Two Tree Island

The scrape on Two Tree Island, seen from the hide

Two Tree Island, 257 hectares (640 acres),[1] lies north-east of Canvey Island and south-west of Leigh-on-Sea in Essex, England. It is connected to the mainland at Leigh by a bridge.

The island was reclaimed from the Thames Estuary in the 18th century and used as pasture until 1910 when a sewage works was built on it. From 1936, the entire island was used as a landfill site; this was later reduced to a single small site on the island in 1974. It is now a nature reserve, run by Essex Wildlife Trust, and the eastern half is part of the Leigh National Nature Reserve.[2] At the western end are two bird hides; one overlooks a purpose-built scrape or lagoon where waders feed. During the breeding season both waders (including Avocets) and gulls nest here. A nest watch has been organised for some years following a serious case of Avocet egg stealing. On the south side of the island, at the end of the island road, is a sloping concrete jetty, a boat storage area and two car parking areas.

See also

References

  1. "Two Tree Island Nature Reserve". Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  2. "Essex's National Nature Reserves". Natural England. Retrieved 19 November 2015.

External links


Next island upstream River Thames Next island downstream
Canvey Island Two Tree Island Isle of Sheppey

Coordinates: 51°32′10″N 0°37′43″E / 51.53623°N 0.62858°E / 51.53623; 0.62858

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