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IWBOA: Eastern Yar Valley
Opportunity area description
The valley of the Eastern Yar from north of Whitwell to the mouth at Bembridge Harbour, and the Scotchell’s Brook which flows northwards and lies to the west of Shanklin and Sandown. The Eastern Yar flows through a gap in the chalk ridge at Brading.
Joint Character Area/Landscape descriptive unit
Isle of Wight Joint Character Area: Harbours and creeks; traditional enclosed pasture; sandstone hills and gravel ridges
Landscape types
Predominantly an open landscape with both arable and pasture land.
Geology (bedrock)
Calcareous mud, ferruginous sand
Geology (superficial)
Extensive areas of alluvium, peat, river terrace deposits over-lie the solid geology throughout.
Topography (landform)
The northern part of the area is relatively flat and low lying land; above Godshill it is mostly below the 30m contour. Below Godshill, the valley narrows and there is a sandstone ridge at the western side rising to 80m. In the south of the area, St Catherine’s Hill rises to 100m
Biodiversity ( BAP habitat, Designated sites UK BAP Species)
SSSIs : Alverstone Marshes, Brading Marshes to St Helen’s Ledges
SINCs: Brading Marshes North, Centurion’s Copse, Steyne Wood, Morton Marsh, Sandown Levels, Sandown Golf Course, Alverstone Marshes East, Youngwood’s Copse, Pope’s Farm Marsh, Lynch Copse, Newchurch Marshes, Horringford Withybed, Perreton Down & Marsh, Redway Farm, Moor Farm, Great Budbridge, Upper Yar Valley, Bohemia Bog, Bleak Down, Upper Dolcoppice, Wydcombe Estate
BAP habitat
UK BAP Species
Water vole; Lapwing (wintering/breeding); Skylark; Asilus crabriformis (robber fly); Brent goose (wintering); Divided sedge; Reed bunting; Paracymus aeneus (water beetle); foxtail stonewort; Black-tailed godwit (wintering); Curlew (wintering); Prickly saltwort; Small flowered catchfly.
Access
RSPB reserve at Brading Marshes has footpaths crossing it. There is a ‘Source to Sea’ Eastern Yar way-marked walk.
Targets – main opportunities
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