Munsley is a small wetland site and a Site of Interest for Nature Conservation (SINC) with very high historic nature conservation value much declined in recent years through lack of management. It is part of the catchment of the Eastern Yar.
The site is split between 3 landowners. Only one section is publicly accessible, a plot owned by Godshill Parish Council and managed by Gift To Nature with considerable help from Green Gym. Here the three organisations are working together to scrape of braken litter and remove scrub, thus restoring this bit of the site.
Munsley Bog is a lovely place to spend a quiet hour watching and listening to wildlife. The pond area is a haven for dragonflies. The Isle of Wight College have propagated bog myrtle for us from clumps exposed by tree-felling and these have been transplanted back into the bog in an attempt to double the population. A boardwalk to make transiting of the bog easy.
Green Gym recently researched the origins of the name ‘Munsley’ and one possible suggestion is that it could be the leah (or pasture) of the muzzle-like hill.
Photo Survey
We have recent conducted a Photo Survey of Munsley Bog and the surrounding environs which you can see below (the map also shows other watercourses we’ve surveyed)
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