Culture & Public Art
Willen Lake is home to public landmarks such as the Peace Pagoda and also several pieces of public art.
Created by Minoru Okha and Tom Hancock (1980)
The first of its kind in the Western hemisphere, the Milton Keynes Peace Pagoda was built by the monks and nuns of the Nipponzan Myohoji, a spiritual movement. The Peace Pagoda enshrines sacred relics of Lord Buddha presented from Nepal, Sri Lanka and Berlin. The Pagoda frieze is of traditional design and tells the story of Buddha from his birth 2,500 years ago at the foot of the Himalayas to his death at Kusinagara after 50 years of teaching. The Peace Pagoda sits next to the Buddhist Temple which regularly hosts services and spiritual events throughout the year.
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Created by Ronald Rae (1985)
This piece can be found in the grounds of the Buddhist Temple at Willen Lake North. Donated in 2007 to the Temple, the piece is carved from granite in memory of those who died at Hiroshima. This sculpture warns of the tragedy of nuclear war. Every year on the 6th August, Hiroshima Day, the Nipponzan Myohoji Buddhist monks and nuns organise a floating lantern memorial service at the lakeside.
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Created by Neil Higson (1988)
Another piece of landscape architecture, Willen Labyrinth is a turf maze based on an enlarged version of the Saffron Walden Rosicrucian Maze. At its centre is an oak tree and in each of the four lobes is a bronze roundel designed by sculptor Tim Minett. The labyrinth provides a space for quiet contemplation, encouraging individuals to wander along a weaving path to the central space to appreciate the natural world (symbolised by the oak tree).
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Created by Roy Littlesun (2000)
Consisting of two concentric circles of stone, with longer stones at the north, south, east and west points the design was inspired by the legends of the Hopi Nation in North America. Their prophesies foretell an age of peace when all nations from the four corners of the earth join a common effort to live in peace and harmony. The Wheel’s design pays homage to British traditions of building circles alongside meeting places and important sites. Two extra pairs of stone situated north east and south west of the circle align with the needle stone alongside the lake.
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Created by Frederic Chevarin (2012)
A white marble sculpture donated to The Parks Trust by Tony Sellers to commemorate his wife Debbie Sellers who had been responsible for starting MK digital initiatives like MK Web. Tragically Tony passed away not long after his wife in February 2012 and the piece was then donated by their sons and dedicated to both Tony and Debbie.
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Find visitor information including what facilities are available at the lake and how to get here.
