Visions for a Wilder Wight

Creating a WILDER WIGHT

With its unique location at the southern extremity of the UK, the Isle of Wight is an important haven for wildlife – but it could be a paradise. We just need to unlock its wild potential.

The world’s islands are special, almost sacred, places for nature. Think Madagascar, Australia, and the Galapagos. These chunks of rock, cut adri of the mainland, o en host unique wildlife given the natural barrier formed by the sea. And despite being just 23 miles wide, the Isle of Wight is no exception.

This, England’s largest island, is a wildlife haven. In 2019, the Isle of Wight became a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, joining a global network of outstanding cultural and ecological locations. The Island boasts a diverse mosaic of habitats, from ancient woodland and chalk downs to maritime cliff s and saltmarshes, and supports over 10,000 species, including some found nowhere else in the UK.

Already this humble isle punches above its weight in terms of its biodiversity but it can also achieve so much more. Here, we outline our plan for a Wilder Wight to encourage even more nature to thrive on the Island – because our future must be wilder.

Pu ing nature in recovery

AUSTIN MORLEY We need to deliver landscape-scale nature recovery with at least 30% of land and sea actively managed for nature across the whole Island by 2030.

More space for nature

The Trust now manages 15 nature reserves on the Island, covering 650 acres. Our reserves provide vital refuge for vulnerable species, such as water voles, dormice, snipe, woodcock and rare dragonfl ies, and are central to our plans to create a Wilder Wight. We aim to continue expanding and connecting our network of reserves by acquiring and improving marginal habitats and poor-quality farmland, such as fl oodplains.

We’ll work alongside those who share our vision for a Wilder Wight, including the Isle of Wight AONB, local authorities, conservation organisations like the National Trust and RSPB, and private landowners. These partnerships will create an Island-wide Nature Recovery Network to provide bigger, be er and more joined up spaces for nature – doubling the space for wildlife to reach the 30% goal. Together, we’ll get nature working again, making sure our wetlands are wet and reversing declines in wildlife on land and at sea.

Bringing back missing species

We want to bring back missing keystone species to restore the wider ecosystem and create a more climate resilient landscape where wildlife can adapt and thrive. The recent reintroduction of white-tailed sea eagles has blazed a trail of success across the Island’s skies. We hope to return other lost native species, including beaver (read more on page 18), cirl bunting and chough. The Trust is also supporting the conservation of rare species already existing on the Island, including the Glanville fritillary bu erfl y, the reddish buff moth and endangered fi eld cow-wheat, all of which have a foothold on the Island yet exist almost nowhere else in Britain.

People taking action for nature

For wildlife to thrive, we need more people on nature’s side and we all have a part to play. To make real and lasting change, we need to create a ripple eff ect, with one in four people acting on behalf of nature and the climate. Our Wilder Communities Project Offi cer, Kelly Wetherick, funded by Southern Co-op, has been empowering Island communities to value, enjoy and take action for wildlife. There are many ways to get involved, from creating more space for nature in Nature as a solution your home, work, school or community to becoming a Wilder Champion (see more on page 22). We want to enable people of all ages and to local and global problems backgrounds to connect with natural spaces close to where they live, work and play. To encourage desperately needed change, we’re campaigning, too, for stronger legislation to protect our wildlife and wild spaces. We also want to see greater Nature can help us tackle serious investment in nature and nature-based solutions from government, local authorities, issues like climate change, pollution developers, water companies and landowners. Together, we are #TeamWilder. and fl ooding. Whether that’s through introduced beavers reducing fl ood risk or restored seagrass meadows absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, nature-based solutions provide win-wins.

Rewilding

Sometimes it’s be er to let nature take the lead. This is why, thanks to excellent relationships the Trust has formed with key partners and landowners on the Island, we’re piloting nature-based solutions to demonstrate they work. For example, last year the Trust acquired 100 acres of farmland near Arreton with plans to transform the area into a rich wildlife refuge. Restoring poor-quality arable land can help combat the nature crisis and also off er solutions to other problems, like reducing nitrogen pollution and locking up carbon. Learn more about our exciting rewilding plans for Li le Duxmore Farm on page 24.

We’re also restoring seagrass beds in the Solent to support marine wildlife and help slow down coastal erosion. Seagrass is also a globally important carbon sink – some species can store carbon 35 times faster than rainforest. We want people to benefi t from a healthy and wildlife-rich environment. Nature can boost local economies by providing new business opportunities, jobs, and income. Increasing eco-tourism can boost rural economies by visitors spending locally on food, accommodation, wildlife-themed gi s and nature-based enterprises. With 80% of the Island devoted to agriculture, farming is another important part of the economy. Government policy is moving in the direction of naturepositive farming, so now is the ideal time to work in partnership on nature

Volunteers at a Wilder Wight school.

Our plans for a Wilder Wight include working with farmers to bene t nature.

Supporting a thriving nature-based economy

recovery alongside sustainable foodproduction across the farmed landscape. We’ll work with other organisations on the Island to champion farming with nature; ensuring farmers are supported to adopt wildlife-friendly methods and rewarded for embracing fi nancially sustainable business models that deliver for farming and the environment. We also want to demonstrate how investment in nature can nurture innovative business models that benefi t Aerial view of Little Duxmore Nature Reserve. STRONG ISLAND the whole island and mitigate the fi nancial impacts of climate change and extreme weather.