Baker's Island facts for kids
Baker's Island is a small island located in Langstone Harbour, which is in Hampshire, England. It stretches about 400 meters long and can be up to 300 meters wide. The island is quite low, rising only a little over 2 meters above sea level. Today, it's a special place for birds, and people are not allowed to land there without permission.
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What is Baker's Island?
Baker's Island is found within Langstone Harbour, a large natural harbor on the south coast of England. Even though it's not very big, the island has a long and interesting history. Its low elevation means it's not much higher than the surrounding water.
A Look at Its History
People have visited Baker's Island for thousands of years. We know this because of the ancient tools and pottery found there. These discoveries tell us about the different groups of people who once used the island.
Ancient Discoveries
Archaeologists have found very old flint tools on Baker's Island. These tools date back to the Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age) and Neolithic (New Stone Age) periods. This means people were using the island even before farming began! Later, pottery from the Bronze Age and Roman-British times was also discovered. These finds show that the island continued to be important through many different eras.
World War II Secrets
During World War II, Baker's Island played a secret role. There are remains of a flint-walled building and five brick shelters on the island. These shelters were part of a "starfish decoy site." A starfish site was a clever trick used to fool enemy bombers. They would light fires and create fake explosions to make it look like a city was being bombed. This would draw the enemy planes away from real towns and important targets.
A Home for Wildlife
In 1978, Baker's Island became a protected area. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) bought the island along with other islands in Langstone Harbour. The RSPB is a charity dedicated to protecting birds and their habitats.
Since the RSPB took over, Baker's Island has become a bird sanctuary. This means it's a safe place where birds can live and breed without being disturbed. To keep the birds safe, people are not allowed to land on the island without special permission. This helps protect the many different bird species that call Baker's Island home.
