Island Life Magazine Ltd October/November 2007 | Page 66

life COUNTRYSIDE, WILDLIFE & FARMING You can create a wildlife friendly space Gardeners are proving that anyone can create a haven for wildlife Gardens are extremely important for friendly gardeners. Over 2 million chicks wildlife. Not only can they provide food were reared in nest boxes last year. and shelter for a huge range of plants • The Trust has helped the Isle of Wight and animals, but they can form a natural Natural History and Archaeological ‘bridge’ between built-up and open areas. Society to undertake dormouse nest Gardens can also provide particular box monitoring. Increasing numbers of habitats that may be missing in your local dormice have been found hibernating area such as ponds, suitable shelter in bird boxes throughout the winter for hibernation and nesting sites. due to loss of natural habitats and the As development has caused natural destruction of ‘wildlife corridors’. habitat in the wider countryside to be lost, gardens have become a muchHelp us find out more needed resource for wildlife. In some cases, where natural habitats have been If you have frogs in your pond, slow worms lost altogether, wildlife is being forced in your compost heap or hedgehogs in into gardens as a secondary habitat – your shed please let the Trust know so often encouraged by wildlife-friendly that we can build an accurate picture of gardeners, as these examples show: which species are found in the local area. • Gardens are an excellent source The Trust has produced some easy-to-use of nectar and pollen for insects. The survey sheets, which give hints and tips fact that many gardens now have lots of how to make your garden more wildlifeof winter-flowering plants has most friendly and to encourage you to report likely contributed to the successes of what animals you have in your gardens. the red admiral butterfly this year. Survey forms are available to download • Red Squirrels are increasingly seen from the Trust website www.hwt.org. using feeders in gardens. The Trust has uk or by contacting WildLine on 01489 been co-ordinating the Isle of Wight Red 774 446 or email [email protected]. Squirrel Project to encourage landowners to consider Photo: Dormouse by Andy Rothwell sympathetic management for red squirrels. • Gardening and ‘green living’ are becoming much more popular in the region, such as allotment sites, which are invaluable for wildlife. • Due to a loss of natural nesting sites, more and more garden birds are using nest boxes put up by wildlife- 66 Photo: St Lawrence Undercliff by Jackie Cooper Isle of Wight St Lawrence update Trust makes plans to fight compulsory purchase order In December 2006 the Isle of Wight Council served the Trust with a Compulsory Purchase Order for part of the Trust’s St Lawrence Undercliff Reserve on the Isle of Wight, where the Council plans to carry out road construction. Expert advice suggests that the planned road may well only last 25 years before it falls into the sea and the Trust believes that a more sustainable alternative route clearly exists. We believe that the forced purchase and destruction of Sites of Special Scientific Interest should only be carried out if there is an overwhelming case in the public interest. It is clear that this is not the case at St Lawrence and we will therefore be fighting the compulsory purchase order for as long as we are able. The fight may cost the Trust up to £30,000 but it feels that there are important principles that need to be defended in this case and that our members would expect every effort to be made to protect our reserves from destruction. The public enquiry is expected to take place towards the end of the year and you can keep up to date by visiting www.hwt.org.uk. Island Li fe - www.isleofwight.net