Isle of Wight Living Landscapes Project
In 1998 the Wildlife Trust launched the Isle of Wight Red Squirrel Project, by talking to 81 Island landowners and visiting 65 farms to discuss the conservation of red squirrels in private and public woodlands, give advice about the management of woodland and help owners obtain grant aid.
In 2004 the Wildlife Trust launched the ‘Isle of Wight Living Landscapes Project' funded by LEADER+ , Natural England, Environment Agency and the IW AONB Unit. A Wildlife Trust Conservation Advisor was appointed to meet with landowners to discuss the management of their land for wildlife and to assist farmers and land managers to access agri-environment schemes and grants.
Since 2004, the project officer has visited 165 landowners (with property covering 8058 ha) and submitted 124 grant applications worth over £4.5 million.
The work has:
- iImproved conditions for a variety of Island habitats including heathland, chalk grassland, acid grassland, neutral grasslands, wetlands and woodlands.
- helped create or restore 38 ha of chalk grassland and 16 ha of neutral grassland habitats as well as 192 ha of woodland under the Forestry Commission's JIGSAW scheme.
- helped a number of Island species including red squirrel, common dormouse, water vole, nightjar, dartford warbler, small pearl-bordered fritillary, reddish buff moth, cornflower, early gentian, field cowwheat and wood calamint
- reduced the pollution and soil runoff from agricultural activities into the Island's watercourses
- improved management of archaeological features such as barrows and lynchets.
