Havergate Island

Havergate Island
Salt marsh on Havergate Island, looking north-east from the landing jetty
Map showing the location of Havergate Island
Map showing the location of Havergate Island
Havergate Island shown within Suffolk
LocationSuffolk, East of England, England
Coordinates52°04′19″N 01°31′12″E / 52.07194°N 1.52000°E / 52.07194; 1.52000
Length3.2 km (2.0 mi)
Width0.8 km (0.50 mi)
Area1.08 km2 (0.42 sq mi)
Established1948
OperatorRoyal Society for the Protection of Birds
WebsiteRSPB Reserves - Havergate Island

Havergate Island is the only island in the county of Suffolk, England.[1] It is found at the confluence of the River Ore and the Butley River near the village of Orford. It is a marshy nature reserve run by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and is known for its population of pied avocets and terns. It is part of the ecologically important Alde-Ore Estuary and has protected conservation status as part of a national nature reserve, SSSI, SAC, SPA, Ramsar Site and is also a part of the Suffolk Coast and Heaths AONB.

The island, which is 2 miles (3.2 km) long and 12 mile (0.80 km) across at its widest point and covers 267 acres (1.08 km2), lies in the Alder and Ore estuary and is protected from the North Sea by the shingle spit of Orford Ness. It is bounded by the river channels known locally as "The Gull", "Lower Gull" and "The Narrows".[2]

  1. ^ "Wildlife Walks, Havergate Island, Orford". www.visit-suffolkcoast.co.uk. Archived from the original on 15 December 2010. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
  2. ^ Carr, A.P.; Baker, R.E. (1968). "Orford, Suffolk: Evidence for the Evolution of the Area during the Quaternary". Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers. 45. Blackwell Publishing: 107–123. JSTOR 621396.