The Island’s Wildlife
From Freshwater Bay in the west, to Culver in the east, a great chalk ridge links the Island's dramatic coastline. The perimeter harbours secluded estuaries, shingle and sandy beaches and towering cliffs, each attracting an extraordinary variety of wildlife: the boulder-strewn landscape of St Catherine's Point is peppered with rare, colourful lichens; exotic fungi thrive in the warm climate of Undercliff; migrant birds like the Swallow settle here at the first sign of summer; Barn Owls can be found nesting on many of the Island’s farms.
Low tide exposes yet another dimension of the Island’s ecology. Magnificent limestone reefs, famous for their marine life, lie just off the coast - part of the Island’s rich underwater landscape. Intertidal areas give valuable clues to the secretive wildlife hidden beneath the sea.
Broad tracts of unspoilt countryside survive in the interior - a comparative sweep of uninterrupted chalk downland would be difficult to find elsewhere in England.
However, although conservation programmes exist, many vulnerable species are still at risk. The Red Squirrel and the Dormouse, once familiar woodland creatures, are now rare sights throughout England. The Glanville Fritillary butterfly, perhaps the most potent symbol of the Island’s unique insect life, is only found on the Island’s western fringe. The Isle of Wight is a haven for such endangered wildlife.
From Freshwater Bay in the west, to Culver in the east, a great chalk ridge links the Island's dramatic coastline. The perimeter harbours secluded estuaries, shingle and sandy beaches and towering cliffs, each attracting an extraordinary variety of wildlife: the boulder-strewn landscape of St Catherine's Point is peppered with rare, colourful lichens; exotic fungi thrive in the warm climate of Undercliff; migrant birds like the Swallow settle here at the first sign of summer; Barn Owls can be found nesting on many of the Island’s farms. Low tide exposes yet another dimension of the Island’s ecology. Magnificent limestone reefs, famous for their marine life, lie just off the coast - part of the Island’s rich underwater landscape. Intertidal areas give valuable clues to the secretive wildlife hidden beneath the sea.
Broad tracts of unspoilt countryside survive in the interior - a comparative sweep of uninterrupted chalk downland would be difficult to find elsewhere in England.
However, although conservation programmes exist, many vulnerable species are still at risk. The Red Squirrel and the Dormouse, once familiar woodland creatures, are now rare sights throughout England. The Glanville Fritillary butterfly, perhaps the most potent symbol of the Island’s unique insect life, is only found on the Island’s western fringe. The Isle of Wight is a haven for such endangered wildlife.
Get in touch with us...
Contact the Isle of Wight team for more information
tel 01983 533 180 email feedback@hwt.org.uk
