Island Life Magazine Ltd June/July 2010 | Page 117

country life

Island Life - June/July 2010
tax money for land purchase
and management.

Knighton Down
Such an opportunity has
arisen for the Wildlife Trust
to buy a valuable wildlife site
on the Island called Knighton
Down.
It is an area of unimproved
chalk grassland and
woodland on the Island’s
eastern chalk ridge. The
Island’s chalk backbone is of
national habitat importance
because it supports a
distinctive community of
plant and insect species. The
previous management of the
site means that it already
supports a wealth of wildlife
such as the grizzled skipper
and chalkhill blue butterflies,
skylarks, autumn gentian,
squinancywort and red
squirrels.
Its proximity to our
Eaglehead and Bloodstone
Copse Wildlife Reserve
and our Arreton Down
Wildlife Reserve means
that it can become a vital
stepping stone for wildlife,
enabling species to spread
out across the wider
countryside. It has added

Photo: Red Squirrel in Eaglehead Copse by Chris Archbold

value as a vital link in our
‘living landscapes’ approach

The costs of management

to nature conservation – improving

Managing land for wildlife is not cheap,

(that’s paths, boardwalks, gates, stiles,

connectivity between existing sites of

as these examples show.

bird hides, benches and signs) in good,

Keeping our ‘access infrastructure’

On the Isle of Wight we spend the

safe condition is an additional cost. For

equivalent of £680 per hectare each

example basic path works cost around

year to keep the varied habitats and

£20 per metre depending on the site.

£20,000 from the public towards the

species under our stewardship thriving.

A new bird hide costs in the region of

purchase and management costs. If you

The high cost is due to the fact that

£20,000 to put in place.

can help us by making a donation, your

we have a number of small sites spread

support would be really appreciated.

over a wide area.

high biodiversity value to allow wildlife
to spread.
We still need to raise a further

Eaglehead and Bloodstone Copses on

You can send a cheque, donate online
at www.hwt.or r