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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.


Holt Island BadgerFormerly 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.

WILDLIFE TRUST HUNTINGDONSHIRE

Wildlife Trust Huntingdonshire Local Group, talk on “HDC’s Biodiversity for All Project”, Wednesday 8th March 2023, 7.30pm, Brampton Memorial Centre, PE28 WTB. For further details see EVENTS.

BIRD AND WILDLIFE SIGHTINGS 2022

Last month, our bird and wildlife recorders were set a challenge to come up with our 100th bird species for the Island – our Chairman Tim did not disappoint; he spotted a pair of Scaup making a fly-over! There have been sightings of scaup on and off at Fen Drayton and St Ives gravel pits over the past few months.  The photo shows a Scaup which is similar to a Tufted Duck, but without the tuft, a slightly larger head, and the female has a white band across nose. Drake Tufted Ducks have black backs and white flanks; Scaup have a small black tip on their bills. Woodcock still appear to be on the Island. CLICK HERE to see the full list for 2022.
 



SUPPORT HOLT ISLAND WHILE YOU SHOP


Amazon SmileYou can now support the Friends of Holt Island Nature Reserve every time you shop with Amazon -  Using AmazonSmile means that we receive a donation with every eligible purchase, at no cost to you! 

AmazonSmile is available at smile.amazon.com on your web browser and can be activated in the Amazon Shopping app for iOS and Android phones. When you shop with AmazonSmile, you’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added benefit that AmazonSmile will donate 0.5% of your eligible purchases to the Friends of Holt Island Nature Reserve. What’s not to like? Go on, make us smile!

To help raise vitals funds for Holt Island when you shop with Amazon, go to Holt Island Nature Reserve Smile

For more information about AmazonSmile visit Amazon Smile Information.

Amazon Smile

 

HOLT ISLAND BIRD AND WILDLIFE UPDATE

 
Please see here the September Holt Island Bird and Wildlife list. The highlight of this month has to be the addition of a new species to the list - a Little Owl - which brings the total number of bird species recorded on the Island to 95!

Please click HERE to see the Holt Island Bird and Wildlife list updated for September.