The James Tuttiett Charitable Trust has enabled work to bring more land into conservation management. In addition, they have provided early support for ambitious projects such as beaver introduction on the Isle of Wight. They are helping drive real step changes in the conservation of our region.”
Debbie Tann
CEO of Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust
The Trust are pleased to have provided match funding to assist Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust in its purchase of two important pieces of land on the southern slopes of the Eastern Yar river on the Isle of Wight. With huge potential to help wildlife flourish on the island, the new nature reserve called Newchurch Moors forms a rich tapestry of habitats, from ancient woodland and river to grazed pasture and marshland. Newchurch Moors sits adjacent to other valuable areas for wildlife joining up habitats along the Eastern Yar river valley. The purchase created a thriving landscape for wildlife on the Eastern Yar, totalling 124 acres and giving the island’s nationally important wildlife the space it needs to thrive. Newchurch Moors now represents HIWWT’s biggest site on the island in a key location where they have established a reputation for landscape scale habitat restoration through reserves management and project delivery.
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© Paul Gonella
The Trust contributed funding to a beaver feasibility study to consider the introduction of the species on the Isle of Wight. The Wildlife Trusts have been at the forefront of beaver reintroduction and projects in Britain ever since Kent Wildlife Trust released the first pair into a fenced area of fenland in 2001, followed by the Scottish Beaver Trial in 2009. Subject to a successful licence application, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust plans to release beavers on the Isle of Wight for the first time. The results from the HIWWT feasibility research on their reserves in the Eastern Yar were very positive and show the habitat would be well suited to beavers. The team is looking forward to discussions with landowners and local communities about a potential beaver release over the course of the year.
"Beavers are a fantastic keystone species that have a hugely important role to play in restoring nature to Britain. It’s brilliant to see Wildlife Trusts across the UK ensuring a better future for wetlands and for a wealth of other wildlife by bringing back beavers whose engineering capabilities inject new life into wild places. The benefits for people are clear – beavers help stop flooding downstream, filter out impurities and they create new homes for otters, water voles and kingfishers. What’s more, people love seeing them and their presence boosts tourism in the countryside."
Craig Bennett, chief executive of The Wildlife Trust
"I am very excited that our plans to reintroduce beavers to the Isle of Wight are gaining such momentum. Thanks to the support of the James Tuttiett Charitable Trust and others we have been able to purchase large areas of wetland, commission a feasibility study and begin the process of bringing beavers back into our landscapes."
Debbie Tann, CEO of Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust
© Darin Smith