are often seen in this area, but not while we were there.) The lake is often obscured as you walk round it, but in places there is a good view across from either side. We had a very good view of two Little Grebes, with resplendent rufous heads, and a small chick learning to dive. Otherwise there were coot and a number of mallard.
The area around the lake is full of wildflowers, with a preponderance of Wild Carrot, Teasel, Great Willowherb, Field Scabious, Self-heal as well as some Betony. Common and Greater Knapweed was plentiful but no longer in flower. Rowan, Guelder Rose and Wayfaring Tree provided a good display of red and black berries. A persicaria was seen, but a precise identification elusive – most likely Amphibious Bistort.
There were dragonflies flitting around but – when they move so fast – difficult to identify, especially as the sun began to sink, as well as damselflies (Common Blue and Blue-Tailed, maybe others). A (probable) Common Shrew was seen skipping quickly over the path, but otherwise no mammals, other than other walkers. Carla spotted a small Common Frog hopping by the path, otherwise no reptiles or amphibians showed themselves.
We headed back to the car parks as the sun began to set, with some making a very brief detour led by Gary along the left bank of the brook in the direction of Kingston. This area has not yet been transferred to The Parks Trust, partly because it has no safe access from its west end. This path is less used, and has become overgrown, giving it good potential for a more detailed inspection, another time.
An extended species list can be found here, which includes plants identified on a recce by Martin Ferns and Mike LeRoy in mid-July, as well as others identified during the visit.
All in all, it was a very enjoyable evening stroll in an area new to several of the group.
Martin Ferns and Gary Fowler
Aug 2024
[1] The Box-tree moth is an example of how devastating introduced species can be where they have no natural controls. It originated in Kent in 2007 and comes from south-east Asia. As it spreads across the UK it is devastating Box and associated shrubs. Butterfly Conservation provides advice about it, but we may well lose much of our Box shrubs, perhaps also the rare Box wood in Buckinghamshire, not far from Chequers. https://butterfly-conservation.org/sites/default/files/2024-04/Box%20moth%20policy%20note.pdf