Quarrendon Leas

Quarrendon Leas is an area of open countryside north of the River Thame on the outskirts of Aylesbury.  It lies between two major development areas allocated for over 3000 new homes and other facilities.  The site contains a large ancient monument comprising earthworks of a medieval settlement, a ruined church, and the site of Sir Henry Lee's Tudor mansion, water gardens and rabbit warrens.  These can be seen from a footpath which crosses the site from the A41 to the A413.  There are also attractive water meadows and hedgerows with rare black poplar pollards and a wealth of other wildlife. 

The site is privately owned but there are plans to transfer ownership to the Buckinghamshire Conservation Trust.  The Trust is working with local councils, the Berryfields Development Consortium, English Heritage and other partners to conserve the site, improve access and interpretation and create a much-needed new public green space.  A surfaced path has been built to link Quarrendon Leas to the Berryfields development area.  A range of environmental surveys have been completed and the ruined church has been recorded by volunteers from the Buckinghamshire Archaeological Society. Classes from Aylesbury Vale Academy secondary school have toured the site.   The next priority is to conserve the crumbling ruin of St. Peters Church.