On this page you will find:
- Wildlife Overview
- Key Facts and Figures
- Sustaining the Landscape
- Management Influences and Forces for Change
- Policies and Priorities
Wildlife Overview
The Isle of Wight AONB has a rich biodiversity largely due to the varied geology, landform, and ongoing natural processes. The areas of chalk grassland; maritime slopes and cliffs; estuarine habitats; ancient woodlands and notable species are of particular importance regionally, nationally, and internationally.30
Wildlife and the countryside have evolved with the influence of people throughout history. Since the mid-nineteenth century the pace of change has increased, which has had an impact on habitats and species. Anthropogenic climate change due to carbon and other emissions; eutrophication of habitats; intensification of food production in the agricultural sector; pressure from increased built development for transport and housing; commerce and industry and increasing recreational activity have all led to change in the countryside and a decrease in biodiversity as a result of habitat change or loss. For example, chalk grassland on the Isle of Wight has declined by two-thirds since 1850, however, a mosaic of important habitats remains. Areas of land that have poor soil, saline conditions or steep slopes have avoided the intensification associated with more productive land. The result is small areas of semi-natural habitat of high wildlife value being surrounded by a more hostile, less bio-diverse, more intensively farmed landscape. However, the Island is more fortunate than many areas in lowland Britain, in still having areas of interconnecting and wildlife-rich habitats. These may act as important sources of diversity, with the potential to re-colonise the wider countryside when farming practice becomes less intensive.
Island status has prevented the introduction of some species such as mink and grey squirrel, and, consequently, allowed populations of rare species such as hazel dormouse, red squirrel and water vole to flourish. However, it also prevents recolonization following local extinction. Three butterfly species have been lost from the Island in recent years and others are endangered. These species will not return without human intervention.
Changes to local habitats can also arise from the introduction of non-native species that have flourished including Holm oak, buddleia, Himalayan balsam, New Zealand pygmy weed, and Japweed. Several tree diseases impact the Island’s wildlife and landscape. These include Dutch Elm Disease and more recent impacts of Ash Die-back disease. Whilst some have a long history on the Island, the local and global trade in the importing of non-native plants, and their associated fauna, will continue to bring challenges to our Island biodiversity.
A mild climate and coastal conditions also allow species, such as the Glanville fritillary butterfly to live at the northern edge of their European range. The impact of relative sea level rise and the commensurate erosion on coastal habitats is a particular area of concern, due to the limited opportunities for the migration of habitats. However, climate change presents interesting and potentially challenging biodiversity opportunities with new species colonising from the continent.
Key Facts and Figures
Isle of Wight AONB Designations Map
Isle of Wight AONB Habitats Map (IWLNRS85 Habitat Types)
Key Habitats
| Habitat represented in IWAONB | Area (ha) | % IW total |
| Calcareous grassland | 626 | 98% |
| Maritime cliffs and slopes | 383 | 89% |
| Heath & acid grassland | 148 | 84% |
| Lowland meadows | 119 | 58% |
| Woodland | 871* | 52% |
| Coastal habitats | 426 | 46% |
| Wetlands | 294 | 38% |
*ancient woodland including Planting on Ancient Woodland Sites (PAWS)
There are 27 SSSIs within the IWAONB, though only 21 of these are wholly within the designation. 44% SSSI features of these sites are in favourable condition. Three sites are in unfavourable condition, Thorness Bay, Cridmore Bog, and Alverstone Marshes.48 There is one National Nature Reserve at Newtown managed by the National Trust.
There are 305 locally designated Sites for Nature Conservation (SINCs) on the Isle of Wight, covering some of the priority habitats found on the island outside the international and national designations. The IWAONB has 150 (50%) of these sites, with the following dominant ecological features:
- Woodland 101
- Coastal 2
- Grassland 36
- Heathland 2
- Wetland 7
- Species 2
A recent survey (2024) of SINCs in the designated landscape indicates that 57% are in a good condition.
Section 41 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 200687 requires the UK government to publish a lists habitats and species in the UK of nature conservation concern (List of habitats and species of principal importance in England). Of these species 196 (72 are moths) occur in the Isle of Wight AONB and two of these species occur in the Isle of Wight AONB and nowhere else in the British Isles – reddish buff moth and wood calamint.
Sustaining the Landscape
Wildlife is rightly valued for its aesthetic qualities and the enjoyment people gain from visiting areas of high wildlife value. However, this view sells short the true importance of wildlife on our continued health and wellbeing.
Wildlife also:
- provides genetic diversity, from which we derive our agricultural foods,
- provides the photosynthesis of plants (producing a proportion of the oxygen we breathe),
- enables carbon sequestration (removal of one of the most influential greenhouse gases from the atmosphere),
- is fundamental to the pollination of flowers and crops,
- regulates the virility and spread of pests and diseases,
- reduces erosion by binding soils together, and
- provides a ‘product’ for tourism to benefit from.
Management Influence and Forces for Change
Without a healthy and diverse wildlife resource the landscape would look very different and many of the benefits we receive would not be possible.
The Isle of Wight AONB contains most of the areas designated for their wildlife importance; however, habitats are spread across the Island. To avoid fragmentation and isolation of key habitats and species, the Isle of Wight AONB needs to consider sites in this wider Island context.
Environment Act 202114
The Environment Act was given Royal Assent in 2021 and seeks to deliver through policy and secondary legislation / regulations:
- Long-term targets to improve air quality, biodiversity, water, and waste reduction and resource efficiency.
- A target on ambient PM2.5 concentrations, the most harmful pollutant to human health
- A target to halt the decline of nature by 2030.
- Environmental Improvement Plans, including interim targets.
- A cycle of environmental monitoring and reporting
- Environmental Principles embedded in domestic policy making.
- Office for Environmental Protection to uphold environmental law.
- Local Nature Recovery Strategy, Biodiversity Net Gain and Conservation Covenants
Legally binding targets for biodiversity are listed below:
- Halt the decline in species abundance by the end of 2030.
- Increase species abundance by the end of 2042 so that is greater than in 2022 and at least 10% greater than in 2030.
- Reduce the risk of species’ extinction by 2042, when compared to the risk of species’ extinction in 2022.
UK Environment Improvement Plan12
The Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) 2023 for England is the UK Government’s first revision of the 25 Year Environment Plan (25YEP 201811). It builds on the 25 YEP vision with a new plan setting out how UK Govt will work with landowners, communities and businesses to deliver each of our goals for improving the environment, matched with interim targets to measure progress. Environmental Improvement Plan 2023 – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
The Plan lists ten environmental goals:
Goal 1: Thriving plants and wildlife.
Goal 2: Clean air
Goal 3: Clean and plentiful water
Goal 4: Managing exposure to chemicals and pesticides.
Goal 5: Maximise our resources, minimise our waste.
Goal 6: Using resources from nature sustainably.
Goal 7: Mitigating and adapting to climate change.
Goal 8: Reduced risk of harm from environmental hazards
Goal 9: Enhancing biosecurity.
Goal 10: Enhanced beauty, heritage, and engagement with the natural environment
Improving nature is described as the apex goal and is described as halting the decline in our biodiversity so that thriving plants and wildlife can be achieved.
Furthermore, to reach this apex goal the UK Govt are seeking to:
- Launch the Species Survival Fund to create, enhance and restore habitats,
- Create, restore, and extend around 70 areas for wildlife through projects,
- Promote and fund Landscape Recovery Projects
- Protect 30% of our land and sea for nature through the Nature Recovery Network and enhanced protections for our marine protected areas.
- Promote and fund Local Nature Recovery Strategies to identify areas to create and restore habitat, and Biodiversity Net Gain to enhance the built environment,
- Support a transformation in the management of 70% of our countryside by incentivising farmers to adopt nature friendly farming practices,
- Publish an updated Green Finance Strategy, setting out the steps we are putting in place to leverage in private finance to deliver against these goals.
Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS)88,89
UK Government has made legally binding commitments to end the declines of biodiversity and for nature to recover. This is important for nature’s own sake and for all the things that society relies on nature for, like clean water and food production. For nature to recover, targeted, co-ordinated, and collaborative action will be required. Under the Environment Act 202114, the UK Government placed an obligation on ‘responsible authorities’ to produce LNRS. The Isle of Wight Council was informed it was a responsible authority in July 2023 and was awarded a grant to undertake the work.
Each Local Nature Recovery Strategy will agree priorities for nature recovery and propose actions in the locations where it would make a particular contribution to achieving those priorities. It will be specific and tailored to its area. The responsible authorities and people involved in preparing a strategy can choose how they want it to look, but every strategy must contain:
- A local habitat map.
- A written statement of biodiversity priorities.
The Isle of Wight Local Nature Recovery Strategy90 is known as ‘Island Nature’ and is expected to be published in summer 2025.
Isle of Wight AONB Nature Recovery Plan91 and DEFRA Targets and Outcomes92
In May 2021 the Isle of Wight AONB published its Nature Recovery Plan, one of a series produced by the UK AONB Partnerships as part of the Colchester Declaration in 2019. Eight priority habitats were identified, and targets produced for maintenance and restoration. In parallel with this eight flagship species were identified for each habitat: reddish buff moth, wood calamint, early gentian, Glanville fritillary, barn owl, nightjar, water vole and small cordgrass.
| Habitat | Maintain (ha) | Fav condition (ha) | Restore / create (ha) |
| Woodland | 471 | 352 | 400 |
| Lowland Meadow | 119 | 101 | 132 |
| Heath and Acid grass | 148 | 126 | 15 |
| Calcareous grassland | 626 | 532 | 190 |
| Maritime cliff and slope | 381 | 115 | |
| Wetlands | 294 | 294 | |
| Coastal | 426 | 15 |
These targets are being adopted in this Plan as a contribution to the national Protected Landscapes Targets and Outcomes Framework92 announced by DEFRA as part of the Environmental Improvement Plan.
Natural England’s conservation priorities93
Natural England are the government’s adviser for the natural environment in England.
Their priorities for 2020- 25 are outlined below:
- a well-managed Nature Recovery Network across land, water, and sea, which creates and protects resilient ecosystems rich in wildlife and natural beauty, enjoyed by people and widely benefiting society,
- people connected to the natural environment for their own and society’s wellbeing, enjoyment, and prosperity,
- Nature-based solutions contributing fully to tackling the climate change challenge and wider environmental hazards and threats,
- improvements in the natural capital that drives sustainable economic growth, healthy food systems and prospering communities,
- evidence and expertise being used by a broad range of partnerships, organisations, and communities to achieve Nature recovery and enable effective regulation and accreditation,
- being a values-led organisation that delivers excellent service standards to all partners, organisations and communities engaged in achieving nature’s recovery.
Status of Key Species in Isle of Wight AONB
Monitoring the fortunes of wildlife in the designated landscape produces a mixed picture regarding the populations of key species (or groups). Data from the locally produced bird and butterfly reports (IWNHAS / IWOG; HIWBC) since the last management Plan is shown below:
Populations of Key Grassland Species of Butterfly on Isle of Wight
Populations of Key Target Butterflies in Isle of Wight AONB
Key butterflies in grassland show relatively stable or growing populations (in terms of number of sites) but there is concern over the long-term future of the Grayling butterfly in the Isle of Wight AONB.
Populations of Key Species of Farmland Birds on the Isle of Wight
Populations of Flagship Bird Species in Isle of Wight AONB
The future of farmland birds continues to be uncertain due to recent lack of systematic data. However, the long fall of barn owl populations is of concern due to the importance of the Island for this species nationally.
Biodiversity Net Gain94 / National Planning Policy Framework 202310
The NPPF gives a clear mandate to identify and pursue opportunities for securing net gain for biodiversity through the planning system to ensure that development does not reduce ecological function of the AONB and adversely affect the associated island economy and tourism.
In 2021 Biodiversity Net Gain became mandatory under Schedule 7 of the Town and Country Planning Act (Schedule 14 of the Environment Act 202114) and was in force from February 2024.
Developers are expected to provide 10% more biodiversity in the development than there was before they started the development. Existing biodiversity will be measured using a standardised metric and developers are able to deliver through on-site, off-site or a mixture of the two. The measures are expected to last for 30 years. This obligation will be regulated by local authorities and guaranteed by legal agreement between the local authority and the developer.
Partnership Working for Wildlife
The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Local Nature Partnership (HW LNP)95 covers Hampshire, Isle of Wight, the Solent, and South-Wight Sea areas and was established to provide a vision, strategic leadership and a strong championing voice for these superb natural environments.
The Isle of Wight Biodiversity Partnership (IWBP) is a collaboration of partners, who are taking forward biodiversity targets on the Isle of Wight. This Partnership has been working to help achieve national and local biodiversity priorities as part of the AONB Management Plan and Local Nature Recovery Strategy processes.
Other Factors
The following list details other factors affecting the conservation and enhancement of wildlife:
- Pests and disease have the potential to have a major impact on the plant and animal species. Climate change may alter the current geographical extent pest species which may also be vectors for disease. Global markets and import of animal and plant materials all can introduce pests and disease into the local environment.
- Invasive non-native plant species and introduced animal species have the capacity to significantly alter the balance of wildlife ecosystems impacting on our native wildlife.
- Land management practices can both benefit and cause harm to wildlife and habitats.
- Some recreational activities may be problematic where the impact on wildlife and habitats is significant either due to the individual activity or through cumulative effects. This applies to activities on land and in the marine environment.
- Some forms of development either due to their impact on previously undeveloped land, loss of significant habitat on ‘brownfield’ previously developed sites or their wider effect on surrounding wildlife and its conservation and enhancement.
- Over managed approaches to areas of green space and wider countryside creating manicured verges, greens etc can have a detrimental impact on potential habitats for wildlife.
- Urban influences through disturbance from light, noise and domestic pets can impact on wildlife.
- Climate change has the potential to cause both problems such as habitat squeeze, increased incidence of forest and heath fires, increased abstraction of water but also potential opportunities for species movement.
Policies for Wildlife
These policies should be read in conjunction with the overarching objectives for the Isle of Wight AONB as detailed on the welcome and overview page – Isle of Wight National Landscape: Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Management Plan 2025-2030 – Isle of Wight National Landscape.
P28 Promote and celebrate the importance of the diverse habitats and species of Isle of Wight AONB especially those highlighted by the IW Local Nature Recovery Strategy.
P29 Support and encourage appropriate farming, forestry, land use and marine maritime activities, which contribute to wildlife and habitat objectives and create bigger, better, more and joined diverse, naturally functioning habitats.
P30 Support projects that conserve and enhance populations of target habitats and species (as described in Isle of Wight AONB Nature Recovery Plan), as a contribution to national Protected Landscapes Targets and Outcomes Framework and monitor progress on this work.
Priorities for Delivery
- Ensure the Isle of Wight Local Records Centre develops regular wildlife and habitat monitoring and recording programmes to update the IWAONB Nature Recovery Plan and establishes ways in which the data obtained from this can be shared more effectively.
- Support the development of targeted programmes for habitat maintenance, restoration, and creation, in line with DEFRA’s Targets and Outcomes through a landscape-scale approach.
- Support Local Nature Recovery Strategy production and implementation with partners including national and local environmental NGOs, farmers and landowners and the local authority.
- Encourage the Isle of Wight Council, Island Roads, parishes, and community groups, to undertake appropriate management of community assets such as parks, village greens and roadside verges for their wildlife value and interest.