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