Welcome to Holt Island Nature Reserve
Holt Island is an oasis of tranquillity in the centre of St Ives town. The Island provides a variety of habitats which attract a wide range of birds, mammals, plants and insects.
Formerly used to grow willow for basket-making, the Island became overgrown when this ended. This changed its appearance and attracted many different types of wildlife. Today the island is home to mammals such as voles, shrews, deer, badgers, bats and foxes. Plants such as yellow flag iris, purple loosestrife and comfrey thrive. Tortoiseshell, red admiral and peacock butterflies can be seen along with dragonflies and damselflies. And a huge variety of birds including kingfishers, warblers, and blackcaps can be seen. For more information about what you could see vist our sightings and reports page. Photo © Nigel Sprowell.
The Island has a raised boardwalk, which makes it accessible to prams and wheelchairs, and there is plenty of seating, some with picnic tables. The Holt cabin, complete with bench seating, a nature table, books and children's activity sheets and displays. For more information to plan your visit CLICK HERE.
Schools and youth groups are very welcome to book visits - please contact us. Activity worksheets and our Education Pack can be downloaded from our publications page.
For information about events CLICK HERE.
We also have our own YouTube channel.
For a downloadable information leaflet CLICK HERE.
News Bulletin - Updated 19th September 2023
HOLT ISLAND CALENDAR 2024
ADOPT-a-BOX 2024
We are running our popular ADOPT-a-BOX scheme again in 2024! ADOPT-a-BOX makes a wonderful present for a loved one or a birthday. We provide a certificate along with a photo of the box and a map of its position. We send an interim and final report giving details of all boxes and their success, and we aim to do a guided walk for adopters. See here for more information.
BIRD AND WILDLIFE UPDATE - AUGUST 2023
Our latest update can be found HERE. August’s figures are on the low side and without bats as our “early morning recorder” has been away. We have now recorded a Serotine bat on the Island, which means we have now recorded half of the UK species of bats.
Other sightings include a Common Sandpiper. Chinese Mitten Crabs have also been spotted - they are classified as an “invasive species” and apparently burrow into the river banks, which can lead to collapses.
LATEST VIDEO - MORE HIDDEN SECRETS OF HOLT ISLAND NATURE RESERVE
At this year’s AGM we enjoyed the preview of our latest video - More hidden secrets of Holt Island Nature Reserve. This can now be watched on Youtube at https://youtu.be/sKLZII0NqG8
