Guards Club Island facts for kids

Guards Club Island (upstream side) showing Guards Club Island Bridge and Guards Club Park to the right

Guards Club Island (downstream side) and Maidenhead Railway Bridge with Maidenhead Bridge beyond

Guards Club Island, also known as Bucks Ait or bucks' eyot, is a small island in the River Thames in England. It is located near the town of Maidenhead, Berkshire. The island is connected to the mainland by a special footbridge.

This island is famous for being right next to the historic Sounding Arch, which is part of the railway bridge. This amazing bridge was built in 1838 by the famous engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel.

What is Guards Club Island?

Guards Club Island is a long, narrow island in the River Thames. It's often called Bucks Ait or bucks' eyot, where "eyot" is an old word for a small river island. A low footbridge made of cast-iron and wood connects the island to Guards Club Park. This bridge is quite low, so it blocks the small channel of water next to the island, meaning only small boats like kayaks can pass through.

How did the Island get its Name?

The island's other name, "Bucks Ait," comes from "eel bucks." These were special traps used long ago to catch eels in the river. In 1865, the footbridge was built or changed to allow people to reach the Guards Club Boathouse, which used to be on the island but is no longer there.

A Special Place for Nature

Guards Club Island is a very important part of Guards Club Park, which is a public open space. This means it's a place where everyone can enjoy nature. However, because the island is a key nesting spot for water fowl (like ducks and geese), access to it is limited. To protect the birds during their nesting season, visitors are not allowed on the island between December and June. This helps the birds raise their young safely.