Havergate Island
| Havergate Island | |
|---|---|
Salt marsh on Havergate Island, looking north-east from the landing jetty | |
Havergate Island shown within Suffolk | |
| Location | Suffolk, East of England, England |
| Coordinates | 52°04′19″N 01°31′12″E / 52.07194°N 1.52000°E |
| Length | 3.2 km (2.0 mi) |
| Width | 0.8 km (0.50 mi) |
| Area | 1.08 km2 (0.42 sq mi) |
| Established | 1948 |
| Operator | Royal Society for the Protection of Birds |
| Website | RSPB Reserves - Havergate Island |
Havergate Island is the only island entirely located within the county of Suffolk, England. It is found at the confluence of the River Ore and the Butley River near the village of Orford. It is a marshy nature reserve run by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and is known for its population of pied avocets and terns. It is part of the ecologically important Alde-Ore Estuary and has protected conservation status as part of a national nature reserve, SSSI, SAC, SPA, Ramsar Site and is also a part of the Suffolk Coast and Heaths AONB.
The island, which is 2 miles (3.2 km) long and 1⁄2 mile (0.80 km) across at its widest point and covers 267 acres (1.08 km2), lies in the Alder and Ore estuary and is protected from the North Sea by the shingle spit of Orford Ness. It is bounded by the river channels known locally as "The Gull", "Lower Gull" and "The Narrows".