Wilderness Island facts for kids

The River Wandle with Wilderness Island on the right

Wilderness Island is a special island in Carshalton, London. It's about 2.7 hectares big, which is like four football fields! This island sits between two rivers: the River Wandle and the Wrythe. It's a very important place for nature.

Wilderness Island is officially a Local Nature Reserve. This means it's protected because of its wildlife and natural beauty. It's also known as a Site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation. This shows how important it is for nature in the whole London area. Sutton Council owns the island. The London Wildlife Trust helps to manage and care for it.

What You Can See There

Wilderness Island has many different natural areas. You can find woodlands, open meadows, and river habitats. There's even an old fish pond still there from when it was a public garden.

Many interesting plants and animals live on the island. You might see special trees like the black poplar. Birds like woodpeckers, kingfishers, and grebes make their homes here. If you're lucky, you could spot butterflies such as the speckled wood and holly blue. There's even a rare hornet clearwing moth! The ponds are also very important. They are home to many different wetland plants.

Visitors can only reach the island by walking. You can get there from River Gardens. Remember to follow all the rules to protect the wildlife. For example, it's important not to disturb birds, especially when they are nesting.

Island History

This map from 1773 shows the area around London. The symbol here means there was a water mill. This spot was once called Copper Mills.

Wilderness Island has a long history. From the 1600s, it was a place where copper mills operated. These mills used the river's power to process copper. Later, the island became a pleasure garden. People would visit it for fun and relaxation.