Friends of Alney Island

Formed where the River Severn splits into two channels that join again over two miles downstream, Alney Island on the edge of Gloucester is hidden in plain sight, with many locals not realising it is technically an island. Historically, it was the lowest point that the river could be crossed before the first of the Severn Bridges was built leading into Wales in the 1960’s. Horse races and annual community events were held on the floodplains. Now, other than the agricultural fields in the north of the island and a few small residential streets, Alney Island is mostly overlooked in its significance and its primary function seems to be supporting the raised roads and busy junctions that meet at a large roundabout in the centre of the island. Due to its location, Alney island is a perfect spot to view the Severn Bore, a regular event caused by the unique tidal nature of the river. A few times a month, the tide rises in such a way that a large wave is formed and is funnelled up the river. Many surfers and kayakers aim to try and catch the wave whilst many spectators come to watch. The Friends of Alney Island are a group made up of a mixture of people who work for local councils and environmental organisations as well as other volunteers from the general public. They carry out maintenance work on the nature reserve in the south of the island that is vastly under-used, bar a few dog-walkers. The area has 4 long footpaths that make their way through woodland, low-lying marshes and grassy fields sometimes used for cattle grazing. Parts of the island are regularly innundated with flood waters caused by heavy rain and high tides, making the balance of flora and fauna delicate and specific. The pools of stagnant water found in the boggy areas accumulate algae and debris of all kinds, brought in and deposited by flooding. Much of the group’s work involves litter picking and coppicing trees. This means that more sunlight is able to reach the ground and in turn allows certain types of plant to grow once again after the introduction of nonnative species. Recently, orchids have been growing again in areas they have not been seen for years. The area is also home to amphibians, wading birds and a variety of insects. The aim is that the nature reserve part of the island returns to a state similar to how it would have been naturally before human intervention drastically altered the landscape. New volunteers are always welcomed and the group enjoys the social aspect of regular scheduled volunteer sessions and the option for tea and coffee after a morning's hard work.

"I was lucky enough, during the first week of May, not only to hear a cuckoo calling on the Island but I actually saw one perched in the willow trees that line the riverside down to the lower parting of the river. On the same day I saw four Canada Geese, six Greylag Geese and a Common Sandpiper, all in a 15 minute period!"

~Richard Countryside Ranger