Furzton facts for kids
Furzton is a neighborhood located in the southwest part of Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, England. It's part of the larger area called Shenley Brook End. About half of Furzton is covered by a special man-made lake called Furzton Lake. This area is just north of Bletchley and about 2 miles (3.2 km) south of the center of Milton Keynes.
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History of Furzton
The homes in South Furzton were built mostly in the early to mid-1980s. The first houses appeared in the Parkside/Favell Drive area. Then, building moved west along Blackmoor Gate. The local shops were added after 1984. Before that, people had to go to Melrose Avenue in Bletchley for their shopping.
Development of North Furzton
Before North Furzton was built, the land north of the brook was farmland. This meant people in South Furzton could easily walk to open countryside. When plans for North Furzton were announced, many residents were worried. They thought extending Dulverton Drive would bring a lot more traffic. Most of the homes in South Furzton were already finished when the lake construction began. North Furzton's homes and shops were built between 1990 and 2004.
Furzton Lake and Flood Control
The people who designed Milton Keynes had to plan for floods. This was because the area has clay soils and is quite flat. A key part of their plan was to stop floodwater from reaching the River Great Ouse. This prevents flooding in towns further downstream. They did this by building "balancing lakes" and managing flood plains.
How Furzton Lake Works
Loughton Brook is a small stream that flows through Furzton. It usually isn't very wide, but it collects water from a large area. The hard surfaces of nearby buildings and roads add to this water. Furzton Lake, built in the 1980s, is the first major balancing lake on this brook. It covers about 70 acres (28 hectares). The lake and the surrounding area are important for local fun and relaxation. The brook's flood plain forms a long, narrow park about 200 meters wide. This park runs through Furzton from west to east.
Church of the Servant King
The Church of the Servant King, Furzton is a special kind of church called an ecumenical church. This means it brings together different Christian groups. It is part of the Watling Valley Ecumenical Partnership. The church started with a small group meeting in a community house. As more people joined, they moved to bigger places. These included the Meeting Place in South Furzton and then Coldharbour School. The current church building on Dulverton Drive opened in June 1992. It officially opened in September 1992. The building is also shared with the Ridgeway Community Centre.
