Early in 2010 the opportunity arose for the Trust to buy a valuable wildlife site on the Isle of WIght called Knighton Down. We are delighted to announce that thanks to the wonderful generosity of individual supporters and an amazing donation of £13,500 from The Southern Co-op the Trust will now be able to complete the purchase of Knighton Down thus safeguarding this fantastic wildlife haven in perpetuity. Many thanks to everyone who supported our appeal.
A chalk landscape
Knighton Down 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.
Why Knighton Down matters
As well as being an important site in its own right, Knighton Down has a nature conservation value that goes beyond its immediate boundary. Its proximity to our Eaglehead and Bloodstone Copse Nature Reserve and our Arreton Down Nature Reserve means that it can become a vital stepping stone for wildlife, enabling species to spread out across the wider countryside. As such Knighton Down has added value as a vital link in our ‘living landscapes' approach to nature conservation -improving connectivity between existing sites of high biodiversity value to allow wildlife to spread.
Wight Wildlife Fund
The Trust has recently established a new designated fund - the Wight Wildlife Fund, to respond quickly to opportunities such as this. This Fund will hold donations and legacies from people who would like to see their money being used to protect and manage Island nature reserves. Our Island is a special place for wildlife and we want to keep it that way. Perhaps you would consider a donation or leaving a gift in your Will to the Wight Wildlife Fund? Any money donated or gifted to the Fund will be spent on the Island so you really would be helping to keep the Island special.
If you would like to know more about the Trust's plans for Knighton Down or the Wight Wildlife Fund please call Richard Grogan on 01983 533180.
