Holetown Lagoon,
"The Hole"
This remnant West Coast mangrove was once much larger and protected the nearby reefs from flood waters coming down the Portvale Gully. Still, even though it is now much smaller, it is a welcome patch of nature on a very built-up coast and home to many interesting birds, fishes and crustaceans.
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Description
Over the years the considerable hotel and tourism development in the area has filled in parts of the wetland to the north and south of the current pond, leaving only a small area around the main outlet somewhat natural. This area, though small, is not insignificant as it represents a major coastal feature in Holetown. This area often floods during rain events and the lagoon and some of the other stormwater outlets on this coast represent an important part of our green infrastructure.
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Natural resources
Not only does this space provide ecosystem services for the community, it also provides habitat for fishes, birds, and other biodiversity. The mangroves are the roosting site of a flock of egrets.
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Activities and community
Holetown Lagoon is a historic site where the first settlers landed on this island in Jamestown back in 1627. It is also one of the few remaining natural areas along the bustling West Coast of the island where much tourism development has occurred in the last 100 years or so. The site is a good example of the conflict between the need to preserve spaces for biodiversity and ecosystem services and surrounding tourism and commercial development in a heavily concreted urban landscape.