FORESTS and WOODLANDS

Forest trails, coppiced woodland and a refuge for red squirrels.
The Island's patchwork landscape would not be as interesting without the deep green hues of its forests and woodlands, contrasting with the vibrant colours of the fields and pastures. Home to some of the Island's most endearing creatures and attractive wild flowers, these sylvan sanctuaries are well worth a visit.
Most of the large wooded areas managed by Forest Enterprise are accessible to the visitor. Parkhurst Forest, north of Newport, was mentioned in the Domesday records as a royal hunting forest which, at that time, extended as far north as Cowes (hence the village name of Northwood). Though the forest has changed much since then, it still has some of the best oak trees on the Island, as well as a number of Scots and Corsican pine.

Red Squirrel Follow the well way-marked Pine and Oak Forest Trails to see the Island's most famous inhabitant, the red squirrel. As there are no grey squirrels to compete with this native squirrel, the Island is a stronghold for this attractive animal.

Flowers thrive in the glades where light can penetrate through the trees above. This is a particular feature of Firestone Copse, situated near the Fishbourne ferry terminal, where a large area of hazel has been coppiced (cut and left to regrow naturally).


In the west, Brighstone Forest is a mix of beech and conifer. The great storm of 1987 devastated large areas of the conifer plantation which have been left open in an attempt to restore some of the remnant heathland, home to nightjars in the summer.

Borthwood Copse, near Sandown is owned by the National Trust and is a fragment of the medieval forest which covered most of the eastern end of the Island. Here, there are some fine oak and beech trees which stand amongst glades of coppiced sweet chestnut and hazel. A bridleway and a myriad of smaller paths guide you through this beautiful woodland, a joy to behold in the autumn with its vivid colours and, in the spring time, when carpeted with bluebells.

America Wood behind Shanklin is another "ancient woodland" worthy of a stroll. Located so close to this seaside resort, it provides an alternative rural treat.