andrewclk | The Outer Trial Bank

It is one of the two islands that were built in the 1970s to carry out a governmental experiment on the water resources of the area in 1972 the government undertook a study to assess the feasibility of constructing a tidal barrier in the area to collect fresh water from the Byam, Welland and Nene rivers. The study also aimed at creating possible improvements in navigation, recreational facilities and the creation of a power station as part of the study was the construction of an artificial island 3.2 km on the Lincolnshire coast, with work commencing in February 1975.

The island, now known to the locals as a donut because of its shape, has a diameter of 250 meters, while in its center there is a 2.5-acre reservoir. Where the fresh water collection would take place. The plan, however, failed spectacularly because the shores of the island were created by mud that came from the salty swamp, adding salt to the stored fresh water. Now the island has acquired new importance as a bird habitat, with about 3,000 sea birds being used as a nest.