Blue Lagoon Local Nature Reserve facts for kids
The Blue Lagoon Local Nature Reserve is a special natural area in Bletchley, Milton Keynes, in Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom. It's the only Local Nature Reserve in the whole Borough of Milton Keynes. This amazing place has many different habitats. These include shallow and deep water, grassland, scrubland (areas with bushes), and woodland (forests). Because of this, it's home to lots of different fauna (animals) and flora (plants). People also love to visit the Blue Lagoon for fun activities.
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History of the Blue Lagoon
From Brickworks to Nature Reserve
The land where the Blue Lagoon is today was once part of a big factory. This factory made bricks. Bletchley was famous for making bricks because of the special clay found there. Brick-making was a major industry in Bletchley from the 1890s until the 1970s. The factory on the Blue Lagoon site closed in 1970.
The Pits and Their Names
The nature reserve has two main pits, which are like big holes in the ground. The northern pit is now known as the Blue Lagoon. The southern pit was called Flettons pit. The Blue Lagoon pit became flooded in the 1940s. This happened when the nearby Water Eaton Brook overflowed its banks. The water in the pit looked a beautiful, pure blue colour. That's how the lake got its popular and now official name. The Flettons pit was used for making bricks until 1970. In the early 1980s, it was used as a landfill site.
Exploring the Local Nature Reserve
What is a Local Nature Reserve?
In the early 1990s, the whole area was improved to become a Local Nature Reserve. This means it's a place that is protected for its wildlife and natural features. It's also a place where people can enjoy nature. The two parts of the site, the Blue Lagoon and the Flettons pit area, are different. These differences make the reserve even more interesting and diverse.
The Blue Lagoon Lake
The Blue Lagoon itself is the main lake. It's in the northern part of the reserve. The lake is 18 metres (about 60 feet) deep! Because it's so deep, the Milton Keynes Sub-Aqua Club uses it for scuba diving. Divers have placed some cool things in the lake for exploration. These include a bus, two cars, and a small light aircraft. There are also six sunken boats and concrete pipes on the lake bed.
The lake is full of life! You can often find pike, perch, roach, and crayfish here. Sometimes, people even spot tench and carp. Because of all these fish, the lake is also a popular spot for angling (fishing). The area around the lake is mostly covered in trees.
The Southern Section: Flettons Pit Area
The southern part of the reserve is around what's left of the Flettons pit. This area has been specially designed around old piles of earth from the brickworks. It has areas of bushes (scrub) and grasslands. This part of the reserve is rich in plants and animals. Some of these plants are usually found in chalky downland areas. They are quite rare to see in Milton Keynes.
It's important that everyone helps look after the reserve. This way, all the plants and animals can thrive, and everyone can continue to enjoy this special natural space.
