Isleworth Ait, River island in Thames, London, United Kingdom.
Isleworth Ait is a teardrop-shaped river island on the Thames between Old Isleworth and Kew, covering about nine acres of dense woodland. The shoreline features natural tidal habitats that shift constantly with water levels.
The site was part of the Syon Park estate for centuries before the Metropolitan Water Board bought it from the Duke of Northumberland in the 1930s as a former osier-growing area. This acquisition led to its transformation into a protected nature reserve.
The Wildlife Trust now manages this protected reserve, and visitors can notice the specialized wildlife that thrives in riverside habitats. Rare snail species like the two-lipped door snail live here in conditions that are difficult to find elsewhere along the Thames.
The best views are from Church Street in Isleworth or the Thames Path near the London Apprentice and Town Wharf pubs. Visit at low tide to see the marginal zones more clearly.
More than 57 bird species make this island their habitat, with some visiting rarely and others staying year-round. The regular tidal flooding creates conditions that few other riverside spots in the area can match.
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