The Island is made up of a spectacularly diverse range of landscapes and coastlines, providing a variety of habitats for wildlife.

This provides a unique environment to learn and be inspired, whatever your age. The range of biodiversity on the Island provides a wealth of natural knowledge that can help people find jobs, learn new skills, enjoy their surroundings more, attract visitors and improve health. Thousands of hours are spent by volunteers each year learning how to care for the countryside, with organisations like the National Trust, RSPB, BTCV and the Isle of Wight Council’s countryside section. They are vital to ensure conservation takes place, and traditional skills are not lost.

Learn on events and guided walks
In June 2010, the Isle of Wight Biodiversity Partnership hosted a special wildlife event called 'Go Wild in the Woods' at Firestone Copse. The Island's very first BioBlitz also formed part of the day where the public, experts and scientists came together to record all the species encountered during the day.

Visit the events blog to find out more. The impressive final list of species recorded can be downloaded here.

The National Trust education warden at Newtown National Nature Reserve works with school groups, families and adults to ensure this excellent resource for learning is used in a sustainable way. This includes projects like the solar powered radial telescope, which transmits images to a solar powered TV to enable groups to see the birds in the estuary.

Ecology for school groups
Medina Valley Centre has the Eco-challenger mobile field centre (a Leader+ funded project) which helps bring the natural world to schools with a variety of activities, such as pond dipping, recording the weather and demonstrating renewable energy.

Learn about rocks and fossils
Dinosaur Isle champions the geodiversity beneath our feet and organises courses and walks for schools and individuals to bring geology alive.

Learn about wildlife
Learn more about wildlife and geology and to identify and record species in an informal, friendly environment by joining a group such as the Isle of Wight Natural History and Archaeological Society.