Arreton Down facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 |
|
| Area of Search | Isle of Wight |
|---|---|
| Grid reference | SZ540872 |
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 29.8 hectare |
| Notification | 1979 |
| Location map | Natural England |
Arreton Down is a special place on the Isle of Wight in England. It's known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) because it has important plants and animals. This area covers about 30 hectares, which is like 30 football fields! It was first recognized as special in 1979 for its geology (the rocks and land), but later in 1987, it was noted for its amazing wildlife. People often visit Arreton Down, especially in the mornings, to walk their dogs and enjoy nature. You can also see old field boundaries here from a long time ago.
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Exploring Arreton Down's Nature
Arreton Down is a large area of chalk grassland on the central Isle of Wight. It slopes towards the south, getting lots of sunshine. During the winter, cattle and horses graze here, which helps keep the grass short and healthy.
Plants of the Downland
The main grasses you'll find are red fescue and sheep's fescue. Many beautiful flowering plants also grow here, typical of chalky hillsides. These include:
- Horseshoe vetch
- Rock rose
- Wild thyme
- Carline thistle
- Pyramidal orchid
- Harebell
- Small scabious
- The less common bastard toadflax
Amazing Insects and Birds
Arreton Down is home to many butterflies, especially the chalkhill blue. You can also spot small blue, common blue, and brown argus butterflies flying around.
Look out for different types of bush crickets, including the large great green bush cricket.
The scrubland areas (bushes and small trees) are important for birds. Yellowhammers, goldfinches, whitethroats, and linnets all breed here. Grey partridges even nest on the ground.
If you look up, you might see ravens, kestrels, and buzzards soaring overhead. At night, barn owls hunt for food across the down.
The Arreton Down Hoard
Something very important was discovered on Arreton Down a long time ago, in the 1700s. This was a collection of ancient objects from the Bronze Age. It's called the Arreton Down Hoard.
What Was in the Hoard?
The hoard included:
- Seven bronze spear-heads
- Four axes
- One dagger
- One halberd (a weapon like an axe and spear combined)
This amazing collection was given to Sir Hans Sloane. He later left it to the British Museum in 1753, where it can still be seen today. It tells us a lot about the people who lived on the Isle of Wight thousands of years ago.
