Skokholm Island

Aerial view SkokholmPhoto: Copyright Sid Howells 2003
Skokholm Island is located off the south west tip of Pembrokeshire. It is four kilometres south west of Marloes peninsular and a similar distance south of Skomer, its very different big sister.  Skokholm is of international importance for its breeding seabirds and this is reflected in the many designations awarded it. It is a SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest), part of the Skomer and Skokholm SPA (Special Protection Area), part of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and part of the Pembrokeshire Islands SAC (Special Area of Conservation). 

Wildlife

There is a colony of Manx Shearwaters which is probably the third largest in the world, containing some 15 percent of the World population.  Breeding Storm Petrels could account for up to 20 percent of the EU population. These two birds spend most of their lives at sea, only coming ashore to breed, and then only at night. They create a spectacular nocturnal experience for island visitors.  

Skokholm Island's Red CliffsSkokholm Island's Red Cliffs - Copyright D. Milbrow
The island is also home to 4500 Puffins and around a 2000 Razorbills and Guillemots breed on its cliffs.

Skokholm is important for other aspects of natural history too - the maritime grassland is a rare example of rabbit-maintained vegetation; the invertebrate fauna contains many nationally rare species, and the lichens of cliffs and outcrops are of great interest.  Grey Seals are present in the waters around the island throughout the year, and seen basking on rocks at low water daily. Cetaceans are seen close inshore, with daily sightings of Harbour Porpoise, and infrequent sightings of Common, Bottlenose and Risso’s Dolphins. 

Landscape

Bottle nose dolphinPicture of bottlenose dolphin - Janet Baxter
The island is roughly a mile in length and half a mile across at its widest point, an area of 100 hectares (260 acres). It is bounded by cliffs of Old Red Sandstone that rise from seventy feet in the north east to 160 feet in the southwest and are frequently battered by storms. This has given rise to a coastline of deep bays and gullies exposing much of the interesting underlying rock strata in a variety of red and purple hues. Surrounded by these beautiful cliffs the island is a plateau sloping from south west to north east with few undulations but several rocky outcrops. The highest of which give panoramic views across the island

Near the centre of the island is the grade II listed Cottage and other converted farm buildings that shelter in the lee of a rocky outcrop. These provide accommodation for staff and up to 15 residential visitors or volunteers at a time.

At the south eastern tip of the island stands a magnificent lighthouse, now unmanned and powered by solar panels.

The island is probably the most intensively studied ever, with much of the work being carried out in the 1950s, and made famous by the books of pioneer naturalist and former island tenant Ronald Lockley, the founder of the West Wales Naturalist Trust, which was the forerunner of the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales today. It has a rich and interesting history having at one time or another been a Rabbit Warren, Farm, Bird Observatory and now Nature Reserve.