Canvey Island the 30 hectares known as West Canvey marshes, acquired by the RSPB in 2007, and the Canvey Wick nature reserve. Canvey Wick is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) at the site of the abandoned and incomplete oil refinery. The foundations of the 100 hectare (0.4 sq mile) site were prepared in the 1970s by laying thousands of tonnes of silt dredged from the Thames; the abandoned and undisturbed area has flourished as a haven for around 1,300 species of wildlife, many of which are endangered or were thought to be extinct; including the shrill carder bee, the
Isle of Sheppey new buildings in February 2013 and is split between two sites: East and West. The academy is split horizontally into five mini-schools. There are several primary schools on the island. The island has a non-league football club, Sheppey United F.C., based at Holm Park and who play in the Southern Counties East Football League, Premier Division. The island's largest cricket club is Minster Cricket Club, who compete in the Kent Cricket League as well as Sheppey Cricket Club which plays in the Kent Regional Cricket League. The island also has a rugby union club, Sheppey RFC who compete in the