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Members of the Isle of Wight Biodiversity Action Plan Steering Group have contributed items to Finest Landscapes, the AONB newsletter, under the ?Go Wild on Wight? banner relating to climate change and what it might mean for biodiversity on an Island scale.
The Island beaches have had a remarkable influx of ?sailors? this week, but not the ones you would usually expect, reports the Isle of Wight Council. Fort Victoria, Gurnard and Compton beaches have had hundreds of ?by-the-wind-sailors? washed up on the strand line.
The ?sailors? have a bluish disc about 8cm across with a sail-like structure projecting above the surface, which catches the wind, hence the name, and allows movement propelled by wind and tide. By-the-wind-sailors resemble jelly fish, but they are actually a colony of animals; one forms a float and others are specialised for feeding, reproduction or defence. They do have stinging tentacles hanging below the disc, which are used to stun their prey (of smaller marine plankton including young fish), but a sting is unlikely to be felt by people coming into contact with them.
A long-snouted seahorse was found on 15th October 2006 in the Medina estuary, near the Folly Lake, when a local fisherman inspected his nets.
A seahorse features on the Isle of Wight College logo, and on the former Isle of Wight County Council coat of arms, but authenticated records are few and far between.
In 1909, they were described by local naturalist Percy Wadham as ?rare off Hampshire?. In the last few years there have been three live records of the long-snouted seahorse and one dead short-snouted seahorse from Island waters and beaches.
Seahorses are associated with seagrass beds, which are found in the Solent along the northern coast of the Island and along the Hampshire coastline. The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust is currently organising the Solent Seagrass Project to investigate this habitat. It is important as a nursery ground for juvenile fish and crustaceans like shrimps and crabs as well as being a winter feeding ground for brent geese.
The 14th Annual Isle of Wight Hedgelaying Competition took place on Saturday, 25 February at Blackwater Hollow. A record number of competitors entered the contest, which draw hundreds of spectators throughout the day, despite the cold wind.
?Hedgerows seem like natural features of our countryside, but they are made and maintained by people,? said IW Council Countryside Manager Matthew Chatfield. ?Even though they are often cut with machines these days, a good hedge can still be laid every 15 years or so. This keeps them stockproof, looks good and is a very effective way to encourage wildlife.
?The Island is fortunate in having a number of landowners keen to keep alive this ancient craft, and also some very talented hedgelayers. We are delighted that so many young people are now coming forward to enter the competition ?it shows that the craft is really gaining in popularity on the Island.?
The event is organised by Landscape Therapy in conjunction with the Isle of Wight Council?s Countryside Section and sponsored by Wight Wildlife and the AONB Partnership. Prizes were donated by W. Hurst & Son of Newport, Mrs. Mary Sitch and the Country Land and Business Association.
Results:
W. Hurst & Son Challenge Cup for open competition
Mary Sitch Challenge Cup for novice
Landscape Therapy Challenge Trophy for teams
Wight Wildlife Conservation Award for 2006 was presented to Mr. and Mrs Patrick Seely of Brook.
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