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

• Islands in the River Thames

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

• Aerial Video of Two Tree Island, 2013
• Essex Wildlife Trust on Two Tree Island
• South East Essex RSPB Group on Two Tree Island
• Birds of Two Tree Island
• Map sources for Two Tree Island

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