An “amazing” island which inspired Enid Blyton is to reopen to the public after four months. Visitors will be able to return to Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour, Dorset, from March 15. Owned by the National Trust, the island is a well-known haven for England’s remaining red squirrels and is widely recognised as the birthplace of Scouting.

Lynne Burningham from the Trust works on the island. She told the Express: “It’s a very beautiful spot and a fantastic place for nature lovers. It’s one of the best places for birdwatching.” She added: “It’s an amazing place to visit. For such a small site, it punches above its weight for wildlife. It’s an idyllic, wonderful place to be.”

The island’s sheltered saline lagoon is a magnet for spoonbills, terns and avocets while rare Dartford Warblers and Nightjars have been sighted at its heathland and woodland.

There have even been sightings of white tailed eagles, which is the largest bird of prey in the UK. Its red squirrels recently featured on BBC Springwatch, which was based at the RSPB’s Arne nature reserve nearby.

Besides its abundance of flora and fauna, Brownsea Island has a cafe, daily guided tours, walking trails and shuttles which run around the island.

Brownsea Castle built by Henry VIII between 1545 and 1547 is also on the island. Now owned by John Lewis, the castle serves as a hotel for the retail giant’s staff, but members of the public can visit as part of a guided walk that ends with a delicious cream tea.

No one lives on the island, which was bought from the family of former owner Mary Bonham-Christie by the National Trust in 1962 after a mammoth fundraising effort involving the local community, John Lewis and the Scouting Association.

Dorset Wildlife Trust lease and manage the north of the island, which is still used by Scouts from all over the world more than a century after the movement’s founder, Robert Baden Powell, held his very first Scout camp there.

Mrs Bonham-Christie was a reclusive animal lover who allowed the island to return to nature, ending dairy farming and fishing. Most of the workers on her estate returned to the mainland after losing their jobs.

Her aversion to visitors is believed to have inspired Enid Blyton, who describes Brownsea as “Keep Away Island” in the book Five Have a Mystery to Solve.

The famous children’s author also refers to the place as “Whispering Island” in The Famous Five series of books.

But once the island reopens it promises to come alive for another season, with the sounds of visitors drawn to its natural wonders and packed programme of events.

These include outdoor yoga sessions, Shakespeare performances and forest bathing, which is an ancient Japanese way of relaxing among trees.

Brownsea Island is about 20 minutes by boat from Poole Quay, where a regular ferry service which costs £14.50 per adult and £6 for children aged five or over.

Entry onto the island costs £11 for adults, £5.50 for children aged over five. A family ticket for two adults and up to three children costs £27.50.

You can stay on the island, which has a campsite offering basic pitches, glamping pods and even tents in the treetops, some of which boast sea views.

There are also two holiday cottages available to rent, Agent’s House, which sleeps up to six people, and Custom House, a converted, one-bedroom cottage on the water’s edge.

South Shore Lodge has four bedrooms, sleeping up to a dozen people in basic bunk beds. It has access to a beach and has views of the Purbeck Hills. Next door is St Mark’s Bothy which sleeps five.