Brandy Island is a riverside wilderness on the Upper Thames near the National Trust conservation village of Buscot, in Oxfordshire.  This tranquil beauty spot is a valuable wildlife habitat and is vital to the rural character of the river.

It is an idyllic setting with a Grade I 13c church, Grade II* historic house and unspoiled countryside which is key to the amenity of the Buscot Estate.  The views of Brandy Island and adjacent St. Mary's Church and the Old Parsonage are prized by walkers on the Thames Path, visitors to the area, artists, photographers, cyclists, local residents, boaters and all who enjoy the beauty of this riverside. 

Pre-Raphaelite painters from William Morris's Kelmscott House across the river have immortalized this Thames landscape.  Burne-Jones's famous stained-glass windows, the Good Shepherd and Faith, Hope and Charity, adorn the church, giving it significant artistic interest.

There are plans to commercially develop Brandy Island by relocating on the island the boatyard and camper van site near the Trout Inn, Lechlade, Glos.  This boatyard is a local eyesore.  The proposal would destroy this beauty spot and alter the setting of the Church and Old Parsonage. It would generate noise and music, increase traffic and car parking facilities. and bring hundreds of people into this quiet, unspoiled habitat.  

Special events on long summer weekends would attract unsupportable numbers of visitors to boat discos, barbeques, and car boot sales.  This would increase traffic through Buscot village and onto the dangerous A417 turning. There will be security, privacy and nuisance issues for the adjoining properties, the village and the church. The clearing of the trees and roots from riverbanks would increase the risk of flooding in this flood prone area.

The quiet rural character of this Area of High Landscape Value and the natural habitats of flora and fauna would be destroyed.  This development would adversely impact the rural amenity of whole estate and the riverside.

Brandy Island was compulsorily purchased in 1949 for a pumping plant.  When Thames Water was privatized the company saw the opportunity for profit by selling Brandy Island for commercial development.  There is a legal question about a compulsory purchase being sold to a third party for profit.  All the adjoining water meadows are protected as "agricultural land."

In 1996 a plan for "change of use" of Brandy Island was refused by the VWH planners.  An appeal in 1997 was turned down by the Sec. of State on the grounds that it would be harmful to the open countryside and a designated area of special landscape value.

Again Brandy Island is being threatened with commercial exploitation.  Brandy Island should be recognized as a national resource.  Its character should not be diminished.  It should be saved for the nation.  The island has a lasting significance to the "aesthetic" of the River and is part of our national heritage.

The Brandy Island Appeal hopes to find a long term solution to safeguard this valuable site for the future.  Its loss would diminish our heritage.   We are hoping to raise funds to help the National Trust and conservation groups to buy the island.

Brandy Island is a locality which has become part of our rural, riverside identity and our river history.  Help the SaveBuscot/Brandy Island Appeal to preserve the tranquil beauty and wildlife habitat of this unique island.  Help us to save the Genius of the Place of the River Thames.

Visit www.savebuscot.com and join our national campaign.