The Isles of Scilly are a collection of small islands off the southwest coast of England. They are covered with heathland and fringed with sandy beaches. There are many attractions on the islands, including a castle built by Cromwell, which is situated on Tresco. A shipwreck museum is also located on the island.
Geography
The Isles of Scilly are a small archipelago off the coast of Cornwall. These islands have been inhabited for centuries. They have also been home to a range of wildlife, including basking sharks and visiting dolphins.
Some of the islands have been designated as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This means that they have been protected from development, which is a great way to protect the environment.
Other areas are scheduled landscapes, which are protected by complex historic environments. Some of these include the St Agnes peninsula, which is the most southerly point in Britain.
The Isles of Scilly has been inhabited for over 4,000 years. Over time, humans have taken advantage of the islands’ unique assembly of migrant species. It is also home to an abundance of seabirds, fish, and mammals.
History
The Isles of Scilly has been inhabited since Stone Age times. In fact, they have the densest concentration of historical sites anywhere in the British Isles.
There are a total of 239 scheduled monuments on the islands. These include chambered cairns, cliff sanctuaries, and burial cairns. Some of these cairns date back to 2500 BCE. Others were built later. They bear witness to burial places, ritual monuments, and small settlements of circular stone houses.
During the Bronze Age, people of the Eastern Isles traveled from Brittany to Ireland. In the Neolithic period, they lived on land, clearing, and farming. Using plank-built boats and skin boats, they were able to make their way across the sea.
In the 1550s, a port for shipping and fishing appeared on St Mary’s. Ennor Castle, a small wooded mound, overlooks Old Town Bay. An earlier blockhouse was also built, probably in the mid-16th century.
Flora
The Isles of Scilly have a flora that is unique to the islands. This includes more than 1,000 species, including some alien plants, such as Timandra great (the blood vein), which was first recorded on St Agnes in 1995.
The archipelago was isolated from the rest of Britain for more than 7,000 years. Over time, this isolation allowed some species to develop differently. Some of these species are now exclusively endemic to Scilly.
Phytoplankton, which is rich in nutrients, is a key food source for planktonic animals. A combination of warmth and nutrient concentrations in the waters of the three areas around Scilly encourages the growth of phytoplankton. Therefore, these areas become ideal feeding grounds for sea birds.
In order to monitor the health of the natural environment, the Wildlife Trust Rangers carried out surveys. They have also removed 2.2 hectares of coastal grassland from Scilly.
Fauna
The Isles of Scilly are an archipelago located off the southwest coast of England. They are separated from mainland Britain by a ring of reefs and the sea surrounding them. These geographical features contribute to the clear blue waters of the sea.
The islands are home to a range of warm water species. However, they are thought to be in decline. It is likely that this decline is caused by sea-level rise.
While the Isles of Scilly are a haven for many sea birds, they are also home to rare and unique species. Some are endemic to the islands, meaning they have never been seen anywhere else. Others are vagrants.
One of the first species recorded on the Isles of Scilly was the Least Carpet, or Nephopterix angustella. Other species that have been recorded include the Great Green Bush-Cricket, which was photographed on St Mary’s in 1960. Another rare bird is the Little Bittern.
Restaurants
If you’re in the market for a good meal, the Isles of Scilly are a culinary destination unto themselves. Here you can sample local produce from land and sea.
The island’s most famous dish is the Scilly John Dory, served with samphire and a lobster bisque sauce. It is not the only thing to try, however.
The Isles of Scilly are a wonderful place to visit for their laid-back atmosphere and gorgeous beaches. If you’re looking to eat well, you’ll find a range of restaurants, pubs, and delis on the islands.
Juliet’s Garden is a top-notch restaurant in St Mary’s. This is a family-run business that started off as a flower and bulb shed. Now it serves up award-winning food, from simple salads to extravagant feasts.
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