‘Holmer’ was first recorded as ‘Holeme’ in 1208 and is probably Anglo Saxon in origin. Commonly thought to derive from ‘mere hollow’ which would refer to Holmer Pond, however the first official mention of the pond was in the 1578 Boundary Survey. Holmer Green is a mile from the river Misbourne and therefore this, and other local ponds, were a very important source of water for both farm animals and domestic use. Ducks were banned as they polluted the water.

Between 1960 and 1980 Holmer Pond underwent several renovations which changed the topography and the flora and fauna; reeds were removed, trees planted and wild fowl introduced. There are now many indigenous trees from Oak and Larch, adjacent to Pond Approach, to Hornbeam, Willow and Yew on the other side. In addition there are Horse Chestnut, Lawson’s Cypress, Norway Spruce, Ash, Beech and Sycamore trees. Ground cover is mainly Ivy and Brambles, but there are also Yellow Archangel and Bluebells. 

In 2018 new water plants were introduced on the Floating Island -

Carex Acutiformis Lesser pond sedge

Glyceri Maxima Reed sweetgrass

Iris Pseudacorus Yellow flag iris

Juncus Inflexus Hard rush

Lythrum Salicaria Purple loosstrife 

Mentha Aquatica Water mint

Phalaris Arundinacea Reed canary grass

Caltha Palustris Marsh marigold

These are all native species.

Many thanks to Airedale for sponsorship for the planting program.

Moorhen, Mallard and a crossbreed of Mallard and Indian Runner Duck are frequently seen on the pond.

Here is Stuart King' ode to Holmer Pond;

Holmer pond is full of mystery, and old bikes and bottles

Legend says a horse and cart, and small fish are in there too,

The horse and cart story is a myth, but the fishy one is true,

A meeting place in years gone by, of mothers with their prams,

And youngsters out of school would meet here, there were no traffic jams,

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After dark young lovers, hand in hand, would watch the moons reflection dance upon the water,

And speculate that after marriage, would they be blessed with a son or an expensive daughter

I remember as a boy, as many village folks long gone,

Of meeting here on summer Sundays, after chapel and loud sung evensong,

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What is a village pond without a duck or two, and shy moorhens?

 and families with bags of corn to feed the birds, as we English tend to do.

We should be proud of Holmer Pond, and what our village society have done,

They have litter picked and waded; those rusty bikes have gone.

We now have an information board, with pictures and some history

To provide some clarity, to dispel the gossip and allay the mystery

So, treat our village pond with pride, not every village has one.

The pictures below are from 1905, 1920, 1966 and recently. the map is from 1742.