Two Tree Island

Two Tree Island is a small island lying north-east of Canvey Island and south-west of Leigh-on-Sea in Essex, England. It covers 257ha and is connected to the mainland at Leigh by a bridge.The island was reclaimed from the Thames Estuary in the 18th century and used as pasture until 1910 when a sewage works was built on it. From 1936, the entire island was used as a landfill site; this was later reduced to a single small site on the island in 1974. It is now a nature reserve, run by Essex Wildlife Trust, and the eastern half is part of the Leigh National Nature Reserve. At the western end are two bird hides; one overlooks a purpose-built scrape or lagoon where waders feed. During the breeding season both waders (including Avocets) and gulls nest here. A nest watch has been organised for some years following a serious case of Avocet egg stealing. On the south side of the island, at the end of the island road, is a sloping concrete jetty, a boat storage area and two car parking areas.