A UK island that cost £30million in today’s money has been left abandoned over the years – and is now a haven for BIRDS.
The Outer Trial Bank, dubbed ‘the doughnut’ was built back in the 1970s by the UK government.
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The plan for the island was for it to be a tidal barrage, which would capture freshwater from a number of rivers.
This includes River Welland, River Nene, River Witham and Great Ouse, all of which flow into the Wash.
It would then create a freshwater reservoir from the system.
Plans were put forward in 1972, with it built in 19745.
Costing £3million at the time, the man-made island was created by limestone rubble, measuring 820ft across.
Inside was the reservoir, which was around 2.5acres.
Sadly it was never used for its purpose – a study found that it had been built too close to the tidal estuary which would mean the water wouldn’t have low enough salt levels.
Despite being constructed, the scheme was then scrapped in 1976.
Tammy Smalley, Wash Estuary Project Officer told the BBC: “Some of the materials they used to build the banks were dredged from the wash so were saline in nature anyway.
“So you’re not going to get fresh water in a salty environment – and that was the reason it was abandoned.”
Since then, it has been used by local wildlife, especially birsd.
Seabirds have been spotted nesting on the island, with as many as 3,000 pairs reported.
Simon Cooter from Natural England said: “They’re very significant as they’re major landforms in the area.
“They’re the only hills in the Wash. The outer trial bank is a breeding sea colony for sea birds.
“They’re declining in a lot of their breeding habitats but here they’re doing very well.”
Here’s another ‘secret’ island off the UK that you can actually visit.
There is even a hidden UK island that you can only visit by kayak.
Otherwise we’ve rounded up five islands you can visit from the UK without needing your passport.
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