|
|
 |
RSPB Reserve
For this,
the third feature in the Natural History of Suffolk series, I visited
Havergate Island. This is one of five sites covered in a new guidebook
to the RSPB's reserves on the Suffolk Coast entitled "Spread
Your Wings".
This
is the 15th successive year that the Woodbridge RSPB Members' Group
has organised a series of boat trips to Havergate Island, to give
people the opportunity to experience the tranquillity of this haven
for birds and other wildlife.
 |
|
Havergate
View (photo: Louise Baker)
|
Havergate
is Suffolk's only island and can only be visited by boat from Orford
Quay by prior arrangement with the RSPB (see below), so the term
"Island Adventure" is very apt. Last year's Island Adventure
trips were a complete sell-out, with 480 people taking part. This
year the trips were run from 21st to 24th August, with local people
being joined by others from as far away as Sussex and Yorkshire.
Setting
off
Having not visited Havergate myself since 1978, I was delighted
to be able to join the first trip on the sunny morning of Sunday
22nd. There was all the usual hustle and bustle on the quayside:
groups of people gathering to set off on sailing boats and motor
boats for the day; children fishing for crabs; and other people
heading off for a stroll along the river wall, so it was with a
keen sense of anticipation that I, and eleven others, stepped down
into the boat for the trip to Havergate.
 |
|
Arriving
at Havergate Island (photo: Louise Baker)
|
The
Island
Havergate Island is about two miles long and half a mile across
at its widest point and is situated in the River Ore, 20 minutes'
boat ride south from Orford Quay. The Island is sheltered from the
North Sea by the long shingle spit of Orfordness, where the disused
"pagodas" of the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment
provide a striking contrast to the vista inland of Orford's Castle
and Church set amidst gentle Suffolk countryside.
 |
|
Stephen
Dean talking to Colin Coates
(photo: Louise Baker)
|
I was
joined on my trip to Havergate by Colin Coates, Leader of the Woodbridge
RSPB Members' Group, who explained that the Group had become heavily
involved as a volunteer labour force following the destruction of
all the Island's bird watching hides in the "Great Storm"
of October 1987. They had then become instrumental in highlighting
Havergate Island as an outstanding place to visit by running the
Island Adventures.
Page
two »
|
23rd
September 2004
