Link: http://www.iwight.com/countryside

The Ecology Service provides specialist advice and information on a wide variety of matters relating to nature conservation on the Isle of Wight with the aim of securing the protection and enhancement of the Island?s biodiversity. We seek to raise the profile and standard of wildlife conservation in the Island through our dealings with public, voluntary and private sector bodies.

Our services are used by members of the public, the Council, as well as land managers and grant awarding bodies (such as The Forestry Commission and English Nature) and consultants. We liaise with statutory bodies including English Nature, the Environment Agency and the Forestry Commission.

We provide advice on the ecological impact of development proposals, including advice on site safeguard and mitigation measures and evaluation of Environmental Impact Assessments.

We provide advice on international and national legislation and planning guidance relating to wildlife and nature conservation, including protected species.

Wall lizard, Ventnor

We maintain the Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC) system of sites considered to be of at least local importance for habitats, species, geological or geomorphological features they support.

We offer advice on land management which will benefit wildlife.

We work closely with many partner organisations in developing and implementing local Biodiversity Action Plans and we act as co-ordinators for the Isle of Wight Biodiversity Action Plan Steering Group.

We maintain information in paper and electronic forms relating to the presence and distribution of habitats and species throughout the county.

The Island is home to many rare and unusual species, but also a few unwelcome visitors. Perhaps the most notorious of these is the dreaded Japanese Knotweed. This spectacular ornamental plant was first planted by the Victorians, and soon escaped into the wild where it grew rampantly. With no natural predators the attractive foliage spread across large parts of the West Country and Wales, and is found in patches over much of England, including the Isle of Wight.

If it were simply an attractive escapee there would be little harm ? but this pretty plant hides a horrible secret. As well as smothering native plants and starving native animals of food, the invader can grow two metres every year, and is strong enough to push its way through concrete, tarmac or even come up inside houses.

The Council is active in controlling knotweed on its own land ? this year the Countryside Section has organised over ?20,000 of knotweed control work to conserve wildlife and keep the weed from damaging property.

Digging out the plant or cutting almost always makes the problem worse, as even the tiniest fragment can regenerate a whole plant in less than a year. Sadly, poisoning is the only effective method at present, although as a last resort, Japanese Knotweed is an edible plant, capable of being boiled and eaten like asparagus and is an excellent source of vitamin C. Eaten in large quantities Knotweed can also act as a gentle laxative! We have no recipes, but the Countryside Section can offer landowners advice on more conventional knotweed control methods, although there is no special funding available.