Black Park       

Black Park, is a country park run by Bucks CC. It is situated north of the A412 Slough to Watford road at Iver Heath (TQ010835) OS Map 176. A car park is situated at the lake (TQ005832), which sadly now has a parking fee in force. The park contains a large area of conifer plantations with some larch. The south area of the park (running parallel to the A412) is mostly deciduous trees, sweet chestnuts and other odd species. The main area of Oaks borders the footpath the runs north along the eastern boundary of the park (TQ015835), from the A412 towards Pinewood Studios. It is along here that you are likely to see Purple Hairstreaks in reasonable numbers. Another area of Oaks can be found south of the lake (TQ008830). This area also has the odd White Admiral, with one seen as recently as August 2001. In the centre of the north section of the park is an area of restored heathland, again bordered on it's northern section by Oaks (TQ013843), which again attract Purple Hairstreaks. The restored heathland has not attracted any unusual butterfly species. The park otherwise holds a selection of the more common butterflies - Comma, Speckled Wood, Ringlet, Brimstone, Meadow Brown, Holly Blue etc.
In the vacinity there is a colony of Marbled Whites which can found on Iver Heath fields (TQ026842), along with Purple Hairstreaks in the Oaks, and other common butterflies, but the Elms failed to produce any White-letter Hairstreaks. Another colony of Marbled Whites can be found at Fulmer (SU990862)alongside the footpath running from the village, just past Low Farm.
 -  Chris Lamsdell

Photos: Jim Smith