Rivermead Island facts for kids
Rivermead Island is a lovely, flat, grassy island located in the River Thames. You can find it near Sunbury-on-Thames in Surrey, England. Most of the island is owned by the Spelthorne Council. A small part belongs to the Elmbridge Borough Council.
Contents
Exploring Rivermead Island
Rivermead Island is like a big, open meadow with some trees. You'll also see thick bushes and reeds at both ends. This meadow is open to everyone and is part of the Metropolitan Green Belt. This means it's a protected area of countryside.
The island is a long stretch of riverside land. It sits opposite the Thames Path, which is a walking trail. From the island, you can even see Sunbury Lock Island.
Getting to the Island
You can reach Rivermead Island by crossing a beautiful arched footbridge. It has simple metal railings and painted handrails. When the weather is dry, cars can also get to the island. They use a ford, which is a shallow part of the water, to cross the narrow channel that separates the island from the mainland.
How the Island Formed
Did you know Rivermead Island used to be two separate islands? The smaller part, downstream, was called Swan's Rest. In the late 1900s, these two islands joined together. The part that was Swan's Rest still belongs to Elmbridge. This is because the fishing rights for that area were given to the parish south of the river a very long time ago.
Why Does the Island Flood?
Rivermead Island is about 9 meters (around 30 feet) above sea level. Many roads in Sunbury are higher, usually over 10 meters (about 33 feet). Because it's lower, the island often floods when the River Thames has a lot of water. This happens when there's heavy rain.
In February 2014, the island was completely underwater for a short time. It acted as a main "flood meadow". A flood meadow is a special area that helps manage lots of rainfall. It soaks up the extra water from the river. This helps protect homes and other areas from flooding.
Another important flood meadow is Hurst Park. It's about 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) downstream. Most other islands where people live are built higher up. This helps them avoid or reduce flooding from the river.
What's Nearby?
Close to the island, on the Sunbury bank, you'll find some helpful things. There are public toilets built in the 1960s. There's also a car park managed by the local council. These are located behind a low wall, near the top end of the island. You can also find pubs and restaurants in the nearby village.
Fun Events on the Island
Every year, usually in late August, the Sunbury Amateur Regatta takes place on Rivermead Island. This is a big boat race, especially for a type of boat called a Thames Skiff. It's a fun event that brings a fairground and important local people to the island.
