About the reserve

This is our newest nature reserve. Devon Wildlife Trust purchased it in November 2019 with the generous help of local resident and bird watcher, Mr Mark Ansell.

The 80 hectare site was once grazing land protected by an earth bank sea wall. In 2017 (before our ownership) this sea wall was breached allowing sea water in.

Since then, this breach has grown considerably and Horsey Island is now covered by each incoming tide. As a result grassland has been replaced by a dynamic landscape of mudflats, sandbanks and saltmarsh.

Salt tolerant plants such as sea purslane and glasswort (samphire) have taken root, while thousands of wading and other birds rest and feed on the nature reserve.

Recent bird sightings have included ospreys, spoonbills, glossy ibis, cattle egret, great white egret and ruff. Bird counts of 2,000 golden plover and 200+ lapwing have also been recorded.

Horsey Island is now one of the top places in Devon for birdwatching.

Visiting Horsey Island

As our newest nature reserve the visitor facilities at Horsey Island are minimal. We hope to install simple visitor signage soon, but longer term plans for better path access, bird hides, etc remain aspirations at this stage.

The dynamic state of the reserve and especially the vulnerable nature of its boundary sea wall mean there is no direct public access on to the reserve at present. However, excellent viewing points are available from its inland perimeter along the South West Coast Path. 

Keen on cycling? Braunton Countryside Centre has developed a Komoot cycle route for Horsey Island. Click here to check it out!