Isleworth Ait

Isleworth Ait is a teardrop shaped island in the River Thames in England. It is on the Tideway near Isleworth and is one of the longest Aits covering 10 acres. It lies offshore from Heron's Place and is opposite the London Apprentice public house.

Isleworth Ait is covered by densely packed trees and provides a peaceful sanctuary for a variety of wildlife. It floods regularly, but is home to more than 57 species of bird life, including the tree-creeper, kingfisher and heron, several rare beetles and two rare species of mollusc, the Two-lipped door snail and the German hairy snail. This makes it one of the London Wildlife Trust's most remarkable reserves.

Isleworth Ait was once a centre for the production of Osier - a willow which used to be harvested on the island to weave baskets to carry fruit and vegetables grown in Middlesex to the markets in London. There used to be five neighbouring islands but these have all disappeared over the centuries, some being destroyed by passing boat traffic. The River Crane flows into the Thames to the south of Isleworth Ait.

Thames Water owns the island which houses the outfall from the nearby Mogden sewage treatment works which returns treated water to the river Thames. The Metropolitan Water Board bought the island from the Duke of Northumberland in the 1930s. Hounslow Council has designated Isleworth Ait a Local Nature Reserve. The Ait is looked after by a team of volunteers who are part of the Hounslow branch of the London wildlife trust.

ee also

*Islands in the River Thames

References

* [http://dialspace.dial.pipex.com/town/walk/goa57/ait/index.html Isleworth Ait volunteers]
* [http://www.thameswater.co.uk/UK/region/en_gb/content/News/News_001322.jsp?SECT=Section_Homepage_000431 Thame Water News Release]

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