Island Life Magazine Ltd April / May 2016 | Page 79

COUNTRY LIFE Photo: Common Cettis Warbler by Amy Lewis Photo: Marsh Cinquefoil by Vicky Nall Among the works will be wetland restoration on the Blackbridge Brook, which flows into the millpond at Wootton and is heavily shaded by trees along its course. The restoration works will open up a section of the brook so that sunlight can reach the river bed and banks, and encourage aquatic and bank-side plants and insects such as dragonflies and damselflies. Much of the floodplain of the eastern Yar, as far up as Alverstone Bridge, is only a few metres above sea level. This means the state of the tide at Bembridge has a strong influence on the drainage of the whole valley. If the tide is in, the water takes longer to drain off the fields and is held up in the ditch network. These smaller watercourses are valuable refuges for water vole and snipe, and also act as a nursery for fish such as brown trout. The management of the network of ditches is therefore vitally important not only for wildlife but also for the flood management of this low-lying land. Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, working for a better future for wildlife and wild places in Hampshire and the Island. Phone: [phone] E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.hiwwt.org.uk Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, Beechcroft House, Vicarage Lane, Curdridge, Hampshire, SO32 2DP The Down to the Coast project also takes into account the Yar’s incredible history, hydrology and importance to local people. The valley of the eastern Yar contains some of the deepest peat beds in southern England. This peat – compressed plant material which cannot rot because there is no oxygen – not only acts like a sponge to hold water but also stores large amounts of carbon. Peat systems such as in the Yar are like time-capsules. They hold pollen from the vegetation in the area since the last ice age. This makes the Yar an important resource when looking at the history of farming and land management since the first people made their homes there in the Bronze Age. The River Yar is one of the Wildlife Trust’s priority areas for creating more, bigger, better and joined-up places for wildlife – and we look forward to seeing this partnership work benefit nature and people now and into the future. The Down to the Coast project aims to: • Establish a new 10 hectare Wildlife Trust nature reserve in the valley. • Restore a further 20 hectares of wetland in the project area so that the small pockets of wildlife-rich habitat act as reservoirs for wildlife to spread across the river valley. • Restore points along a 3km part of the river from Horringford Bridge to Alverstone, by undoing past engineering and creating a more natural bank, meandering the river and providing passes for fish under bridges and over weirs. The result will improve the river’s role as a corridor for aquatic species and connect it to other wildlife habitats such as reedbeds and fens. • Work with the community that lives and works on the River Yar to help them better understand and enjoy the wildlife of the river and its wetlands. Join us today and enjoy the benefits of being a member of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust: • Unlimited visits to 57 wildlife reserves in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and 2,500 reserves nationwide. • A welcome pack when you join. • Wildlife, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust’s magazine, delivered to you three times a year. • The chance to take part in local group and community activities, offering you a variety of opportunities to be involved in. More than 350 walks, talks and events throughout the two counties. • Join by Direct Debit & receive your FREE full colour Local Wildlife Reserve Guide. www.visitilife.com 79