Island Life Magazine Ltd April/May 2008 | Page 69

life THE BIG ISSUES AT ARRETON COUNTRYSIDE, WILDLIFE & FARMING then be shipped to Portsmouth to supply beef to the Royal Navy. A number of Round Barrows are scattered across the down, one large mound which is on what at one time part of the main down, known locally as Michael Morey’s Hump, is believed to have been constructed in the Bronze Age and was later used in the 1700’s as the Gibbet site for the child murderer Michael Morey. Signs can also still be seen of a deep furrow across the Down which was dug to stop carters taking a short cut across the land to avoid the toll on the road along the top of the down. • Volunteers are helping to restore grassland areas on the Down by removing nettles (also nutrient) on improved ground, thistles and encroaching scrub. • Autumn lady’s tresses are small, delicate plants with tiny white flowers that spiral up the stem. They are found on the grassland in August and September. They are being found in increasing numbers now that cattle are grazing again. • The male Chalkhill blue butterfly has pale milky blue upper wings and can be found flying in good numbers in bright weather in warm areas across the Down in July and August. The chocolate brown females are very similar in appearance to many of the other blue butterfly females, particularly the Adonis blue, which we hope may recolonise the down. • The Bee orchid is believed to have evolved as a decoy to trick bees into attempts to mate with numerous flowers and so assist pollination. In Britain the orchids are all self-pollinated, prompting a debate on the true nature of the pollination process. • Pyramidal orchids can occur in many shades of pink and occasionally white on the down they grow in a troupe towards the Eastern edge of the down. • Yellow hammers are unmistakable, having a bright yellow head with a few black streaked markings on the sides and crown, the breast has a cinnamon band and chestnut rump the colours are thought to become more intense with age. The distinctive call is known traditionally as ‘A little bit of bread and no cheese’ – can be heard along the scrub edges and from song posts within the small ‘islands‘ of scrub. • The Great green bush cricket is Britain’s largest and found only in the south of England. You can find it in the longer grass next to the scrub edge all around the Down. But take care if you are handling it – it can give you quite a nip! • Horseshoe vetch is the sole food plant of the Chalkhill blue caterpillar. It derives its name from the horseshoe-shaped sections that are created by the seed pods after its yellow flowers. The plant is an indicator of ancient unimproved chalk grassland. • View looking west along the chalk ride showing the typical character of the Down. • In 2005 the nationally rare Turtle Dove established a breeding site on the reserve and has been recorded each year since. The Isle of Wight has only a handful of sites for this elusive dove. • Within the reserve there are two areas of grassland that have been damaged by trampling and concentrated dunging by livestock in an area where they were regularly fed in the past. Volunteers help the Isle of Wight Countryside Officer to control the pernicious nettles, creeping thistles and coarse grasses that have thrived on the increased nutrients. • Volunteers have also helped in removing scrub from the grassland areas of the Down. New volunteers are always welcome to assist with practical management as well as survey work for flowers and insects. For more information contact Chris Archbold, Isle of Wight Countryside Officer on 01983 529199. • Just two miles from Newport, the Down is popular among locals as a dog walking area. The majority of visitors use the dog bins at the entrance, which is important because the cattle are susceptible to worms found in the faeces. Your local Wildlife Trust The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust works to create a better future for wildlife and wild places in Hampshire and the Island. As the leading local wildlife conservation charity, it looks after 57 wildlife reserves, has 27,000 members and 1,000 volunteers. The Trust manages its own land and advises other landowners how to manage their land with wildlife in mind. Staff and volunteers also carry out surveys and gather data to monitor how our local wildlife is doing. Find out more at www.hwt.org.uk. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust is a charity. Join today and help your local wildlife www.hwt.org.uk Island Life - www.isleofwight.net 69