Island Life Magazine Ltd August/September 2007 | Page 67

COUNTRYSIDE, WILDLIFE & FARMING

is still the same, divided by
hedges and grazed by sheep or
beef cattle with calves in tow.
The train stops at Wootton
station with the engine
uncoupling itself from the
front and swapping ends so
that it can pull the train back
towards Havenstreet, where
it stops before continuing
east. Travelling on through
a mixture of grazed field and
more woodlands towards
Ashey station, which is now
a private residence. There is
a small bus-stop like shelter
and platform on the opposite
side that serves as a request
stop for passengers. If you are
quick you can just make out
the curved line of the hedge,
heading towards Ashey Downs
where chalk was once quarried
and brought down by track to
be taken away by the train.
The countryside appears more
open, with far reaching views
southwards over large fields
and then a little more woodland
before you get to Smallbrook

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Junction. A quick change
around for the engine and then
back towards Havenstreet.
As you travel on the train look
down at the embankments.
No fertilisers or pesticides are
used on these species-rich
grass verges and with a yearly
cutting programme and raking
up of the grass by a team
of dedicated volunteers.
There is a wonderful display
of spring and summer flowers
that attract all sorts of wildlife
from butterflies and birds to
different coloured rabbits and
the occasional dark red fox.
This is a novel way of seeing
some of the island countryside
that you would miss driving
around, and if we had had a
little more foresight 50 years
ago, you never know what you
could have seen, had your trip
taken you all the way through
Newport and on to Freshwater.

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