Howe Park Wood facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 |
|
| Area of Search | Buckinghamshire |
|---|---|
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 21.4 hectares |
| Notification | 1994 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Howe Park Wood is a special place in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire. It's a beautiful woodland that covers about 21.4 hectares. This is roughly the size of 50 football fields! This wood is so important that it's been named a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This means it's protected because of its unique nature. The Milton Keynes Council owns the wood, and the Milton Keynes Parks Trust helps take care of it.
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A Glimpse into Howe Park Wood's Past
Howe Park Wood is a very old forest. Records show it existed as far back as the 1200s. It might even be older, possibly from the 1000s! Some of the huge, ancient oak trees you see today could be from medieval times. These trees might even suggest the area was once a deer park. A deer park was a special place where deer were kept for hunting.
Exploring the Woodland Environment
The ground in Howe Park Wood is mostly clay. This means it doesn't drain water very well. Because of this, some parts of the wood can get quite wet. They might even be waterlogged during certain seasons. However, other areas are much drier. A stream called Loughton Brook flows along one edge of the park. This adds to the natural beauty and helps support different plants.
Home to Amazing Wildlife
Howe Park Wood is full of life! It has many different kinds of trees and shrubs. This variety creates a perfect home for lots of animals. Scientists have found almost 300 different types of moths living here. That's a huge number! The wood is also home to special butterflies. One of the most exciting is the black hairstreak butterfly. This butterfly is quite rare in the United Kingdom. Finding it here shows how important Howe Park Wood is for nature.
Where to Find Howe Park Wood
You can find Howe Park Wood easily in Milton Keynes. It is located between two main roads. These roads are Chaffron Way and Tattenhoe Street. It's a great place to visit and explore nature.
