Living landscapes > Our wildlife and historic sites
Our wildlife and historic sites
If it's wild and wonderful on St. Agnes, Bryher, St. Martin's or St. Mary's it is probably cared for by The Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust. We also look after all the uninhabited islands, many historical sites and most of the coastline.
This covers an amazing variety of habitats. The most exposed are maritime heathland, with the rare and beautiful waved heath of heather and western gorse, and the headlands with burial mounds, weathered sculpted rocks and fantastic views for whale and dolphin spotting. On the lower slopes bracken, gorse, bramble and grassland run down to salt tolerant plants including the only site in Britain of the dwarf pansy.
The nature trails on St Mary's include Higher and Lower Moors which are wetlands with fish, eels and wading birds, and woodland sheltering fabulous spring flowers.
The rocky shores have an incredible diversity of sea creatures and birds. Below the clear waters there is wonderful wildlife in the seagrass beds, around the reefs, rocks and sandy seabed.
Find out below about some of our special sites. We are continually adding to this section so if your favourite place is not listed here, please come back and visit us again.
- St Mary's The largest and most populated island in Scilly. You can see many different habitats in a relatively small area where wildlife thrives
- St. Martin's The wonderful heathy headlands of St. Martin's are home to a variety of wildlife including the rare 'St. Martin's Ant'.
- The island of Samson Samson is one of the best known of the uninhabited islands and has a wealth of interest. It has exceptional flora and fauna, amazing archaeology and its history is coloured by ledgend; once inhabited and then abandoned, it is still haunted by its past.
- St. Helens Has an interesting history. You can find platform cairns, prehistoric field systems, a religious complex and a later mid eighteenth to early nineteenth century quarantine station.
- The Eastern Isles This group of islands are home to a wealth of wildlife and archaeology. It is one of the best places to spot seals hauled out on rocks, hunting or just sleeping.
- St Agnes and Gugh St Agnes and Gugh are offically counted as one island, though when the sea at high tide covers the sand bar they look like they are two separate islands. Both are have amazing heathland and very intresting rocky carns around the coast.
