COUNTRY LIFE
A World of
difference
by Jamie Marsh, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust
Are our nature reserves on the Isle
of Wight really that different from
those on the mainland? Jamie Marsh
describes the changes in his role as
a Reserves Officer in Hampshire to
Reserves Officer on the Island.
Being a born and bred Islander – or
Caulkhead as we are known – I have
always had a strong affinity with the
Island’s countryside and wildlife. I
grew up in the village of Brading,
where I was always out playing in the
woods or fishing on the Eastern Yar.
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After finishing university, I returned
home and began working in the
conservation sector. In 2007, I joined
the Trust initially as an Assistant
Reserves Officer then as the Solent
Reserves Officer in 2008; this meant
a daily commute over from the Island.
In June 2012, I switched roles and
returned to my home patch as the
Trust’s Isle of Wight Reserves Officer.
I greatly enjoyed my time working
in Hampshire, but coming back to
my roots meant a great deal. The
Island has what I can describe only
as ‘a hold on you’. I put it down to
the slower pace of life, the wonderful
countryside, the amazing wildlife and
the sense of being on an Island. Those
who move away often find themselves
drawn back. There is a standing joke
that the Island is always 15 years
behind the mainland, and in some
ways this is true.
In terms of wildlife and reserve
management, there are subtle
differences between the Isle of Wight
and the mainland. The Island has its
own climate and associated species. It
is a mix of geology, with clay to the
north, chalk through the centre and
greensand to the south. This mix gives
a unique combination of habitat s.
The Solent acts as both barrier and
defence, preventing some species
from arriving, for example the tawny
owl and lesser spotted woodpecker,
and protecting threatened species not
commonly found on the mainland,
such as the red squirrel. There are
no wild deer on the Island so the
woodland structure is very different
to that of the New Forest and other
parts of Hampshire. A haven for some
species and yet others are not found, it
is truly a varied and enthralling blend.
The general principles of
conservation management are much
the same, but they are applied in ways
that suit the Island’s reserves. These
reserves play a key part in the Island’s
Living Landscape approach, and our
management allows us to influence