What to see in the Chine

On the far side of the stream, outside the top entrance, can be seen the remains of an old sluice. Years ago, the water flow was very restricted due to a mill further up the stream and, to give visitors their money's worth, the guide used to raise the sluice and let the water run for a few minutes.
By the top pay box, built around 1892, the cliff face is reddish in hue. This is due to the high iron content of the water seepage and at one time there was a drinking trough. Early reference to a chalybeate spring, claimed to be good for the health, makes it clear that this was the place.
The main waterfall is 45ft. and the second 29ft. The former is quite spectacular during and after heavy rain. There is an interesting story about this waterfall. Over a hundred years ago, steamers on day trips dropped anchor below the Chine, The steward of one of these boats, new to the area. was taken by members of the crew through the Chine to the Crab Inn. Thoroughly enjoying himself, he was oblivious of time and unaware that the crew had slipped away back to the boat. When realisation dawned, he returned to the Chine not knowing there was another way to the shore. He found the gate locked and tried to climb round the gatepost. The next moment the gate, the post and he himself shot over the waterfall. Amazingly, he was none the worse, went on down the Chine and got on board the boat in time. It did not even deter him from returning to show his friends what had happened.

 

The Chine is famous for its flora and fauna. There are at least 150 varieties of wild plants and more than 50 species of moss and liverworts have so far been recorded, some of them extremely rare. Ferns, grasses, wild garlic, horsetails, golden saxifrage, wild fuchsia, winter-flowering heliotrope - to name but a few - all grow in profusion. One plant,

Polygnum cuspidatum or Japanese Knotweed, is so invasive that a few years ago it completely obscured the stream at the lower end of the Chine, choking the rest of the wild growth. Now that it has been controlled into areas, there are many more wild plants, some of them new to the Chine,

But the growth is so luxuriant that it is a constant battle to defeat take-over bids. Additional paths at the lower end now enable visitors to wander about more freely and a wild water garden has been created by natural drainage. Plants and shrubs that can grow wild are gradually being introduced and it is the aim to have as many different species as possible, The trees are mainly Wych Elm, Sycamore, Alder, Elder and Beech and a judicious programme of replanting has started. More detailed information about the flora can be found in the Nature Trail leaflet.

 

The Gunnera manicata, shown here in the photo is native to the Serra do Mar mountains of south-eastern Brazil. This is one of the four areas in the chine where it grows with leaves typically 5-6 ft wide, borne on thick, succulent leaf stalks up to 8 ft long. It germinates best in very moist, but not wet, conditions and temperatures of 22 to 29 °C.

AS you relax and walk around the paths at the lower end of the chine you can visit the Heritage centre, Tea rooms and Gift shop, with the new Exhibition for 2009 AVIATION AND THE ISLAND. At the lower entrance the Memorial for the 40 Royal Marine Commando unit that trained here during the war for the DIEPPE Raid.

As you relax and enjoy the unique natural tranquillity of Shanklin Chine take time just to sit, look and listen. You are in a magical world of natural beauty. It is a wonderous place where between the 3rd of July and 13th of September it is illuminated at night and open untill 10pm. Please look at our Evening magic page.

See the mural in the Aviary created by Shanklin C of E Primary School, divided into four subjects: Smuggling, Flora, World War II and Fauna.

The aviary houses Rosellas, Cockatiels, Meyers Parrots, Budgies, Asian blue quail and Golden pheasants. They, and the great variety of birds in the Chine have become very accustomed to visitors and Robins, Chaffinches, Blue Tits and blackbirds breakfast daily at the Tea Room. Butterflies, dragonflies and many other forms of insect life are also much in evidence.
From the look-out there is a lovely view of the coastline the tiny holes in the cliff face are, surprisingly, made by wasps. For those who want to enjoy the Chine's wonderful atmosphere of peace and tranquillity, there are plenty of shelters and seats.

 

You may also see one of our shyest wild animals, the red squirrel. The photo here was taken in August 2008 of a healthy youngster in the trees near the chipmunks. We have feeding stations in the Chine, and new for 2009, a camera linked to a TV in the new Children's Nature Hide so that you can see them feeding. We believe we have 3 families of red squirrel that live in the chine and we are trying to encourage them to breed, The red squirrel is a rare and endangered species, Fewer than 140,000 individuals are thought to be left in the UK. Here on the Isle of Wight we only have Red squirrels. greys are not allowed!

We hope you do see one on your visit as we try to encourage them out for customers to see. But they do like the peace and quiet! They are most often seen in the mornings gathering nuts and visiting the feeding stations.