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Our work here
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Ramsey Island lies in the Irish Sea, just a short ferry trip off the coast of south Wales.
It has dramatic 120 metre-high cliffs, which hold large seabird colonies between April and July. Other important birds breed on the maritime heath inland.
The reserve also has several unusual plant species and the largest colony of grey seals in southern Britain.
The RSPB manages both the cliffs and the heathland in order to protect all the wildlife on the island.
Helping the heath
Ramsey's maritime heathland and grassland are nationally important. They support breeding birds such as choughs, wheatears and lapwing.
We keep this habitat in good condition by seasonal patch-burning and livestock grazing. This helps choughs find food, by maintaining the open terrain that they prefer.
Pools for plants
The small shallow pools on Ramsey's heathland are home to several nationally or internationally important plant species. These include floating water plantain, three-lobed water crowfoot and wavy St Johns wort.
We are working to maintain both the condition and extent of the pools for the benefit of their plant communities.
Do not disturb
We make sure that Ramsey's seabirds are protected from disturbance during the breeding season. This includes both the cliff-nesters, such as kittiwakes, and the burrow-nesters, such as manx shearwaters.
We also help the small population of lapwings that breed on the heath by maintaining the mosaic of shallow pools, open wet-heath and grazed pasture that they need.
We ensure that rats, which can cause serious harm to bird colonies, never colonise the island - as they once did in the past.
Visitors
Ramsey is open to visitors from 1 April or Easter (whichever is earlier) until the end of October. We provide and maintain a range of facilities, including a shop, picnic area, information centre and a network of nature trails around the island.
How you can help
Ramsey Island is home to a wealth of wildlife
A donation from you today will help us safeguard this spectacular island reserve