Have you ever noticed the long ridges in both this park and South Park next door? In this picture the drier ridges are picked out by the growing daisies!
The ridges and furrows were created in the Late Medieval period. The plough at this time did not have a movable mould board so “threw” the ploughed soil in only one direction. Teams of oxen pulled the plough and the team was turned at the end of each long narrow field, the “furlong” or “furrow long”. The ploughed soil collected in ridges, the furrows allowed drainage of water downslope. Wow .. history underfoot .. enjoy
Drawing of medieval ploughing of strips by Sheila Sancha, courtesy of MK Parks Trust