Isleworth Ait facts for kids
Isleworth Ait is a cool, tear-shaped island in the River Thames in England. It's located near a place called Isleworth. This island is one of the longest river islands, stretching out over 10 acres! You can spot it from the shore, right across from a famous pub called the "London Apprentice."
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Amazing Wildlife on the Island
Isleworth Ait is packed with trees, making it a safe home for lots of different animals. Even though it floods often, more than 57 types of birds live here! You might see a tiny tree-creeper, a bright kingfisher, or a tall heron. The island is also home to some rare beetles and two special kinds of snails: the Two-lipped door snail and the German hairy snail. Because of all this amazing wildlife, Isleworth Ait is one of the most important nature spots looked after by the London Wildlife Trust.
A Look Back in Time
Long ago, Isleworth Ait was a busy place for growing a type of willow tree called Osier. People would harvest these willows from the island to weave baskets. These baskets were used to carry fruits and vegetables grown in Middlesex to the markets in London.
Did you know there used to be five other islands nearby? Over many years, these islands have disappeared, some even getting washed away by passing boats. The River Crane also flows into the Thames just south of Isleworth Ait.
Who Looks After the Island?
The island is owned by Thames Water, a company that manages water. They have a pipe on the island that returns treated water from a nearby water treatment plant back into the River Thames. Back in the 1930s, a group called the Metropolitan Water Board bought the island from the Duke of Northumberland.
Today, Hounslow Council has officially named Isleworth Ait a "Local Nature Reserve." This means it's a special place protected for nature. A team of amazing volunteers from the Hounslow branch of the London Wildlife Trust helps look after the island and keep it a safe home for all its wildlife.
Images for kids
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Isleworth Ait and a Thames barge
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The southern tip of the ait
