Section 7 Gardenway - Nature and Heritage Walk Section 6, South West: Along Stoke Brook between the railway and A418 Oxford Road 3.1 km / 40 minute walk

Section 1 Section 2

Section 8

Section 3 Road Stoke Brook Section 7 Oxford A418 Section 4

6 A413 Section 6 Road Section 5 Crocus A413 Sedrup Brook

Buckingham Ellen

Road Leas

Road Quarrendon Leas BUCKINGHAM PARK Road Park BUCKINGHAM PARK Healthy Living and Play Area AGT 2 Centre Development Site

BERRYFIELDS 1 Pastoral land HS2 Railway River Thame A41 Bicester River Thame Aylesbury A41 Football Club Bicester Aylesbury Road Football Club Road Meadowcroft 5 River Thame KEY Open Space Meadowcroft Walking RouteRiver Thame Open Space Road Alternative Walking Route Jackson Tiverton Cresent Road Public Right of Way Jackson Tiverton Cresent 4 Meadowcroft Hazard, take care Road

Road Meadowcroft Heritage feature Jackson Anton Stoke Brook river edge Long distance view Overhead Power 2 Black Poplar along 3 Stoke Brook crossing 4 / riparian zone Way Stoke Brook Jackson Notable water feature Belgrave Road Signature trees Belgrave Road Flora Aylesbury to Princes Risborough Biodiverse habitat Line Invertebrates 3 Mammals Wetland birds Railway Arable / grassland birds Raptors Water Tree Cover Amenity Space AGT 2 Play Space Stoke Brook Development Site Sports Facilities Agricultural Land / Grassland Section 5 1 Scheduled Ancient Monument 5 Neighbourhood green 0 100 200 6 Arable fields 500along M space 2 Stoke Brook 0 100100 200 500500M M 500 M Aylesbury Gardenway - Nature and Heritage Walk Section 6, South West: Along Stoke Brook between the railway and A418 Oxford Road 3.1 km / 40 minute walk (read with map)

General Description Habitat and Wildlife features Heritage features

This section of the route closely follows the Round Aylesbury This walk includes a mix of all 3 main habitats. See the accompanying There are pre 18th century fields along the Bishopstone Ridge to the Footpath and provides a contrasting experience between open fields flora and fauna sheets for more information. south west (not shown on the map), with a mix of field types closer and amenity green spaces accessed via a small bridge across Stoke Freshwater habitat is provided by Stoke Brook which flows south to to the route. Away from Aylesbury’s urban edge, the area is sparsely Brook near the adjacent communities of Southcourt and Walton north to meet the River Thame. The watercourse has a strong tree line populated, though archaeological evidence has shown this landscape Court. Pick up a cuppa and a snack at the neighbourhood Healthy provided by Black poplar and other trees that thrive in wetter soils. was once more densely populated. Living Centre, a short walk away from the route where there are also Look out for areas of substantial suckering Aspen that self propagate play facilities nearby. Timber post and rail fencing mark the way to the via travelling roots - and an area of wet woodland scrub to the north. The deserted medieval village of Moreton (not shown on the map) south while pylons and overhead power lines have a strong presence is a Scheduled Ancient Monument (SAM) which has survived as an throughout this section of the route. The River Thame Conservation Trust run regular work days with local earthwork and can be accessed via Midshires Way. volunteers to remove Himalayan balsam, a non-native invasive plant Care must be taken if crossing the Aylesbury to Princes Risborough from Stoke Brook and other streams around Aylesbury. It could be an Did you know that archaeological evidence of prehistoric animals Rail Line. The round Aylesbury Walk and Stoke Brook diverge at the opportunity to get involved, help out and benefit from some 'Green such as Woolly Mammoth have been found, and that there is a A418 Oxford Road. Gym' exercise - subject to following local Covid-19 guidance. mammoth tusk and humerus bone (upper arm bone) on display For more information see https://riverthame.org/get-involved/ at the Bucks County Museum in Aylesbury? The galleries are The route of HS2 and AGT 2 South West Aylesbury are planned to the currently closed for refurbishment but follow the link for a step-by west of the route. The proximity of arable and pastoral habitat to Stoke Brook means step guide to making your own woolly mammoth. https://www. that a minimum 10m margin 'buffer strip' is required by the buckscountymuseum.org/museum/make-your-own-collage-woolly- A number of long distance walking routes are easily accessible from Environment Agency to help protect the brook from any nitrates mammoth-model/ here including Midshires Way and North Way. and other pollutants from agricultural run-off. The urban habitat of Several PROW connect across fields to the wider walking network and amenity green space and private gardens also contribute to species villages including Bishopstone, Sedrup and beyond. diversity but would benefit from new initiatives - any ideas?