Trowlock Island

Trowlock Island lies in the River Thames, just upstream of Teddington Lock and close to the Middlesex bank.

Trowlock Island is home to 29 bungalows as well as the Royal Canoe Club's clubhouse and gym. Trowlock Island is approximately one-third of a mile long with a path running down the middle and houses on either side, beyond the last house is wooded area with moorings on both the main river and the backwater. Access to the island is by way of a hand wound chain ferry [ [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/01/25/nisland25.xml Rent controversy] ] . All vehicles except bicycles must be left on the mainland. It is part of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames.

Trowlock Island Limited manages the shared infrastructure of the island and its board of directors is elected by the shareholders — each bungalow or plot of land carries with it a number of shares so that all houseowners plus the Royal Canoe Club collectively own the company. The Canoe Club has made a recent significant investment in providing new facilities for young people, including a new gym, boatsheds and training facility. Included in this re-development is a plan for encouraging bio-diversity, such as bats (Pipistrelle and Daubenton's Bat being the species most likely to be found in the area) and water fowl as well as native flora.

The Board settled their dispute with the Environment Agency (see link) ignoring resident/shareholders clear instructions (refer to the courts). A recent shares dispute revealed that shares are allocated to plots, not people, and are therefore not transferable under any circumstances.

:A short of a video of the island ,Trowlock in the summer , takes you around the island and is available on this link http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=6564469561608475004&hl=en

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The island and its environs are home to numerous species of wildlife, the following can be seen on a regular basis