Ray Island. Letter in Courier No. 773 21 November 2021

The National Trust has owned Ray Island since 1970 and has recently taken back management from Essex Wildlife Trust, who had leased it from the Trust since 2006. Ray Island sits within the Blackwater Estuary and is a SSSI, SAC, SPA and Ramsar Site. As such the wildlife, particularly wildfowl and wading birds using the saltmarsh surrounding Ray Island, are sensitive to disturbance. We wish to manage this site, which is designated for nature conservation, for the primary benefit of wildlife. Ray Island is only accessible by boat and dogs are not allowed. The path crossing the saltmarsh to Ray Island is not a public footpath. Bridges across the saltmarsh are structurally unsound, and given the frequent tidal inundation are expensive to maintain to ensure they remain in a safe condition. Furthermore, to access the land in the care of the National Trust and the island itself, people walking across the saltmarsh would need to trespass across Bonner's Saltings, which is privately owned and across which there is also no public footpath.

The National Trust will therefore be removing the old, unsafe, bridges on the saltmarsh on its land, to enable wildlife to use the saltmarsh undisturbed, better manage risk and discourage trespassing on land not in the National Trust's ownership.

Nick, National Trust

Letter from Nick and National Trust. He does not give full name or contact details.

Date: 21 November 2021