Burry Holms facts for kids
Burry Holms is a special place located at the top end of Rhossili Bay in the Gower Peninsula, Wales. It's known as a tidal island, which means it's an island at high tide but you can walk to it across the sand when the tide is low. Burry Holms stands about 98 feet (30 meters) tall.
During spring and summer, this island becomes a beautiful sight. It gets covered in colorful flowers like thrift and sea campion. It's a great spot for exploring and seeing nature up close.
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Exploring Burry Holms: A Tidal Island
Burry Holms is a unique island because of the tides. When the ocean water is high, it surrounds the island completely. But as the tide goes out, a path of sand appears, connecting Burry Holms to the main beach of Rhossili Bay. This allows people to walk over and explore the island. It's important to check the tide times before you visit so you don't get stuck!
Nature on the Island
Even though it's a small island, Burry Holms is home to some lovely plants. If you visit in the warmer months, you'll see many wildflowers. Two common types are thrift, which has pink flowers, and sea campion, with its white, balloon-like blossoms. These plants are tough and can grow well in the salty air near the sea. The island is also popular with people who enjoy collecting interesting shells that wash up on the shore.
A Journey Through Time: Burry Holms' History
Burry Holms has a very long and interesting history. People have been visiting and living on this small island for thousands of years. It's like a natural time capsule, holding clues about how people lived long ago.
Ancient Hunters and Their Tools
About 9,000 years ago, the sea was much further away from Burry Holms, almost 12 miles (19 km) distant. During this time, the island was a popular spot for nomadic Mesolithic hunters. These were people who moved from place to place, following animals and gathering food.
Archaeologists have found many clues about these early visitors. They discovered tools made from flint, a hard stone that can be shaped into sharp edges. They also found tools made from wood and bone, and even charcoal from hazelnuts, which shows they were cooking and eating there. In 1998, a big dig by the National Museums and Galleries of Wales confirmed that Burry Holms was used as a seasonal camp by these ancient hunters.
From Forts to Monasteries
Later, during the Iron Age, people built a large hillfort on the island. This fort covered about 5 acres (20,000 square meters) and had a protective ditch around it. Hillforts were used for defense and as important community centers.
Even later, in the Medieval times, Burry Holms was home to a monastery. This means that religious people lived there, perhaps in a small community. These different layers of history show how important and useful Burry Holms has been to people throughout time.
