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
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