Looking after our Isle of Wight countryside for winter wildlife

Newtown

The quiet creeks and tidal mud flats of Newtown are part of a network of estuaries along the Solent and south coast of the UK. Together, these estuaries form important resting places and sources of food for birds. It means that when birds are disturbed at one of these coastal sites, they have a place to retreat to at otherwise undisturbed, and not over-developed Newtown, which can provide a refuge for up to six months in the coldest part of the year.

The thick mud is like a larder for the birds, full of juicy worms and molluscs which are exposed as the tide goes out. This makes this intertidal area the perfect place to find a meal for teal and birds with long beaks that poke into the mud. As the tide retreats they spread out across the estuary to feed but as the high waters return, they flock together closer to the shore, making it a good time to spot them.

Winter visitors

Our visiting birds at Newtown come from far-flung, chilly climes. Brent geese fly from Northern Russia, whilst black-tailed godwits make the long journey from frozen Iceland to the Island. Their sub-arctic homes are covered in snow and ice at this time of year, making maritime Newtown seem warm and inviting in comparison.

Our work at Newtown

We work with Solent Bird Aware to monitor pubic assess to the birds. It’s important to ensure that the birds are disturbed as little as possible, as each time they have to fly away, additional energy is used – an important resource in cool winter when every Joule is needed to keep warm.

We’re also working with the Blue Marine Foundation to reintroduce native oysters to the waters at Newtown. This will help to clean the water, making it even better for wildlife. Each winter we take our boats out of the water too, so as not to disturb the birds.

If you’d like to see our winter visitors, we have a series of guided birdwatching walks throughout the season, or you can download our trail which will take you around the tranquil estuary.

Farmland

On the farmland that we care for, such as at Mottistone, Dunsbury and Shalfleet, we leave the cereal fields as rough stubble over winter. This provides food for insects which hungry skylarks and meadow pipets then feed on. In amongst the stubble, seed-bearing plants such as fat hen grow, providing food for linnets, yellowhammers and chaffinches.

Around the edges of fields, uncultivated strips are left during the ploughing season which provide a refuge and food for winter birds, as well as cover for protected animals such as hares and dormice, as well as more common voles.

We work the fields in rotation: some are ploughed in autumn, whilst those left for stubble are ploughed in spring and then planted with barley and oats. This makes it harder to establish the crop but helps the winter birds and gives the soil a rest from being worked.

If you take a walk on a winter’s day at Mottistone, it’s likely that you might spot flocks of yellowhammers and bullfinches darting through the winter skies.

Our rangers work hard in winter on the downs and in the woods too to provide homes for wildlife.