What is One Horse Field?

One Horse Field is a beautiful wild meadow which is rich in wildlife, see if you can spot the handsome Wasp Spider or fabulous Corky-fruited Water-dropwort or the rare orchid, autumn ladies tresses. In the summer the meadow is buzzing with dragonflies and butterflies. We have put in hand-carved seating so you can rest your weary feet for a moment and let the wildlife come to you.

Where is One Horse Field?

One Horse Field in Totland can be found between Hurst Point View and Fort Warden in Totland at Grid Ref : SZ 325876. To get here by car from Newport follow signs for Yarmouth via Forest Road (A3054). At Yarmouth remain on the A3054. At roundabout in Totland take the third exit into Hurst Point View. Follow the road down to gravel car park on left, One Horse Field is behind the car park beside the recreation grounds. By bus, the nearest stops are the Avenue or Coastguard Cottages, head down Hurst Point View towards Fort Warden Heights find the Meadow on the left beside the recreation ground.

What can you see?

Plants

The unimproved grassland is dominated by Crested Dog’s-tail, Red Fescue, Common Bent and Yellow Rattle whose fruit is a dry capsule containing loose seeds that rattle when ripe. Beautiful Oxeye Daisies can be seen in the summer, a real favourite with bees and hoverflies. You can also spot Selfheal which is fabled to have numerous health benefits but is enjoyed mostly here by the bees. The pretty Strawberry Clover can be found if the meadow, it is likely that Wood Mice use its leaves in their food stores. Particularly important species found here include Corky-fruited Water-dropwort and Autumn Ladies Tresses orchid whose flowers form a spiral round an almost leafless stem. Semi-improved grassland is dominated by a number of rank grass species including Cocksfoot, False Oatgrass and Yorkshire Fog. Flower species include Wild Carrot, Green-winged Orchids, Black Knapweed, Birds-foot Trefoil, Yarrow, Red Clover, Creeping Thistle and Dock.

Animals

Mammals found on One Horse Field include Badgers, Rabbits, Foxes, Wood Mice and Bank Voles. Badgers do not live on the site but do use it for foraging. Bird species include Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Blackbird, Robin, Long-tailed Tit, Chaffinch, Green Woodpecker and Great Spotted Woodpecker. Rook, Jackdaw, Jay and Carrion Crow are also present. Butterflies that you can spot include Meadow Brown, Marbled White, Common Blue, Painted Lady, Speckled Wood, Large Skipper, Small Tortoiseshell and Red Admiral.

Art

Local craftsmen have hand carved benches for the site along with gateway features and even more inside the meadow. The art and seating feature wildlife that you can see when walking through the meadow.

Description

The meadow is around two hectares and includes semi-improved and herb-rich grassland with mature hedgerows and scrub. Part of the site is designated as a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation and is adjacent to a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The grassland was part of a larger farm which has a grazing history back in the eighteenth century.

Why is this conservation important?

The soil types, the changes in agricultural practice and natural succession have brought about the current habitats found here. The process of natural succession is dynamic and if left unchecked will allow the grassland to become scrub dominated and eventually woodland. It is imperative therefore, that in order for the grassland to retain its current interest and to enhance its potential, that management of this site is undertaken to retain the features of interest.

This field is of particular importance for biodiversity because of the proximity of semi-improved grassland to wetland. This situation benefits species such as dragonflies, which need meadows for feeding and ponds for breeding. Though if unchecked these open habitats would be lost. The area has been conserved in an area of high demand for housing. It is therefore threatened by development. The site will act as a buffer to the proposed geological SSSI on the soft cliff to the west of the meadow. The loss of these grasslands through lack of management would be a significant loss to the Island.

What is the management plan?

The grassland is of high nature conservation interest that may be lost if the succession to woodland is not impeded. This is done by the removal of annual growth by mowing with the removal of the cuttings, mowing half a hectare per year on an annual rotation. This will reduce nutrient build up in the soils and prevent the establishment of scrub and mainteining the current a nutrient poor sward with its high biodiversity value.