Green Island (Dorset) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Green Island |
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 Green Island from the South Deep channel to the south west |
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 Green Island
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| OS grid reference | SZ006866 |
| Civil parish |
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| District |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Police | Dorset |
| Fire | Dorset |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| EU Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament |
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Green Island is a beautiful island located in Poole Harbour in Dorset, England. It's found in the middle-south part of the harbour, near Brownsea Island and Furzey Island. This special island is recognized as an AONB, a SSSI, and a SPA. This means it's a very important place for nature and wildlife.
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Exploring Green Island's Nature
Green Island is about 45 acres (18 hectares) when the tide is low. The higher, central part of the island is around 19 acres (7.7 hectares). The island is covered with many trees, mostly Scots pine. You can also find smaller areas of heathland and a large salt marsh. There are also small clearings and a beach area. Most of the island is made of sandstone.
Buildings and Special Wildlife
The island has two buildings. One is a summer house with two bedrooms. The other is a small cabin called the Greensleaves. Green Island also has a place for helicopters to land and a private wooden dock.
One of the most exciting things about Green Island is its wildlife. It's one of the few places in England where you can still find red squirrels. These cute creatures are quite rare now.
Green Island's Location
Green Island is part of the civil parish of Corfe Castle. This parish is part of the Purbeck local government area.
A Look at Green Island's Past
Green Island is currently owned by a private individual. For many years, from 1987 to 2005, it was owned by the Davies family. The island was once used by the Green Island Holiday Trust. This trust offered special holidays for people with disabilities and those who were disadvantaged. The island was also a place for events like weddings. The Green Island Holiday Trust now runs its activities at Holton Lee.
Green Island on TV
The island was even featured on the TV show Time Team. In 2003, the Time Team visited Green Island. They wanted to explore its long history. During their dig, they found an old furnace and pieces of pottery. These discoveries suggest that Green Island was once much larger. It might have been an important trading spot in southern England a long time ago. This episode first aired on February 8, 2004.
Today, Bournemouth University is working on a project about the history of Poole Harbour. They are doing this with the Poole Maritime Trust. Green Island is part of this exciting research.
A Small Incident
On April 20, 2012, a wooden building that was being built on the island caught fire. About 40 firefighters came to the island. They worked hard to put out the blaze.
