Englemere Pond Nature Reserve
Englemere Pond nature reserve is a 68-acre site of special scientific interest (SSSI) found on the outskirt of Ascot in Royal Berkshire. The nature reserve used to be part of the royal hunting forest that extended around Windsor Castle, and now consists of a lake, surrounded by wooded heathland, and wetland areas.
The land is still owned by The Crown Estate and was part of Swinley Forest, mentioned in 942 when the Saxon King Edmund gifted it to the Abbey of Abingdon. After the Windsor Forest Enclosure Act of 1813, the deer were removed and Swinley Forest was divided up. What is now Englemere pond was considered wasteland and was “allotted for the benefit of the local poor”. It now offers habitats for a wide range of plants and wildlife.
I visited on a warm mid-September morning. I had to take a patient to the hospital in Ascot for a two-hour procedure and - due to Covid-19 restrictions - was not allowed into the hospital myself.
Map of Englemere Pond Nature Reserve (Photo taken from site information board) © essentially-england.comLooking for a way to pass the time and not knowing the area too well, I searched Google Maps and found Englemere Pond. It was about a mile away from the hospital and offered signposted nature trails.
It sounded just the thing!
Let's Explore Englemere Pond
The small car park has an information board showing two nature trails around the reserve, one approximately 40 minutes and the other 20 minutes. After a quick drink and something to eat at the picnic tables, I set off with my camera in a clockwise direction around the longest trail.
I started through a wooded area with plenty of ferns growing under the trees. Most of the trail is on rough ground, but parts are on boardwalks or gravelled paths. I should imagine after wet weather it could get quite muddy.
It's a lovely walk, though. Strange mushrooms grew on trees. Tall bamboos rustled in the breeze as I passed and - eventually - stands of reeds and rushes led me to the lakeside, where herons hunted for food. There is a nice viewing platform which overlooks the lake where you can while away some time looking out for nature. The platform is part of both trails.
 Woodland Boardwalk around Englemere Pond Nature Reserve © essentially-england.com  Tree Lined Path at Englemere Pond Nature Reserve © essentially-england.com |
 In Woodland around Englemere Pond Nature Reserve © essentially-england.com  Rustling Bamboo at Englemere Pond Nature Reserve © essentially-england.com |
 Lakeside Rushes © essentially-england.com |
 Lakeside Viewing Platform © essentially-england.com |
Continuing in a clockwise direction the ground becomes sandier, the trees become pines and ground cover was heather just starting to flower purple.
 Heathland at Englemere Pond Nature Reserve © essentially-england.com |
 Heron Spotted at Englemere Pond Nature Reserve © essentially-england.com |
Nature Trail Waymarker Post © essentially-england.com
It took me around 30 minutes to cover the longer trail, and this included me stopping and taking photos.
Once back at the car park, I turned around and walked the trail in the opposite direction to see the views another way. After three of the longer and one shorter trail routes, it was time to go back to the hospital. But what a pleasant way to spend two hours in the historic grounds of a royal hunting forest. Just imagine, kings and queens may have walked these same paths in the past!
If you have more time and feel even more energetic, there is
a 26-mile circular route called the Bracknell Forest Ramblers Route that also goes through
Englemere Pond.
I hope you enjoyed my wander around Englemere Pond Nature Reserve.
Click here to find more interesting things to do in England.
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