The Wilderness SSSI, Isle of Wight facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 |
|
| Area of Search | Isle of Wight |
|---|---|
| Grid reference | SZ505824 |
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 12.6 hectare |
| Notification | 1951 |
| Location map | Natural England |
The Wilderness is a special nature area on the Isle of Wight, England. It's called a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This means it's protected because of its unique plants, animals, or geology.
The Wilderness is near the village of Rookley. It sits in the valley of the River Medina. This area has wet woodlands growing on deep peat soil. There are also areas of natural, untouched grassland nearby. The SSSI covers about 12.6 hectares, which is roughly the size of 17 football fields. Its boundaries were set in 1984 to make sure only the truly natural parts were protected.
What Makes The Wilderness Special?
The woodlands at The Wilderness are not ancient. Trees started growing here on land that used to be for grazing animals. Some parts were open fields until fairly recently.
Trees and Shrubs
The main trees you'll see are common oak and sallow. There are also some silver birch and common alder trees. The ground is often covered with brambles.
A very special plant here is bog myrtle. There are about 20 bushes, which might be the largest group left on the Isle of Wight!
Ground Plants
In some areas, you'll find lots of tussock sedge. These plants can grow really tall, over 1.5 meters (about 5 feet) high! The wettest parts of the wood still have plants from when it was an open bog. One example is Sphagnum auriculatum, a type of moss.
Grasslands and Wet Areas
The grasslands next to the woods are also very important. They have many plants that like wet, acidic soil. These types of plants and their homes are rare on the Isle of Wight.
The most diverse part of The Wilderness is where water comes out of the soil. Here, you'll see many sedges and rushes. You might also spot cottongrass and other wetland plants.
In short, The Wilderness is a unique place. It has oak and alder woodlands growing on peaty soil. The ground is covered with large clumps of tussock sedge.
