This section gives details of articles and publications produced by the society or by members of the society.
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The latest issues of our society newsletter ‘The Magpie’ are available by clicking the links below:
Harvestmen (Opiliones) in Milton Keynes Woods
This report is by Society member Mike Killeby who observed Harvestmen in Milton Keynes Woods from September 2011-2014.
Harvestmen hatch in spring from eggs laid in the soil the previous autumn. Good levels of humidity are essential for their survival. Some species remain at soil level whilst others migrate through the herb layer and become arboreal.
We have twenty six species on the UK list, five of which are recent introductions. The insects are difficult to see and they are prone to seek cover when disturbed. They can be collected by the use of a beating tray and a walking stick. Half of the species live their lives in the leaf litter and grass/moss layer. These species can be found by carefully removing surface leaves and collecting fine damp litter for sieving.
Fourteen woods were visited at different times through the years, the most species found were twelve in Linford Wood, other sites had between five and nine species. This work will continue.
Species recorded in order of frequency found.
Leiobunum rotundum | 34 |
Dicranopalpus ramosus | 31 |
Mitopus morio | 25 |
Oligolophus hanseni | 23 |
Paroligolophus agrestis | 17 |
Platybunus triangularis | 13 |
Nemastoma bimaculatum | 11 |
Lacinius ephippiatus | 10 |
Lophopilio palpinalis | 8 |
Oligolophus tridens | 8 |
Leiobunum blackwalli | 6 |
Opilio canestrinii | 5 |
Megabunus diadema | 2 |
Mitostoma chrysomelas | 1 |
Leiobunum.rotundum.female” by James Lindsey at Ecology of Commanster. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
(including Milton Keynes and Slough) by Roy Maycock and Aaron Woods. Published November 2005.
The checklist was produced to help fill a gap in the published plant records of the county (i.e. vice-county 24 so that Milton Keynes and Slough were included). The other publication was that of George Claridge Druce in 1926. This gave details of the flora as it was known at the end of the nineteenth century together with known dates of the first record of each species. Efforts to produce a new Flora began in 1965 and continued until about 1985 but it never came to fruition. The records are still available and were used in the compilation of the checklist – but there have continued to be huge changes since then, hence the Checklist.
Note, although the checklist is out of print secondhand copies are available through specialist bookshops and Amazon.
As a project to celebrate the new millennium, MKNHS decided that a catalogue of the plants, fungi and animals found within the Borough should be compiled and published as a book with the title of “Milton Keynes More Than Concrete Cows – real animals and plants too”. This publication contained lists of flora and fauna which were known to have been seen within the Borough between 1987 and 1999 and was compiled by members and their friends.
Since then, in 2010, to encourage members to continue recording species seen within their own local area, the Tetrad Project was set up. A tetrad is a 2km x 2km square as seen on Ordnance Survey maps using the National Grid and each interested member was allocated the square appropriate to his and/or her house. The few members who did not live within the Borough were also included. Participants were asked to record all species seen in their tetrad and submit the records on an annual basis.
As results come in and as publication via the internet becomes a reality we hope to publish these lists online. The original book contains far more species than the project, but there are now records for groups which were not covered earlier so our overall coverage is steadily increasing.
The booklet, published in 1993, covers 1968-1993. It contains a
series of short articles outlining the origins of the Society, some of its early projects and individual activities together with accounts of outings at home and abroad. Early members and the slow growth in numbers are recalled with lists of various officers.
The booklet was published by Milton Keynes Development Corporation with many contributions from Society members. It “contains a check list of the major groups of plants and animals that have been seen in Milton Keynes during the ten year period 1968-1978 (except for butterflies and moths, which cover a longer period).”
The Society produced journals covering
- 1975
- 1976
- 1977
- 1978-1983
- 1991
- 1992-1998
CALVERTON (Lower Weald)
- Cedar of Lebanon (5.7m) All Saints Churchyard
- Sycamore (4.75m) All Saints Churchyard
- Ash (6m) Footpath by brook in field east of church
- Beech (4.55m) Footpath to rear of Calverton Place
ALSO see Passenham for pollarded Crack Willow (4.5m) Footpath to Stony Stratford; see Puxley for Steeple Oak (3.65m) at reservoir entrance, Oak (5.35m) opposite Hangar Lodge, and King’s Standing Oak (5m – dead) Shrob Lane; see Thornton for Cranley Oak (dead) north of A421/Thornton turn-off on Bucks/Northants boundary; see Wicken Wood for commercial deciduous usage
STONY STRATFORD
Elm (Wesley’s Tree) (7.6m) Market Square (burnt 1980’s, destroyed 2007)
- Cedar of Lebanon (3.97m) Ousebank Way
- Horse Chestnut (4.95m) North of Willow Lane
- Field Maple (2.93m) As above
- Horse Chestnut (4.31m) St Mary Magdalene churchyard
ALSO see above for Millfield Black Poplar community planting scheme; see Potterspury for Oak (4.75m) A5 junction to Yardley Gobion, and Queen’s Oak (dead) Footpath by brook north of Queen’s Oak Farm; see Whittlewood Forest (much private)
OLD WOLVERTON
- Lime (4.55m) North-west corner of balancing lake field
- Cedar of Lebanon (5.95m) Wolverton House pub grounds
- Oak (4.65m) As above
- Lime (4.7m) Field to east of above
- Black Walnut (3.45m) Holy Trinity churchyard
- Oak (4.55m) Drive to Manor Farm
- Crab Apple (2.35m) To east of above drive on medieval village site
ALSO see Ouse Valley Park for ongoing development of Great Ouse Floodplain Forest, and pollarded/maiden White Willows
GREAT LINFORD
- Scots Pine (2.3m) St Andrew’s churchyard
- Lime (6.05m) Manor Park canal bank east of lakes
ALSO see Parsons Spinney for Grey Poplar plantation off St Leger Drive; see Bradwell for Oak (4.3m) Colley Hill opposite The Spinney; see Linford Wood (MK Parks Trust) for Crab Apple (1.85m) on southern edge, and semi-ancient woodland; see Campbell Park for Oak (4.1m) in centre of park by stream
LITTLE LINFORD/HAVERSHAM
London Plane (4.4m) East verge of Little Linford Lane, north of Ouse bridges
- Crack Willow (4.05m) As above
- Hornbeam (2.6m) St Mary’s churchyard
- Giant Sequoia (4.7m) Church car park
ALSO see Little Linford Wood (BBO Wildlife Trust) for coppiced Ash (9m) on southern edge, and semi-ancient woodland
HANSLOPE
Oak (Cook’s Oak) (5.1m) Footpath on bend of Newport Road
- Ash (5.85m) Footpath in field to south of Hanslope Park
- Giant Sequoia (4.9m) As above
- Oak (4.9m) As above
- Oak (4.6m) Roadside adjacent to above
ALSO see Castlethorpe for Sycamore (4.25m) Castle grounds, and Horse Chestnut (4.05m) Mill Leys Farm bridleway; see Salcey Forest (Forestry Commission) for several ancient Oaks and Tree-top Walkway
GAYHURST/TYRINGHAM
- Common Walnut (6.2m) Entrance to Gayhurst Court drive
- Ash (5.8m) As above
- Black Walnut (3.3m) As above
- London Plane (5.05m) Tyringham Gatehouse drive
ALSO see Gayhurst Wood for wood plots for sale
WESTON UNDERWOOD/RAVENSTONE
Beech (4.25m) St Lawrence churchyard (WU)
- Horse Chestnut (5m) west verge of Wood Lane
- Oak (5m) Footpath by stream north of disused railway, south of Kilwick Wood
- Horse Chestnut (5.05m) All Saints churchyard (R)
ALSO see Cowper’s Oak (dead) near Biggin Lodge north of Kilwick Wood; see Yardley Chase (much private)
OLNEY
Giant Sequoia (4.3m) Spring Lane opposite West Street
ALSO see Clifton Reynes for Horse Chestnut (4.1m) Field to west of St Mary the Virgin church, and Common Walnut (3.05m) Front garden on Church Lane; see Emberton for Ash (5.35m) Westpits, off Church Lane; see Newton Wood, Newton Blossomville for Octopus Oak (4.4m)
NEWPORT PAGNELL
- Lombardy Poplar (4.4m) Ouse riverbank park east of Ousebank Street
- Grey Poplar (4m) Footpath off North Crawley Road behind Household Waste site
- Crack Willow (4.5m) Ouzel riverbank near Lovat Middle School
- Giant Sequoia (4.55m) Lovat Hall public garden off Silver Street
- Horse Chestnut (5.05m) Silver Street car park
- Aspen (3.45m) Bury Field Common
- White Willow (4.40m) as above
ALSO see North Crawley for Elm (3.8m) Footpath north of Gumbrills Farm, and Yew (3m) St Firmin’s churchyard; see Chicheley for Oak (5.2m) Northern verge of A422; see Astwood for Yew (3.7m) St Peter’s churchyard
DOWNHEAD PARK/BROUGHTON/MIDDLETON/WILLEN
- Oak (5.15m) By paddock Colesbourne Drive off H4, Downhead Park
- Horse Chestnut (4.85m) End of London Road, Broughton
- Horse Chestnut (3.95m) All Saints’ churchyard, MK Village
- Oak (4.25m) Great Linch at junction of V11/H7, Middleton
- Ash (4.85m) North Willen Park, east of Labyrinth
ALSO see Tree Cathedral at Newlands near Willen Lake; see Junction H6/V10 for Cricket Bat Willow plantation; see Broughton Grounds for Forestry Authority-funded new woodland
OUZEL VALLEY PARK
- Oak (4.55m) Floodplain footpath opposite Monkston Park
- Black Poplar (5.45m) Redway near oxbow lake west of OU campus
- Black Poplar (3.95m) Riverbank footpath west of OU campus
ALSO see Woughton-on-the-Green for Field Maple (2.35m) Footpath east of canal bridge no. 90; see Walton Hall OU campus for Cedar of Lebanon (6.75m – died 2008) adjacent to Hall; Black Mulberry (2.1m) adjacent to Refectory; and Oak (4.5m) adjacent to Science Block; see Mount Farm Lake for early MKDC tree (mainly willow/poplar) landscaping
WAVENDON/WAVENDON GATE
Lime (4.2m) St Mary’s churchyard
- Oak (4.55m) Isaacson Drive opposite Lamb Lane
ALSO see Woburn Park for several ancient oaks (8m+) and others
(semi-private)
BRICKHILL WOODS/WOBURN SANDS
- Beech (4.8m) Footpath north of Bow Brickhill church
- Sweet Chestnut (3.25m) Sunken way junction on northern escarpment
- Scots Pine (2.8m) Northern verge of road west of Sandy Lane by-way
- Giant Sequoia (5.75m) By footpath in Back Wood
- Oak (4.95m) Edgewick Farm Open Space
- Giant Sequoia (4.95m) Mowbray Green
ALSO see above for commercial coniferous usage; see Forest of Marston Vale for ongoing community forest planting schemes
BLETCHLEY
- Oak (3.5m) Knowles Infant School playground
- Giant Sequoia (4.55m) Bletchley Park main lawn
- Lime (4.3m) As above
- Beech (4m) As above
- Ash (3.75m) Whalley Drive cemetery
ALSO see College Wood (Woodland Trust) for ancient oak (4.4m) and remnant of Whaddon Chase; see Winslow for Cappadocian Maple (4.25m) End of Station Road, and nearby remnants of Bernwood Forest; see Thrift Farm Garden Centre for Oak (5.2m + 5.0m)
TATTENHOE/WESTCROFT
Oak (4.4m) Footpath by brook at Snelshall East end of Loughton Valley Park
- Oak (5.15m) Footpath entering Howe Park Wood opposite Stolford Rise
- Oak (4.9m) Stourhead Gate off H7 opposite Edzell Crescent
- Oak (3.95m) South-east edge of Water Spinney
- Oak (4.45m) Steinbeck Crescent, Snelshall West
ALSO see Howe Park Wood (MK Parks Trust) for Crab Apple (1.5m) Footpath into wood off Walney Place, and SSSI semi-ancient woodland
SHENLEY CHURCH END
- Oak (3.95m) Dudley Hill/St Mary’s Church car park
- Oak (4.25m) Burchard Crescent
- Hawthorn (Glastonbury Thorn) (1m) Pigott Drive near Glastonbury Thorn First School
ALSO see Loughton for Oak (4.05m) Linceslade Grove opposite Bignell Croft; see Hazeley Wood (MK Parks Trust) for new plantation of Silver Birch, Oak and Hornbeam; see Beachampton for Oak (5m) Ouse Valley Way/road junction near MK boundary, and Oak (4.85m) footpath north-east of above.
Mel Jones
December 2008
CALVERTON
Rear of Calverton Place, Lower Weald
Increasingly derelict orchard comprising 2 groups totalling about 40 apple, and a few ex-espaliered pear in deserted walled garden. Apple varieties include: Annie Elizabeth and Wealthy, pear: Marie Louise and Williams Bon Chretien. Access: public footpaths including Calverton Circular Walk.
STONY STRATFORD
Cofferidge Close
Former market garden/paddock turned local shopping centre, with 10+ apple, a few pear (some espaliered), hazel and walnut, in a mix of remnant and new planting. Access: in and around public car parking.
OLD WOLVERTON
Manor Farm deserted medieval village site
Solitary crab (possibly cider) apple: hollow, split and lost crown, but one of few trees in MK classified as ‘Ancient’ by Woodland Trust. Access: footpath off ex-farm drive with entrance near canal bridge car park
WOLVERTON
Wolverton Community Orchard
Old allotment site comprising 30+ trees in mix of apple, pear, cherry, plum, damson, mulberry etc. Recently planted by local people with support of Wolverton and Greenleys Town Council. One of several local foci promoting ‘urban agriculture’. Some nearby Victorian terraced houses retain original fruit trees eg Red Robin pear. Access: footpath to rear of Western Road opposite Anson Road junction
BANCROFT PARK
15 apple trees in secluded area of North Loughton Valley Park. Access: off Willwford.
NEW BRADWELL
Fruit and Nut Walk
Recently planted collection of soft fruits, 250 hazel, 20 plum, 10 damson,15 cherry etc around circumference of Drill Hall allotments on MK Parks Trust parkland. Access: drive/footpath/redway off Newport Road
GREAT LINFORD
Great Linford Park
Several sites in vicinity of park include Old Rectory derelict apple/pear orchard (private), and more recent public apple and pear planting to rear of Artswork’s barn together with 15 apple along bridleway bordering Willen Lane paddock. Access: public park
STANTON LOW
Hanson Centre Wildlife Centre
50 Bird Cherry on western boundary of reserve near derelict St Peter’s Church. Good eaters. Access: footpath from New Bradwell or Black Horse canal bridges
NEWPORT PAGNELL
The town’s many large orchards have been drastically reduced by building development since the 1950’s, and garden orchards continue to be lost, including, very recently, large numbers of Edwardian trees to rear of Wolverton Road. Only a few remnants remain, for example Priory Street/Milton Drive, Severn Drive/Blyth Close and on the Ouzel western floodplain edge south of Tickford Bridge. Proposal for Heritage Orchard, using grafts from threatened specimens, being discussed with MK Council. Access: public highway/footpaths
WILLEN
Willen Local Park
Little known orchard comprising 20 mature apple in MK Parks Trust meadow adjacent to St Mary Magdalene Church. Access: road/footpath/redway off Milton Road/Newport Road/North Willen Park
DOWNS BARN
New 1.3 acre site, at junction of H4/V9 and accessed from Loriner Place, previously used as a smallholding, is being considered for development as a community orchard, with planning and design, commencing 2009, by Great Linford Parish Council in conjunction with local community.
MILTON KEYNES VILLAGE
Old village has many farm/cottage orchard remnants, together with Broughton Road allotment espaliers, a large walnut by All Saints’ Church, hedge damsons in the community garden by Bird’s Cottage, and a few trees in the Swan Inn beer garden. Access: view from public highway
WOUGHTON ON THE GREEN
Community Orchard
380 apple and 40 cherry planted in mid-70’s and now managed by MK Parks Trust for the community. Varieties include Buckinghamshire’s very own dessert apple Cox’s Orange Pippin and its cooker Arthur Turner, together with Bramley’s Seedling, Worcester Pearmain, and from nearby Bedford, Laxton’s Fortune. Cherries comprise Early Rivers and Governor Wood. Apple Day (mid-October) events sometimes held here. Trunks of many trees recently seriously damaged by Pit Bull-type dogs and owners. Nearby is private cider apple orchard. Access: various footpaths from Waterside (Peartree Bridge), canal towpath, or Newport Road.
PEARTREE BRIDGE
Linear Orchard, Waterside
Approximately 125 trees in two rows to rear of Waterside. Mainly dessert apples, with several Bramley (at the ends), a few pear and some lost trees replaced by Calley Pears. Due to be thinned and restored by MK Council Landscape Services working with local community early 2009.
SIMPSON
Several large farmhouse orchards lost to development with a few trees remaining, in particular on a series of small greens along Hamner Road, and the footpath between Simpson Road and Simpson Drive. Access: public highway
WALNUT TREE
Hindhead Knoll Local Park
23 walnut modern landscaped planting scheme, with other minor examples across grid-square, reflecting older trees associated with Walnut Tree Farm and Walton Manor. Also pre-let allotment planting of 30 apple at Boxberry Gardens, and others in Bergamot Gardens allotments. Access: public highway
WALTON HALL
OU Campus
Very old (propped) mulberry on lawn adjacent to Refectory together with greengage, both excellent fruiters. Also pear espaliers, apple and medlars in remains of Hall’s walled garden. Aylesbury Prune by pond. Walnuts in St Michael’s Church. Access: semi-private.
WAVENDON
St Mary’s Close/The Green
Remnant orchard associated with long-demolished Villa, comprising 1 large apple, 3 pear and a listed, listing mulberry. Access: public highway off Walton End
WOBURN SANDS
Edgewick Farm Open Space
Community orchard comprising 18 trees on Woburn Sands Town Council land managed by volunteers, planted late 90’s. Access: Woodland Way.
BOW BRICKHILL
Sweet chestnuts scattered on northern edge of Brickhill Woods, some bearing sizable nuts. Access: footpaths/bridleways throughout woods.
OLD FARM PARK
Holst Crescent allotments
Pre-let but windblown planting of approximately 20 apple. Access: road/footpath
CALDECOTTE
Solitary ancient pear, hollow with lost crown, in centre of deserted medieval village site. Access: footpath off Monellan Grove/Caldecotte Lanei
FENNY STRATFORD
Fenny Stratford Community Orchard, Manor Fields Sports Ground
Recently planted and formally designed orchard comprising 50 apple, 8 crab apple, and 42 cherry funded by Bletchley and Fenny Stratford Town Council. Fenced and with circular footpath and seats. Apple varieties include Blenheim Orange, Charles Ross, Discovery, Greensleeves, Grenadier, James Grieve, Laxton’s Fortune, Lord Lambourne, and Winstone. Older apple trees line approach drive. Access: Watling Street or Sycamore Avenue
SNELSHALL
Roadside planting of 100+ varied dessert apple on V1 corner of Water Spinney Wood. Access: road/footpath/redway
TATTENHOE
Tattenhoe District Park
MK Council-managed planting of 75 varied dessert apple at Hengistbury Road entrance. Older apple line road (ex-farm drive) and opposite is cottage orchard of approximately 40 apple and 5 pear, all very mature. Beyond is Howe Park Wood with ancient specimen of crab apple. Access: road/footpath
SHENLEY LODGE
Paxton Crescent Local Park
20+ apple and others by pond adjacent to Old Beams pub. Access: road/footpath
SHENLEY CHURCH END
Remnant orchard between to St Mary’s Church and playing field with very large pear and 5 apple. Also 10 damson at Shenley Toot, 10 apple in hedge at Sheppards Green. Access: road/footpath
GREAT HOLM
McIntyre Project
85 apple planted in mixed use (part-productive/part-decorative) hedge along project’s boundary with H5. Access: semi-private, visible from road verge
LOUGHTON
Church Farm
Picturesque pear against farmhouse by All Saints’ Church. Access: private but visible from Church Lane. Remnant MKPT orchard and adjacent private orchard between Leys Road and Pitcher Lane. Access: footpath
COFFEE HALL
Robins Hill redway
Planting line of approximately 25 apple and 30 pear cutting across whole estate. Large walnut by Christ the Vine church. Access: road/footpath/redway
CMK
Scattered amenity planting includes apple and pear to front of Christ the Cornerstone Church, Saxon Gate and to south of Theatre District, on Lower Twelfth Street
LINFORD WOOD
Majestic row of 9 remnant apple, presumably Bramley, on footpath off Foxhunter Drive. Access: footpath/redway
BRADWELL
Copse of 40 damson, presumably spread as a clone, in corner recreation ground at Loughton Road/Primrose Road junction. Access: road/footpath
TWO MILE ASH
Stone Hill allotments
Well-designed pre-planted allotments now mature and fully let with tenants obliged to maintain formal layout and share fruit. Recent supplementary self-help planting. Access: private, but view through gate off Stone Hill
KILN FARM
Remnant farmhouse orchard now part of Sikh temple site. 3 pear, 2 apple, 3 cherry plum and 1 large walnut. Also plum clone temptingly overhangs redway. Access: private but visible from Watling Street/footpath/redway
WESTERN EXPANSION AREA
New expansion area engulfing 3+ farms, all of which have associated farmhouse orchards, but in various stages of neglect. One, Whitehouse Farm, has largest pear in MK (2.2m girth) in what was largest orchard in pre-MK landscape. Developers have adopted Fruit Tree Policy with retention of some trees, and mitigation/enhancement planting elsewhere. Possible grafting of felled trees being considered, and transfer to part of large community garden to maintain succession. Local varieties also to be investigated. Access: the future.
Mel Jones
December 2008
Click on the spreadsheet icon to see the database of older trees across MK Borough.