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Ray Island
Essex, Bedfordshire & HertfordshireA tiny island making a big difference to the wildlife of Essex
M T W T F S S Open
Closed
Opening times for 3 March 2026
Asset Opening time Ray Island Closed - On foot
- Ray Island is not accessible to visitors on foot. There are no public footpaths across the island, some of which (Bonner’s Saltings) is privately owned. If accessing from the river, please be aware this is a conservation area, and we ask that you’re sensitive to the wildlife that calls the island home. Sorry no dogs or camping.
Highlights
Saltmarsh
This rare habitat is home to plants including lax-flowered sea-lavender and golden samphire, which add splashes of colour throughout the summer.
Bird watching
Ray Island is a breeding site for water birds including the orange-billed oystercatcher and the strikingly-patterned shelduck.
Upcoming events
Sorry, there are no upcoming events at this place
About Ray Island
Ray Island sits within the Blackwater Estuary in Essex, just west of Mersea Island. Today it’s a haven for wildlife and its quiet location makes it the ideal breeding ground for wildlife and wading birds. Home to a wide range of saltmarsh plants, including lax-flowered sea lavender, golden samphire and sea rush; breeding birds include nightingale, redshank, oystercatcher and shelduck.
Acquired by the National Trust in 1970 and until recently managed by the Essex Wildlife Trust, this small island is managed primarily for the benefit of wildlife and there is no visitor access on foot.