Englemere Pond, between Bracknell and Ascot, is a site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Local Nature Reserve. The land was once part of the royal hunting forest which surrounded Windsor Castle, and it is still owned by The Crown Estate.
The site’s main feature is the shallow acidic lake which offers a wide range of habitats from open water to marsh, all of which is surrounded by commercial forest and heathland areas. Each of these areas provides its own variety of plant species and a home for many birds, insects and animals. The heathlands of East Berkshire are now recognised by English nature to be of European Importance for habitat conservation, and are included in the proposed Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area (SPA).
The warm days of summer bring out the brightly coloured dragonflies, which dart to and fro over the cotton grass and marshy areas. Fine summer evenings, too, are a good time to watch feeding Sand-martins and Swallows swooping low over the water in order to catch flies, and at dusk hunting bats emerge from their roosts to feed. The extensive reed bed around the pond is where, in warmer conditions, you may catch sight of a grass snake. The reed bed and shallow lake are important for many specialised birds and insects, and also for the Round-leaved Sundew, a plant species of boggy areas which listed on the Borough Council’s Biodiversity Action Plan.
The predominantly Scots Pine woodland is managed as a timber crop by The Crown Estate. Oak, Mountain Ash, Willow and Silver Birch are also to be found here. The Alder trees are a favourite haunt of wintering migrant birds, such as Siskins and Redpolls which feed on the seeds.
In June 2005 the Scots Pine plantation was thinned out as part of the timber harvesting rotation. This was done to encourage ground flora regeneration and provide opportunities for heathland restoration. Patches of heather, including Ling, Bell heather and Cross-Leaved Heath, can now be found in many of the forest clearings. Practical work to restore the heathland is carried out with the Bracknell Urban Wildlife Group.
- A waymarked nature trail, approximately 1 mile/ 1.6km long, enables you to explore the site and make your visit more informative and enjoyable.
- Part of the Rambler’s Route, a 26 mile/41.8km walking trail through Bracknell’s countryside, cuts through the nature reserve at Englemere Pond.
- To order a copy of this leaflet showing details of the nature trail go to our Order Form.
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