Tiny UK island 'abandoned by humans' after ambitious £3m plan axed decades ago

A man-made island stranded just off the UK coast has taken on a new breath of life, almost 50 years after it was 'abandoned'.

Situated just two miles from the Lincolnshire coast, the Inner and Outer Trial Bank cost the taxpayer around £3 million back in the 1970s. Factoring in inflation, this is worth around £28 million today.

Often referred to as 'the doughnut' due to its circular shape and concave centre, the artificial islands were part of ambitious plans to capture freshwater from the Rivers Witham, Welland, Nene, and the Great Ouse - all of which flow into the Wash - and create a reservoir. Plans for the scheme were put forward under the Conservative government in 1972 - and came into fruition two years later.

"The scheme was originally intended to see if a barrage would be feasible," explains Natural England. "Instead, bunded reservoirs were created which is why the islands were doughnut-shaped as they were used as freshwater reservoirs.

"However, surrounding tidal forces and using saline saltmarsh construction material meant the water became too salty. Deemed ineffective and too costly, the project was abandoned. The Inner Trial Bank is barely recognisable as an island now as the saltmarsh has formed around it."

The Outer Trial Bank - which measures around 830ft across - is still visible from the mainland, and even attracts concerns from passers-by who mistake the doughnut island as a fallen meteor or even 'aliens'. However, it is now a key part of the Wash Natural Nature Reserve- the biggest of its kind in England.

It has become a significant breeding ground for seabirds, inhabited by thousands of birds, including Lesser Black-Backed Gulls. In fact, it is thought 3,000 pairs of seabirds call this island home, meaning it's no longer a mere reminder of the government's extraordinary failure.

If you're not a huge fan of birds, it's still worth taking a trip to the nature reserve. The Wash is one of the best breeding areas in England for common seals and the mudflats make a perfect home for shrimps and other small crustaceans.

The nature reserve is around 118 miles from central London, meaning you can get here by car in just less than three hours. Alternatively, you can catch a direct train to King's Lynn, which takes on average one hour and 48 minutes.

However, from here, you'll need to either get a 23-minute taxi. While bus services along the A17 between King’s Lynn and Sutton Bridge are provided by Norfolk Green and Cavalier Travel, the stops are a long way from the Reserve. If you're flexible with dates, you can grab single adult fares for as little as £18.

*Prices based on Trainline prices at the time of writing.

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