Englemere Pond


Englemere Pond is a biological Site of Special Scientific Interest on the southern outskirts of North Ascot in Berkshire. The site is also a Local Nature Reserve. It is owned by the Crown Estate and managed by Bracknell Forest Borough Council.

Geography

The nature reserve is situated between Martins Heron railway station and Ascot railway station. It features a shallow acidic lake and marsh land.

Name

Probably compound of Old Saxon egela "leech", or even Old English *egele, similar to German Egel "leech", followed by Old Saxon meri "lake" or Old English mere "lake, pool", hence the overall meaning of "leech pool". Moreover, the early forms of Inglemire are identical to the common Norman place names Iglemare and Inglemare and are explained as follows: a compound of the Old Norse word igill "leech" and mere "body of water".

History

The land for most of its recorded history has been part of a great Royal Hunting Forest that surrounded Windsor Castle.
In 1990 the site was declared as a local nature reserve by Bracknell Forest Borough Council.
In August 2016 an unexploded old military shell was discovered in Englemere Pond and blown up in a controlled explosion by the police.

Fauna

The fauna of the reserve include the following:

Birds

Invertebrates

Reptiles, amphibians and other vertebrates

  • Grass snake
  • Common toad
  • Palmate newt
  • Adders

    Flora

The flora of the reserve include the following:

Trees

  • Oak
  • Scots pine
  • Hornbeam
  • Rowan
  • Silver birch
  • Willow
  • Cherry
  • Alder

    Other

  • Drosera rotundifolia
  • Calluna
  • Erica cinerea
  • Erica tetralix
  • Reed