Arreton Down: Difference between revisions
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{{Use British English|date=June 2015}} |
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{{Infobox SSSI |
{{Infobox SSSI |
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|name=Arreton Down |
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|map=[http://www.natureonthemap.org.uk/map.aspx?map=sssi&feature=1004284,sssi,HYPERLINK,LABEL ''Natural England''] |
|map=[http://www.natureonthemap.org.uk/map.aspx?map=sssi&feature=1004284,sssi,HYPERLINK,LABEL ''Natural England''] |
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It is public access land and popular with early morning dog walkers, who park near the chalk pit entrance. The land is marked by extensive ancient field features as yet unexcavated. |
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| ⚫ | '''Arreton Down''' ({{gbmapping|SZ540872}}) is a 29.77 [[hectare]] [[biological Site of Special Scientific Interest]] on the [[Isle of Wight]], originally [[SSSI notification|notified]] in 1979 for its geological interest and then renotified in 1987, but for its biological interest only. It is public access land and popular with early morning dog walkers, who park near the chalk pit entrance. The land is marked by extensive ancient field features as yet unexcavated.<ref name=HIWWT>{{cite web |url=https://www.hiwwt.org.uk/nature-reserves/arreton-down-nature-reserve |title=Arreton Down Nature Reserve |publisher=Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust |accessdate=28 March 2020}}</ref> |
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==The Down== |
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The Arreton Down Site of Special Scientific Interest is a large area of south-sloping chalk grassland in the central part of the Isle of Wight. It is grazed by cattle and horses during the winter, and is dominated by fine grasses such as [[Festuca rubra|red fescue]] and [[Festuca ovina|sheep's fescue]]. The flowering plants are typical of downland habitats and include [[Hippocrepis comosa|horseshoe vetch]], [[Helianthemum nummularium|rock rose]], [[Thymus praecox|wild thyme]], [[Carlina vulgaris|carline thistle]], [[Anacamptis pyramidalis|pyramidal orchid]], [[Campanula rotundifolia|harebell]], [[Scabiosa columbaria|small scabious]] and the uncommon [[Thesium humifusum|bastard toadflax]].<ref name=HIWWT/><ref name=citation>{{cite web | url = https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/PDFsForWeb/Citation/1004284.pdf | title = Natural England citation sheet | publisher = Natural England | accessdate = 28 March 2020}}</ref> |
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There are large numbers of [[chalkhill blue]] butterflies on the site as well as [[small blue]], [[common blue]] and [[Aricia agrestis|brown argus]] butterflies. There are also [[Tettigonia viridissima|great green bush crickets]] and three other species of [[Tettigoniidae|bush cricket]].<ref name=citation/> Scrubland is another habitat on the site and this is where [[yellowhammer]]s, [[European goldfinch|goldfinches]], [[Common whitethroat|whitethroat]] and [[Common linnet|linnets]] breed, as well as [[grey partridge]]s nesting on the ground. [[Common raven|ravens]], [[Common kestrel|kestrels]] and [[Common buzzard|buzzards]] can be seen overhead while [[Western barn owl|barn owl]]s hunt here during the night.<ref name=HIWWT/><ref name=citation/> |
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An important [[Bronze Age]] hoard was found on Arreton Down in the eighteenth century. Comprising seven bronze spear-heads, four axes, one dagger and one halberd, it came into the possession of Sir [[Hans Sloane]] who bequeathed it to the [[British Museum]] in 1753.<ref>[https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/search.aspx?place=20226&plaA=20226-3-2 British Museum Collection] British Museum</ref> |
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{{Reflist}} |
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{{SSSIs IoW}} |
{{SSSIs IoW}} |
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{{coord|50.68196|N|1.23703|W|region:GB_source:enwiki-osgb36(SZ540872)|display=title}}<!-- Note: WGS84 lat/long, converted from OSGB36 grid ref --> |
{{coord|50.68196|N|1.23703|W|region:GB_source:enwiki-osgb36(SZ540872)|display=title}}<!-- Note: WGS84 lat/long, converted from OSGB36 grid ref --> |
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{{Commons category|Arreton Down}} |
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{{commonscat}} |
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[[Category:Sites of Special Scientific Interest on the Isle of Wight]] |
[[Category:Sites of Special Scientific Interest on the Isle of Wight]] |
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[[Category:Sites of Special Scientific Interest notified in 1979]] |
[[Category:Sites of Special Scientific Interest notified in 1979]] |
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[[Category:Hills of the Isle of Wight]] |
[[Category:Hills of the Isle of Wight]] |
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{{England-SSSI-stub}} |
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{{IsleofWight-geo-stub}} |
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Latest revision as of 10:20, 18 November 2024
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
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| Location | Isle of Wight |
|---|---|
| Grid reference | SZ540872 |
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 29.8 hectare |
| Notification | 1979 |
| Location map | Natural England |
Arreton Down (grid reference SZ540872) is a 29.77 hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest on the Isle of Wight, originally notified in 1979 for its geological interest and then renotified in 1987, but for its biological interest only. It is public access land and popular with early morning dog walkers, who park near the chalk pit entrance. The land is marked by extensive ancient field features as yet unexcavated.[1]
The Down
[edit]The Arreton Down Site of Special Scientific Interest is a large area of south-sloping chalk grassland in the central part of the Isle of Wight. It is grazed by cattle and horses during the winter, and is dominated by fine grasses such as red fescue and sheep's fescue. The flowering plants are typical of downland habitats and include horseshoe vetch, rock rose, wild thyme, carline thistle, pyramidal orchid, harebell, small scabious and the uncommon bastard toadflax.[1][2]
There are large numbers of chalkhill blue butterflies on the site as well as small blue, common blue and brown argus butterflies. There are also great green bush crickets and three other species of bush cricket.[2] Scrubland is another habitat on the site and this is where yellowhammers, goldfinches, whitethroat and linnets breed, as well as grey partridges nesting on the ground. ravens, kestrels and buzzards can be seen overhead while barn owls hunt here during the night.[1][2]
Arreton Down Hoard
[edit]An important Bronze Age hoard was found on Arreton Down in the eighteenth century. Comprising seven bronze spear-heads, four axes, one dagger and one halberd, it came into the possession of Sir Hans Sloane who bequeathed it to the British Museum in 1753.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Arreton Down Nature Reserve". Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
- ^ a b c "Natural England citation sheet" (PDF). Natural England. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
- ^ British Museum Collection British Museum
- English Nature citation sheet for the site (accessed 5 August 2006)
50°40′55″N 1°14′13″W / 50.68196°N 1.23703°W
