Island Life

Few of us would pass up the chance to own our own island - and looe Island proved a dream come true for the Atkins sisters who gifted their home to nature

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Sisters Babs and Evelyn ‘Attie’ Atkins had always dreamed of owning their own island, and back in 1965 they chose Looe Island, a mile off the South Cornish coast, an area of outstanding natural beauty. It is now Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s only marine nature reserve.

The sisters lived there full time, with Babs there on her own much of the time. When Attie passed away at the age of 87 her elderly sister Babs was offered a multi-million-pound deal to turn the island into a theme park. She refused and instead chose to bequeath Looe Island to Cornwall Wildlife Trust to ensure the protection of the wildlife and continued wild beauty of the place.

The trust has been looking after the Island since 2004 and work continues to protect and enhance this marine nature reserve. A natural sanctuary for sea and woodland birds, the waters around the island are also teaming with wildlife.

Looe Island is home to many nesting birds such as cormorants, shags and oystercatchers. It also has the largest breeding colony in Cornwall of the majestic great black-backed gull. With a wingspan of around 1.5m, this species uses its size to its advantage robbing other sea birds of their catch as a means of obtaining food.