Ray Island facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ray Island |
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| Type | Nature reserve |
| Location | Mersea Island, Essex, U.K. |
| OS grid | TM 011 154 |
| Area | 40.5 hectares |
| Managed by | Essex Wildlife Trust |
Ray Island, also known as the Ray, is a special nature reserve in Essex, UK. It's about 40.5 hectares big, which is like 100 acres! This island is west of Mersea Island. The National Trust owns it, and the Essex Wildlife Trust helps look after it.
Discover Ray Island
Ray Island is a unique place. It's a sandy hill that rises out of a large area of saltmarsh. Saltmarshes are coastal wetlands that are flooded by the sea. The island also has areas of rough grassland and a shingle foreshore, which is a beach made of small stones.
Amazing Wildlife
This nature reserve is home to many interesting plants and animals. In the saltmarsh, you can find special plants that love salty water. These include lax flowered sea-lavender, sea rush, and golden samphire.
Many birds also come here to breed. You might spot oystercatchers, which are black and white birds with long orange beaks. Shelducks, a type of large duck, also make their homes here. It's a great spot for birdwatching!
Ray Island in a Story
Ray Island was the setting for a book called Mehalah. The book was written by Sabine Baring-Gould. He was a rector (a type of priest) in nearby East Mersea.
Baring-Gould described the island as a wild but beautiful place. He wrote about how the saltmarsh changes colors through the seasons. In summer, it turns pink and white from the thrift plant. Later, it becomes purple when the sea lavender blooms. Even the glasswort plant, which is green in spring, turns a beautiful red color.
How to Visit Ray Island
Getting to Ray Island is a bit tricky! You can only reach it by boat. Also, access is limited to members of the Essex Wildlife Trust.
There used to be an old path from a place called The Strood. This path wound through the saltmarsh for about one kilometer (half a mile) to reach the island. However, parts of this path might have been washed away by the sea over time.
It's important to know that camping is not allowed on Ray Island. This rule helps protect the island's delicate nature and wildlife.
