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Falklands Conservation |
Inner North West Island and Islets (35 Ha, 86 acres)
This nature reserve has been managed since 1985 under a long term lease to Falklands Conservation from Mr Robert Gibbons.
The Island, lying some 0.5km off Wreck Point, is 1.5km long with an average width of some 500m. It forms a low-lying plateau of horizontally bedded, very dark sandstone. The beaches are generally composed of flat low-lying rock with some areas of shingle which at low water extend 50m out from the Island's coastline. The Island has been stocked in the past with horses, cattle and sheep. It has also been invaded by rats.
There is evidence of historic burning, though no records of when this might have been. A small section of the Island suffered a second burning, probably in 1982, when a missile landed in tussac grass at the northern point. In mid 1983 the whole Island was burnt out, causing considerable damage to the lower peat layers where the fire went underground. A survey in 1987 found the Island to be recovering slowly with original tussac stools having considerable re-growth.
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Patron: HRH The Duke of York CVO ADC Member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature | BirdLife International Representative |