Tim Reed, chair of the Friends of Holt Island Nature Reserve, describes what happens when the island becomes submerged under water.

Part of the problem of being an island nature reserve on a flood plain is that frequently it does what it says on the tin: it floods.

For Holt Island, that means a complete wipe out. Only on the lowest of floods does the ‘high point’ of 1.3 m by the badger sett stay dry. Otherwise, everything else goes under turbid brown water, eventually clearing as the current subsides.

Normally, it is possible to stroll round the island along the circular 500 metres of raised boardwalk.

In a flood, the boardwalk reluctantly disappears, reappearing as the water drops, but covered in silt and mud.

The wooden section emerges sodden, and as a result the rate of ongoing rot in the boards accelerates.

Because of this, the Friends Committee, volunteers who support the work on the island and fundraise accordingly, are seeking to raise a substantial sum to switch from treated wood - with a 10-year life span - to Fibregrid which lasts for 40 years.

Like most high-quality things it is not cheap, but over time Fibregrid is less expensive. This is why we are looking for donors or funds to help us reach our target, and allow us to turn our attention to other matters on the island.

What of the wildlife? The daily bird counts show that floods seriously reduce the number of species recorded on flooded days.

In Autumn, that can be down from 20 to four or five. Ground-feeders such as Thrushes and Robins go missing, leaving the island to Tits and Finches using the willows and trees above the flood. The badgers leave, as do the muntjac, although otters are still seen.

As the flooded island is often one metre deep, it becomes part of the river. A sudden drop in water levels can mean hundreds of fish are left stranded in ephemeral pools, waiting for return to the river, or disappearing into grateful cormorants and herons before the Friends can intervene to rescue some. It appears that, in nature at least, floods always have their winners.

Holt Island is an award-winning nature reserve in St Ives owned by Huntingdonshire District Council. It is open from Easter to October. For more information visit www.holtisland.org.