Newtown National Nature Reserve and Old Town Hall

Take a gentle stroll through the varied habitats of the Island’s only National Nature Reserve, and visit a hamlet with a colourful past.

The way we look after the meadows means they are filled with lots of different wild flowers that are important for delicate butterflies and other insects. In the summer sunshine you’ll see them dancing across the flowers as they gather nectar.

Our work at Newtown means it's a great place to spot butterflies dancing through the meadows and woods. We've a family trail that shows you where to find them and which ones you're most likely to see. You can download it here, then follow the simple route. There are activities along the way too, suitable for toddlers to older adventurers. It's about one hour there and back with a little one - 0.9 miles.

Whether its walking, cycling, family fun, wildlife or history that interests you, you can find it all on the Isle of Wight.

Newtown's Old Town Hall has existed on this site since the 13th century but the road to its ongoing survival hasn't been smooth.

In the late 1920s, Ferguson's Gang saved our Old Town Hall. Find out why they did it and who they were.

Discover how Walters Copse has changed from meadow land in the middle ages to the special group of trees we now find here today.

Although no commercial salt has been made here for over 80 years, the salt lagoons were once part of a thriving industry.

We carefully look after Newtown's meadows so that they are filled with delicate wildflowers in summer which support colourful butterflies and important insects.

Meet our flock of Hebridean sheep and discover what's so special about them and how they help us care for our Nature Reserve.