Importance of the Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a microcosm of south-east England and has, for its size, a large number of habitats typical of this part of the country. The chalk grasslands, cliffs and estuaries are important for wildlife on a national and in some cases international scale.
Biodiversity facts
- The Isle of Wight has no feral mink, deer or grey squirrels
- The Isle of Wight woodland is nationally important for its mammals, particularly red squirrel, common dormouse, bechstein's and barbastelle bats, which are all nationally rare and protected.
- The Isle of Wight is the only place in Britain where you can find plants such as wood calamint, martin's ramping fumitory, hoary stock and the reddish buff moth
- The Isle of Wight is nationally important for its populations of water vole, glanville fritillary, field cowwheat, early gentian and starlet sea anemone.
Video by Mark Heighes
