Skokholm Island bought by Wildlife Trust

The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales has raised the money needed to buy the lighthouse on Skokholm Island. The purchase completes the purchase of the whole island, which lies off the Pembrokeshire coast, by the trust that now aims to turn it into a conservation area. The island is home to a number of rare birds including Storm petrels, Manx shearwaters and the Pembrokeshire parrots, or puffins.

The appeal was launched in Autumn 2011 and raised £150,000 within four months, allowing the Wildlfife Trust to buy the land and lighthouse. The trust have now taken over the ownership of lighthouse from Trinity who previously owned the building. They hope it will secure the future of the important area for rare sea bird colonies.

The Wildlife Trust now aims to raise a further £100,000 to convert the lighthouse into accommodation so that visitors can stay on the island, and to install a bird observatory on the island.

In July 2010, the Wildlife Trust was contacted by Trinity House, owners of the lighthouse on the island and a significant portion of land around it. Trinity House were in the process of replacing the traditional light with a modern beacon, which needs very little maintenance and therefore allows them to consider selling the lighthouse and land around it.

The last full island count of Manx shearwater in 1998 showed the area around the lighthouse contained 2,870 burrows. It's thought that Skokholm and Skomer Islands could be home to the densest colony in the world of the bird, with roughly 50% of the world population.

Dean Thomas went to see what the island has to offer.

• ITV Wales' Kevin Ashford filmed a report with the Trust about their appeal