Information Board at Boug's Meadow, Great Missenden

Image: © David Hillas Taken: 21 Jun 2019

This information board, erected by Prestwood Nature, is located in Boug's Meadow adjacent to the Link Road car park. It has the following wording: Boug's Meadow A quiet place to reflect and enjoy nature Far left hand column SPRING Cowslip, Brimstone butterfly, Yellowhammer, Wood violets SUMMER Meadow Cranesbill, Marbled White butterfly, Common blue butterfly, Long-tailed Tit AUTUMN Hedgerow fruits, Comma butterfly, Blackcap, Fox WINTER Winterbourne river flow, Snowdrops, Teasel heads, Goldfinch Left side Welcome Centuries ago, the meadow before you was part of the River Misbourne flood plain and covered with marsh plants. In 1086, Missedene "the valley where water plants grow" was recorded in the Domesday Book. As years passed, the fertile alluvial soils between Mobwell and Missenden Abbey were ideal pasture land, including for the Boug's family cows in the 19th century. In the early 21st century, the meadow had become neglected and a wasteland with poor biodiversity. In 2005, the landowner, Chiltern District Council invited Prestwood Nature to manage the meadow for the benefit of the environment and the public. Today it is an amenity for all. Wander through the Copse... Look out for norway maple, wild service tree, elm among other trees and shrubs providing nesting sites for birds, fruit for many creatures, and shelter for plants like primroses, bluebells, foxgloves and red campion. Log piles provide homes for insects and small mammals. An occasional harmless grass snake visits the compost areas and hedgehogs explore the leaf litter. At the eastern edge are the remains of a medieval "waggon road" to Missenden Abbey. Images to the right are of Wood violets, Long-tailed tit, Fox, Yellowhammer, Blackcap and Red Campion. Please help us... to protect this natural community space by respecting the marked paths and keeping dogs on leads at all times. Horses and cycles are not permitted. Please take litter and dog mess away with you. Thank you for protecting this environment. Right side Enjoy the Wildflower Meadow Many wild flowers and grasses, once common in unimproved flower-rich lowland river meadows can be seen in summer. Flowers, such as knapweed, scabious and bird's foot trefoil attract butterflies and moths and other pollinators. At the far end, teasels, thistles and hedgerow shrubs entice bumblebees in summer and provide seed and fruit for birds and animals in autumn. Images to the right are of Long-headed Poppy, Meadow in flower, Brimstone, Black and Yellow Longhorn Beetle, Meadow Cranesbill and Marbled White on Ox-eye Daisy. The River Misbourne Chalk streams, of which the River Misbourne is one, are globally rare and a particular feature of the Chilterns. Such streams rely on the level of groundwater held in the underlying chalk aquifer. This part of the river only tens to flow after winter rains fill the aquifer, hence the name "winterbourne". In the past, the monks of Missenden Abbey and later farmers managed the river to provide water for fish ponds and agricultural use. In Boug's Meadow we are preserving the stream bed for the future. While the marshes noted in the Domesday Book are unlikely to return any time soon, we hope the stream will flow more often and remain an important corridor for wildlife such as common frogs and great crested newts. Images to the right are of The winterbourne stream, Snowdrops, Great Crested Newt, Frog and Alder Catkins. Images round the edge of the information board in a clockwise direction are of Hazel, Common Hawthorn, Emperor Dragonfly, Wild Service Tree, Common Knapweed, Common Blue, Cowslip, Grass Snake, Goldfinch on Teasel and Comma. This site is managed by Prestwood Nature volunteers on behalf of the community.

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