Ouzel Valley Park
Wide open green space along the floodplain of the river Ouzel.
Facilities
About Ouzel Valley Park
Ouzel Valley Park meanders from Caldecotte Lake in south Milton Keynes to Willen Lake in the north. As the largest park in Milton Keynes by size, the park has a spacious and open atmosphere with long views. Much of the land is farmed by The Parks Trust rearing our cattle and sheep. Amongst the livestock you can still see the remnants of an old field system with the ridge and furrow still visible. Incorporating the historic villages of Woolstone and Woughton, the park is bordered on its western side by the Grand Union Canal.
History
Ouzel Valley Park is dotted with the remains of medieval villages and their associated fish ponds. Some of these villages may have been wiped out by the great plague in 1686 but most were simply abandoned as people moved further from the river to avoid flooding and as increased trade reduced their reliance on fish for food. There are interpretation boards throughout the park to help you make sense of what you are seeing. Towards the southern end of the park you can also see an undulation in the surface of the grassland. This is "ridge and furrow" and was caused by medieval ploughing. It demonstrates both that the riverside fields were used for medieval agriculture and also that they have not been ploughed since. If you are interested in historical agriculture it is also well worth visiting Milton Keynes Museum at Wolverton.
Wildlife
The mix of ancient trees, hedgerows and meadows provide excellent habitats for wildlife. Look out for Woodpeckers, while along the river itself you may be lucky enough to see Kingfisher or Little Grebe. If you’re particularly interested in wildlife it’s well worth detouring from the river bank to do a circuit of Walton Lake where reedbeds and bird hides bring a huge mix of bird and insect life close to view.
Ouzel Valley Park is home to the Community Orchard which is located in Woughton on the Green just south of the Olde Swan between the Newport Road and the Canal. What3Words location carry.speak.flat. The Orchard is planted with a striking mix of 19 English varieties of apple trees. Please help yourself as the apples are free for anyone to take, but do not climb or damage the trees. In October, we hold our annual Apple day.
The plantation also features willows, including cricket bat willows which are exported to Pakistan, South Africa and Australia to make top-class cricket bats.
There are number of play areas within the Ouzel Valley including those at Oakgrove and Monkston Park. At Oakgrove there is a BMX Pump Track which children can enjoy. The track caters to riders of all ages and skill levels and welcomes enthusiasts on various wheels, including mountain bikes, skateboards, and BMXs. While the track provides ample practice opportunities, more adventurous and experienced riders can also enjoy a few challenging jumps.
At Monkston play area, there are 5 stations spread across the open parkland. They include a scramble net and tyre swing, climbing poles, logs and steps. Designed for 5-12 years old that love climbing and balancing! It's a perfect play area to visit tied in with a stroll along the river or a trip to see the cows or sheep when they are grazing the fields opposite the river.
Parking for this site can be found on Colindale Street in Monkston Park next to the green.
At Oakgrove there are three play areas. They include toddler/junior swings and multi-play frames, carousels and rockers and climbing frames and nets. Designed for 2-10 years old.
Play areas at Woolstone and Simpson are not managed or maintained by The Parks Trust.
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