Did you know there is a seal colony off Thorney Island with at least one family with a number of seal pups and two males standing guard.
The River Ems was named after the town and not the other way around? The original name of Emsworth was Emils Worthy which was Old English for Emil’s Farm. Who was Emil?
The Hermitage Ponds or Peter’s Pond and Slipper Mill Pond as they are better known are classified as Saline Lagoons and are both sites of special scientific interest (SSI). Saline Lagoons are a mix of both sea water and freshwater.
Slipper Mill Pond and Peter Pond are both privately owned. In 1980 33 public spirited Emsworthians clubbed together to buy the Slipper Pond to ensure it never falls into the hands of developers. It is now leased to the Slipper Mill Pond Preservation Association.
Puffy reef like substances can be seen in the Hermitage Ponds and are often mistaken for being coral. They are in fact Tube Worm casts and produced by the Bristle Worm. They not only provide habitats for other living organisms but they are beneficial for the eco systems of both ponds.
There is an Emsworth in Pennsylvania, USA with a population of around 2500. Positioned by the Ohio River early inhabitants were said to be attracted to the area by its beauty. Sounds familiar? They say their town was named after a Duke but we can’t find any reference to a Duke of Emsworth. Can we help them?
Hollybank Woods is part of the wild woods of ancient Britain and date back to 7000 – 4000 BC which makes it a pretty important part of our history. Even now some of the yew trees standing in the woods are over 1000 years old.
Hollybank Woods is the largest unspoilt natural area within Emsworth covering over 160 acres of mainly deciduous broadleaved woodland.
Hollybank Woods is designated a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC) in recognition of its ecological value.
Brook Meadow is 5 acres of wet meadow surroounded by woodland and 2 streams and is also a local Nature Reserve AND a designated site of scientific importance for nature conservation. It is also home to the most endangered mammal in Britain today….our much loved water vole.
